Delroy Lindo to Star as Marcus Garvey in Upcoming Biopic

By Sameer Rao Dec 07, 2015

Delroy Lindo will reportedly star as Marcus Garvey in an upcoming biopic on the historic Black Nationalist leader. 

Per a report from Jamaican tabloid The Star and the project’s International Movie Database (IMDb) page, the acclaimed actor will portray the Jamaican leader. 

Garvey is renowned around the globe for advocating Black Nationalist and Pan-Africanist ideology. During his lifetime (particularly between the 1910s and 1930s), Garvey was a famous and controversial proponent for the African diaspora’s return to and liberation of Africa. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) and the Black Star Line, both of which were dedicated to Black Nationalist and repatriation causes. Through this advocacy work, Garvey influenced American leaders like Malcolm X and was an influential ally of African and West Indian movements for independence from Western colonialism. His influence persisted despite intimidation and deportation by the United States government in the 1920s. Garvey later founded the People’s Political Party, Jamaica’s first modern political party, and is recognized as the country’s first national hero. 

Lindo was born in the United Kingdom to Jamaican parents, and moved to Canada and later the U.S. as a teenager He is especially well-known for appearances in Spike Lee films like "Malcolm X," "Clockers" and "Crooklyn." The 63-year-old actor, who currently stars on ABC’s "Blood and Oil," has not yet publically confirmed his involvement in the Garvey biopic, but he has spoken previously about wanting to tackle the role

(H/t The Star)