The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert David Oyelowo | Constitu-Shunned
Apr 16, 2025
David Oyelowo, renowned for his powerful roles in Selma and the upcoming series Government Cheese, shares his poignant journey to Selma with Martin Luther King III, marking the Civil Rights movement's legacy. He reflects on Harvard's courageous stand against the Trump administration’s regulatory overreach. Oyelowo also discusses breaking boundaries in theatre, being the first black actor to portray Henry VI at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and shares a touching anecdote about a father-son fishing trip that highlights personal resilience.
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Return to Selma
- David Oyelowo returned to Selma for the 60th anniversary of the marches and found the town in worse shape than when filming Selma.
- The Voting Rights Museum, symbolic of the current state of voting rights, was dilapidated and for sale.
Bus to Selma
- Oyelowo shared a moving experience of traveling to Selma by bus with Martin Luther King III.
- They watched the film Selma together, creating a surreal full-circle moment for Oyelowo.
Meeting Giants
- Oyelowo recounts meeting Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte at the Governor's Awards.
- Poitier, having seen Oyelowo in The Butler, praised his performance despite the film's critical portrayal of Poitier.