REAL ONES with Jon Bernthal George Pelecanos
7 snips
Apr 22, 2022 
In this engaging conversation, George Pelecanos, acclaimed author and co-creator of The Wire, shares his insights on storytelling and the influence of his tumultuous youth in Washington, D.C. He reflects on the impact of historical events, like the civil rights movement, on his writing. The significance of community bonds formed through basketball and the punk rock scene also shine through. George discusses the challenges of authentic representation in narratives and the transformative journey of fatherhood, emphasizing themes of resilience and redemption.
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1968 Riots Reshaped D.C.
- George Pelecanos frames D.C.'s history around the 1968 riots as a pivotal before/after moment that reshaped the city.
- He argues the riots accelerated civil rights and changed social dynamics across Washington.
Hearing Dr. King Days Before Assassination
- George recalls standing behind the National Cathedral gardens and hearing Dr. King speak at age 11, days before the assassination.
- That memory and the riots that followed became formative in his view of the city.
Work And Sports As Meritocracies
- Pelecanos sees work and sports as meritocratic spaces where people meet beyond neighborhoods and status.
- He credits those arenas for shaping his life and broadening his social circle in D.C.
