Anthony Mackie Speaks on Being A Young Black Man and Playing Captain America

Hollywood takes another step forward in embracing inclusivity with Anthony Mackie cast to portray Captain America. Mackie will play the iconic superhero for Disney+'s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. “It is monumental, man. I mean… to have Marvel select a young Black man in America to represent the moniker of Captain America is unprecedented. There’s nothing that can compare to that,” Mackie admitted to Stephen Colbert.

Many fans remember the exciting but bittersweet moment when an elderly Rogers passed on the Vibranium Shield to Wilson. After traveling through time to secure the Infinity Stones, he remained in the past to reunite and live out his life with love interest Peggy Carter.

“For me, to be a Black man in 2019 and be given the helm of Captain America with the history of Black men in this country is a monumental step, not only in entertainment but also in my life. It's been extremely emotional. Look, my grandfather was a sharecropper, you know what I mean? There's a lot of history and pain and triumph and joy that comes along with me being Captain America," Mackie tells Deadline.

The progressive shift in Hollywood is offering many opportunities to actors and actresses of color that may not have existed in years past. Looking toward the future, let's hope for more moments like this and continue to see the further enhancement of cultural representation in film.   

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Peter Nicholls