EPISODE · Aug 11, 2025 · 24 MIN
Washington Black explores joy as a form of resistance
from Q with Tom Power
It’s not easy to adapt a classic of contemporary literature into an epic TV series, but that’s exactly what Selwyn Seyfu Hinds has done with “Washington Black,” the Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by Canadian author Esi Edugyan. Set in a steampunk reimagining of the 19th century, the story follows a young boy named George Washington Black who is born on a Barbados sugar plantation. His globetrotting travels take him on a journey around the world, including Virginia, Halifax, and even the Arctic. For this project, Selwyn wore many hats, including creator, executive producer and showrunner. He joins guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us how “Washington Black” mirrors his own journey as a Guyanese immigrant, and how the theme of resistance was his guiding North Star to making the novel shine on screen.
What this episode covers
It’s not easy to adapt a classic of contemporary literature into an epic TV series, but that’s exactly what Selwyn Seyfu Hinds has done with “Washington Black,” the Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by Canadian author Esi Edugyan. Set in a steampunk reimagining of the 19th century, the story follows a young boy named George Washington Black who is born on a Barbados sugar plantation. His globetrotting travels take him on a journey around the world, including Virginia, Halifax, and even the Arctic. For this project, Selwyn wore many hats, including creator, executive producer and showrunner. He joins guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us how “Washington Black” mirrors his own journey as a Guyanese immigrant, and how the theme of resistance was his guiding North Star to making the novel shine on screen.
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Washington Black explores joy as a form of resistance
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