Idris Elba’s latest project, inspired by his personal family history, aims to shed light on the overlooked contributions of World War II veterans of color. Elba’s grandfather, who played a significant role in the war before moving from Kansas City to West Africa, served as a key inspiration for the new National Geographic series titled “Erased: World War II’s Heroes of Color.” Elba narrated and executive-produced the project, which premiered on June 3 and began streaming on Hulu the following day.
In an interview with ABC7 Los Angeles anchor Leslie Sykes, Elba discussed his connection to the project and the importance of honoring these forgotten heroes. “The telling of World War II stories has been told in many, many versions, good documentaries, great films. But there is a component of most of these films that have been erased, eradicated, and not told fully which is the involvement of Black and Brown people from all over the globe that were significantly important to WWII,” Elba explained.
Elba emphasized the need to present this history from the perspectives of the families and soldiers who lived it. Speaking to People, he revealed how deeply the project affected him, particularly during voiceover sessions. “I just would suppress them because this is not about me, but man, I was like, I dunno, that could be my granddad in the back there, you know? I dunno. It was like he was six foot seven, so I was scanning for the tall guys.”
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Elba also shared the emotional impact of his grandfather’s legacy on his mother, who was only 10 when her father passed away. Her memories are “filled with melancholy,” as there is much about her father’s history she never learned.
Shianne Brown, the director of the episode focusing on D-Day, underscored the importance of bringing these stories to light. “I think it’s such an iconic battle that was a seminal moment in the war and obviously we’re coming to the 80th anniversary,” said Brown. “What I learned is a lot of the Black soldiers weren’t believed after they came back and said they were fighting in the war. I think it’s important to shine the light on those Black and Brown stories which haven’t been explored.”
Elba hopes the series will provide moving and incredible accounts of some of WWII’s most significant battles from a new perspective. “I think what we’re going to see is really moving, incredible accounts of some of the most incredible battles we’ve known and seen, but we just haven’t seen it from this perspective,” he said.
“Erased: World War II’s Heroes of Color” promises to be a poignant tribute to the unsung heroes who played crucial roles in the war, bringing their stories to a broader audience and ensuring their contributions are remembered and honored.
