‘Brave New World’ Star Carl Lumbly on the Forgotten Captain America
“The Forgotten Captain America.” It is perhaps the most tragic title to bestow any character in the MCU. Not just from a narrative standpoint, but also because of the historical implica…
“The Forgotten Captain America.” It is perhaps the most tragic title to bestow any character in the MCU. Not just from a narrative standpoint, but also because of the historical implications behind what America has done to forget about its veterans, especially its POC ones. The aforementioned title belongs to Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley, who returns in Captain America: Brave New World on February 14.
And after his haunting and powerful debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Lumbly’s character will go through the wringer once more in the latest chapter of the Captain America saga.
What continues to be a complete tragedy for the character is that Bradley can’t seem to find peace. Despite everything he did to save the lives of many, the government arrested him, experimented on him, and tortured him extensively. Even after escaping and living out the rest of his life in Baltimore, and despite being honored with a statue thanks to Sam Wilson’s efforts to ensure he’s remembered, the character finds himself the target of brainwashing and arrest in Captain America: Brave New World.
At a certain point, one has to ask, hasn’t he suffered enough? Or is this just the nature of America and its stance on Black Americans and People of Color in general? Why are People of Color always under the microscope, and always the target of government injustice? It’s a question that certainly continues to be posed within the MCU, especially now that Sam Wilson has taken on the mantle of Captain America, and it continues to plague our very own world today as we continue to live in a country that’s constantly on the brink of racial injustice with Trump in charge. ICE raids continue to happen every day. DEI initiatives are being dismantled. All because the country demands we put People of Color in a subordinate position, with prejudice, fear, and hatred continuing to be sowed thanks to the garbage lies people spread.
I’m grateful that a movie like Captain America: Brave New World is coming out. I’m grateful Black Americans have characters like Sam Wilson and Isaiah Bradley to look up to and sympathize with. And I’m grateful that the actor, who soulfully brought Bradley to life was able to take the time with us to talk about how his character evolves in Captain America: Brave New World, and how it ties in a deeper way into the world we’re seeing today.
Here’s what he had to say:
Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters February 14.