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Aldis Hodge is best known for his roles in Friday Night Lights, Straight Outta Compton and Leverage, but the North Carolina native has captured the hearts of a new audience on WGN America’s Underground. The series follows seven slaves (Jurnee Smollett Bell, Alano Miller, Renwick Scott, Mykelti Williamson, Adina Porter and Theodus Crane) who plan a daring escape from a Georgia plantation to cross 600 miles to freedom.

He talks to the Tom Joyner Morning Show about the three things he learned about his role and why he prefers to not call the American people of that time slaves.

“It’s not always supposed to be comfortable…I learned so much about their mentalities. Where people sat personally. Not everybody believed they were supposed to be free Not everyone understood the sacrifice. They rather danced with the devil they knew.”

Why he refers to the people of that time as enslaved and not slaved:

“Words are very powerful and they can be very manipulative. Slaves mean a tool. When you say enslaved, it gives them a human nature.”

In addition to acting, Aldis is no stranger to philanthropy. He serves as an ambassador for the Movember Foundation. The Movember Foundation is the leading men’s health organization.  Their newest initiative is in support of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place during the month of April.  The campaign encourages all guys to ‘Know thy Nuts’ by creating an awareness of the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer.

Underground airs on WGN America, Wednesdays at 9pm CST. Click the link above to hear the entire interview.

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