Bronzeville is a historical fiction audio drama podcast written by Josh Olson. Set in the eponymous Bronzeville district on the South Side of Chicago during the 1940s, the series chronicles the lives of participants in the underground lottery (the "numbers game" or "policy") while highlighting the self-sufficiency of the community's African American residents.
Background and Development
The podcast was inspired by a conversation between actor Larenz Tate and Quincy Jones in 2004, when Tate was preparing for his role as Jones in the film Ray. Jones told Tate about his father's involvement in running numbers for a wealthy family on Chicago's South Side and challenged Tate to tell the story of Bronzeville. Tate and his brothers initially attempted to develop the project as a film or television series but were unable to secure studio backing. The project was later adapted as an audio drama in partnership with Laurence Fishburne's production company, Cinema Gypsy Productions, and Audio HQ.
Production
The series was produced by Cinema Gypsy Productions, TateMen Entertainment, and Audio HQ. It was written by Academy Award and BAFTA nominee Josh Olson (A History of Violence). Episodes were directed by Larenz Tate, Laurence Fishburne, and KC Wayland. The podcast features over 50 voice actors portraying more than 100 characters.
Release
The first season of Bronzeville consisted of 10 episodes released weekly from February 7 to April 11, 2017. A second season of six episodes was released from March 16 to April 20, 2021. According to the Chicago Defender, the podcast has received more than 20 million listens.
Cast and Characters
- Larenz Tate as Jimmy Tillman, an ambitious Arkansas transplant who becomes a foot soldier in the Copeland policy empire
- Laurence Fishburne as Curtis "Eyeball" Randolph, the builder of the policy empire
- Tracee Ellis Ross as Anna Randolph, Curtis's wife
- Omari Hardwick as Jesse Copeland
- Wood Harris as Everett Copeland, the incarcerated head of the Copeland family
- Tika Sumpter as Lisa Copeland, the intelligent and protected sister of the Copeland clan
- Lahmard Tate as Zeke Copeland
- Cory Hardrict as Casper Dixon
- Mekhi Phifer
- LeVar Burton
- Lalah Hathaway
- Affion Crockett
- Beth Maitland
- Michael Nouri
- Obba Babatundé
- Rodney Saulsberry
- Lance Reddick
- Fay Hauser
- Kevin Brief
Plot
The story is set in the late 1940s in Bronzeville, Chicago, a thriving African American community that emerged during the Great Migration. The narrative centers on the Randolph and Copeland families and their involvement in "policy," an underground lottery that generated millions of dollars and served as an economic engine for the community. The series explores themes of Black self-sufficiency, community investment, and the complexities of operating outside the law during the Jim Crow era.
Reception
The podcast received positive reviews from outlets including The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, NBC News, and the Chicago Sun-Times. It was noted for its high production values, star-studded cast, and its focus on a lesser-known aspect of African American history.
