Government Cheese stars explain why 'overt racism' was left out of Apple TV+ drama

The cast of Government Cheese has discussed the show's bold decision to steer clear of focusing on the Civil Rights movement, instead opting for a more offbeat approach to portraying a Black family in 1960s America.

Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous era in US history, the series takes an unexpected route by honing in on the personal struggles and spiritual journey of main character Hampton Chambers, played by David Oyelowo.

After serving a three-year sentence for cheque forgery, Hampton sets out to reinvent himself by concocting a revolutionary drill called the Bit Magician.

However, his recurring lapses into past misdeeds put him at loggerheads with his pursuit of spiritual enlightenment and efforts to repair his family life with wife Astoria and sons Harrison and Einstein.

Speaking exclusively to Express Onlein, Oyelowo shed light on the show's atypical narrative, stating: "[It's about] a Black, quirky family in this context, in a time where we often see Black people depicted but it's always tied to Civil Rights or racial struggle.

"In this, those things are not prevalent. There are so many things that just made it feel like we were doing something off the beaten path, which is always going to be something you want in this art form."

The cast excitedly commented on the unique experience of working with a predominantly Black ensemble in a show distinct from any previous film or TV narratives.

Ellison remarked: "For me it was refreshing to see how the story unfolded and it was showcased in a way that doesn't solely talk about race or solely talk about Civil Rights.

"It's present and you'll see it baked in in little ways but it's not the tone of the show which I thought was really cool.

"My character specifically, in the 60s a young Black man who's turning down Harvard, turning down MIT to do pole vaulting, there's something really intriguing about that and I just wanted to see what it was about. It was really exciting to see what Einstein is about."

Bokeem Woodbine, portraying Bootsy, Hampton's oldest friend, shared his enthusiasm about joining the series: "I was so thrilled that I was gonna get a chance to be a part of a show that depicted a Black American family during this time period that wasn't revolving around, or looming in the background, the theme of our struggle for human rights," he told Express.

"We don't really deal with it as a major tenet and the racism that's obvious and prevalent in the show is dealt with in a wonderful way because it gives almost a glancing over slightly of the kind of 'microaggresive' racism that a lot of people of colour face on a regular basis in America."

While the historical echoes of civil rights are subtly woven into the fabric of the series rather than explicitly depicted - viewers will not find specific references to well-known civil rights figures like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. , who was passionately portrayed by Oyelowo in the award-winning film Selma - racism is nevertheless a persistent thread.

The plot sets itself apart from other period shows with its depiction of the Chambers family, an affluent Black household who, refreshingly, do not face outright racism from their neighbours; instead, Hampton's struggles lie in the realms of spirituality and economics.

"It's not necessarily overtly violent, it's not necessarily, 'Okay, this is gonna get messy really quick'," explained Woodbine. "It almost makes the bigots look kind of pathetic, that they have to have this passive aggressive, lame, unspoken hidden racist notions.

"It just kind of really shines a light on that type of racism, which is that subtle, underneath the surface... like for a Black man when you get in an elevator and an older white woman might clutch her purse and shrink herself in the corner. Like, 'Lady, I'm just trying to get to my floor!' It's not necessary.

"It shines a light on that without it being a major theme and I love that about it. It's nice to have a depiction of a family in that time period, a Black American family, that focuses on the odd, eccentric behaviour of the family.

"Every family, I've come to learn over the years, is a little odd and eccentric. I thought it was great that they leaned into that as opposed to the more typical depictions."

Government Cheese continues Wednesdays on Apple TV+.