Best Of: Delroy Lindo / Tayari Jones on 'Kin' - Fresh Air Recap

Podcast: Fresh Air

Published: 2026-03-14

Duration: 48 min

Guests: Delroy Lindo, Tayari Jones

Summary

Delroy Lindo discusses his Oscar-nominated role in 'Sinners' and his approach to acting, while Tayari Jones talks about her new novel 'Kin' and its themes of friendship and chosen family.

What Happened

Delroy Lindo, in conversation with Tanya Mosley, reflects on his role as Delta Slim in the film 'Sinners,' which has earned him his first Academy Award nomination. He talks about how he approached the character, drawing on the history and culture of blues musicians as depicted in the books 'Blues People' by Amiri Baraka and 'Deep Blues' by Robert Palmer. Lindo also recounts a pivotal scene in the film where his character hums instead of speaking, explaining that it was an organic moment that captured the essence of the blues.

Lindo shares a personal story from his childhood in England, where he experienced racial othering at a young age. He explains how this experience has stayed with him and influenced his understanding of identity. Lindo is also working on a memoir about his mother, who was part of the Windrush generation, and he expresses the importance of telling her story and the stories of others in that generation.

Tayari Jones discusses her latest novel 'Kin,' which tells the story of two girls growing up motherless in 1950s Louisiana. Jones reveals that the novel emerged during a difficult period in her life, including a health scare and writer's block, but it ultimately helped her explore themes of friendship and chosen family. She reflects on how the story was influenced by her own family history and her experiences growing up in Atlanta.

Jones describes the impact of her first novel, 'Leaving Atlanta,' which was inspired by the Atlanta child murders. She explains how her childhood experience of living through those events shaped her understanding of fear and community.

Jones also shares anecdotes from her time at Spelman College, where she met influential figures like Toni Morrison and Pearl Clegg, pointing out how these interactions helped her see herself as a writer. She emphasizes the influence of her parents, both civil rights activists, on her worldview and her writing.

The episode provides an in-depth look at how personal experiences and historical contexts shape the creative processes of both Lindo and Jones, highlighting the importance of storytelling in understanding and navigating identity and community.

Key Insights

• Delroy Lindo's portrayal of Delta Slim in 'Sinners' captures the essence of blues through a pivotal scene where his character hums instead of speaking. This organic moment, inspired by the cultural depth found in Amiri Baraka's 'Blues People' and Robert Palmer's 'Deep Blues,' demonstrates how silence can sometimes convey more power than words.
• Growing up in England, Delroy Lindo faced racial othering at a young age, a formative experience that continues to influence his understanding of identity. His upcoming memoir aims to shed light on his mother's story as part of the Windrush generation, highlighting the enduring impact of cultural displacement.
• Tayari Jones's novel 'Kin' emerged from a period marked by personal challenges, including a health scare and writer's block, ultimately serving as a vehicle to explore themes of friendship and chosen family. The narrative is deeply rooted in her own family history and the socio-cultural dynamics of 1950s Louisiana.
• During her time at Spelman College, Tayari Jones met literary giants like Toni Morrison and Pearl Clegg, encounters that solidified her identity as a writer. Her parents' roles as civil rights activists further shaped her worldview, infusing her writing with a deep sense of social consciousness.

Key Questions Answered

What does Delroy Lindo say about his role in 'Sinners' on Fresh Air?

Delroy Lindo talks about his character Delta Slim in 'Sinners' as a dynamic figure whose presence was expanded in the film's second act to capture the depth of blues culture.

How did Tayari Jones come up with the story for 'Kin'?

Jones explains that 'Kin' emerged during a challenging period in her life, providing a creative outlet to explore themes of friendship, loss, and identity through the lens of her family history.

Who influenced Tayari Jones during her time at Spelman College?

At Spelman College, Jones was influenced by figures like Toni Morrison and Pearl Clegg, who helped her see herself as a writer and shaped her creative journey.