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\"Where he feels like he has to do everything to really just be there for his mother, to be the backbone that she needs, and he just wants to succeed not only in school but with his family as well,\" he continued. \"I know what it is to carry that burden.\"

\"He's a genius -- a prodigy, of course,\" McDowell added. \"And he gets bused 20 miles just to go to school to be told he's special from people.\"

The actor says in the show his character differs from many of the people he is growing up with. \"He has to choose between the streets that raised him or a higher form of education where people tell him there's a better place in life,\" he said.

McDowell said it was a privilege to take part in acting out McCraney's vision.

\"I feel like I can speak for the dangers of the world, like Tarell, the younger versions of Tarell in myself,\" he said of his character.

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A post shared by DavidMakesMan (@davidmakesman) on Aug 10, 2019 at 10:55am PDT

As executive producer, McCraney was extremely hands on when they were shooting, McDowell shared.

\"I was able to go to Tarell ... ask him ‘how did he feel during this situation' -- mixing it with how I feel about some similar situations that I could relate to -- really just coming together and feeling it internally so it would come off on the camera really genuinely and as unique as it did,\" he said.

The young actor also said he feels the story focuses on a subject that's not portrayed enough in film and TV.

\"The story of the journey of a young black, strong man and what he has to do while growing up in the inner city -- it's really untold,\" McDowell shared. \"If it is told it's not being told to its justice, not fully being told.\"

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A post shared by DavidMakesMan (@davidmakesman) on Aug 15, 2019 at 10:13am PDT

McDowell believes this series allows viewers to \"live the life of him day in and out,\" and develop more of an understanding.

He said he was continually impressed in the way McCraney portrayed this concept in the series. \"Tarell's mind is crazy and unique,\" he said. \"I think it's honestly one of a kind. I've never met a writer like Tarell.\"

The people behind the camera, including the directors, camera operators and more, also \"had a helping hand in how this came out so beautifully and poetically,\" McDowell said.

\"PHOTO:
Robby Klein/Getty Images
PHOTO: (Back row L-R) Alana Arenas, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Michael Francis Williams, Phylicia Rashad, (front row L-R) Travis Coles, Akili McDowell, and Dee Harris-Lawrence of Own's 'David Makes Man' pose for a portrait at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival.
>

The young actor said he's grateful to have gotten to know Winfrey and for the opportunity to get some advice from Jordan through the project.

\"He is amazing,\" McDowell said of the \"Black Panther\" actor. \"He gave me a lot of wisdom throughout the process -- talking about really just staying true to who I am ... really just continue to work hard.\"

McDowell believes the show is \"really getting the ball into the black community.\"

\"You don't even necessarily have to be black to watch this show. You might have had that same struggle even though you're not black or from the inner city,\" McDowell said. \"You could've went through that same struggle, that same hard life, and I think you should watch to see how relatable it was and know you're not alone in this.\"

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