From W. H.Y.Y. In Philadelphia, this is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Tanya Mosley. Today, Delroy Lindo. He stars as Delta Slim and Sinners, as a haunted blues musician. It's a performance that has earned Lindo his first Academy Award nomination. He says he wants the award, but he also won't let it define him.

I have never taken my marbles and gone home as a result of whatever disappointments of the vicissitudes of the industry.

And I want to believe, and I want to claim that I will not do that now.

I will continue working.

Also, we hear from novelist to Yari Jones.

Her new book, Kin, is a story of two motherless

girls in 1950s, Louisiana, who become each other's chosen family. The idea for the book came from

her own experience of losing a friend. When you're friends with someone, you know, your name will not

be listed in any obituary, but it breaks your heart

to lose your friend. That's coming up on Fresh Air Weekend. This is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Tanya

Mosley. My first guest today is Del Rey-Lindo, an actor whose presence has shaped film and theater

for more than 50 years. From West Indian Archie and Spike Lee's

Malcolm X to the charming and cruel drug kingpin and clockers to a father guarding an unspeakable

secret in the cider house rules. For me, Delroy's characters often feel lived in and complicated

and hard to shake.

In Ryan Coogler's latest film, Sinners, Del Rey-Lindo plays Delta Slim,

a hard-drinking, deeply knowing blues harmonica player in 1930s, Mississippi.

Blues, it wasn't forced on us like that religion.

No, sir. We brought this with us from home.

It's magic what we do.

It's sacred.

Elbe.

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