amna: a posthumous memoir out this week tells of the life and legacy of actor michael k. williamswho died of a drug overdose last fall. now, williams is known for his powerful performances on screen. but the memoir also reveals his struggles and the impact he made through social justice and community activism. jeffrey brown explores the roles and the man as part of our arts and culture series, canvas. >> omar coming. jeffrey: the whistle, the walk, the way of being omar little, a stick-up man and killer, but one who only takes on drug dealers, and a gay man in a violent and homophobic world. he was an indelible character on one of the most highly regarded series in television history, "the wire." the actor who brought omar to life, michael k. williams. eric: he played these powerful figures who were pioneering characters in terms of the portraits of black men that we have seen on television. jeffrey: eric deggans is the television critic for npr. eric: michael was constantly sort of reinventing our vision of what black maleness could be, of what black masculinity could be. jeffrey

the late actor michael k. williamssthumous memoir tells how his life informed his career and much more. >> this is the pbs "newshour" from weta studios in washington and in the west from the walter cronkite school of journalism at arizona state university. amna: we are 76 days away from mid term elections to determine which party controls congress next year. votes for the florida and new york have chosen their nominees for house and senate races setting up major showdowns in november. our lisa desjardins has more on last night's results. lisa: from the last swirl of primaries in august has emerged renewed hope for democrats and veteran politicians. in florida, charlie crist is both. democrats chose him, a former republican governor, to face off against current governor and rising republican star ron desantis. crist made that part ofis opening argument. >> this guy wants to be president of the united states of america and everybody knows it. however, when we defeat him on november 8, that show is over. [cheers and appla

i grew up watching him on empire to see michael k williams walk on set ready to shoot, i was like yeahor: did he know what i fan he were of his. >> you had a dvd box seft the wire. >> even when i reached out to you, i let you know, i am one of those people, i have so many people, especially black individuals to me who i aspire and look up to, so yeah i'm going to let you know while you're still here, that you are inspirational. i told him straight up, i'm glad i got those meuments with him. >> trevor: that is really is beautiful. i like that, i said anyone who is nigerian has the ability to inspire the best of you as a human being. >> absolutely. i have seen criminals say you have to be better. >> trevor: oh man. speaking of, by the way, speaking of, yo, like we were so excited as soon as i saw you in a movie with viola davis, it was like, when is the movie coming out. >> me in a movie with viola davis, that move comes out september ofth. the woman king, with viola davis. yeah. >> trevor: it looks bad ass. >> it looks crazy. i was at the a m.c. at the grove the other day, and the break

michael k. williams, the late and great michael k. t and had an immediate personal connection to this story. and said how could i use my voice to make sure that brian's is heard. i had an incredible finance ear that said we want this story to be told. but i have to tell you, that line was not long. there was one financier who stood up and said we want this story to be heard. >> well we're so glad they did, abbi. brian was looking for his $892 check from the v.a. to be reinstated. he said he would be out on the streets without it. and in that bank that day where he died, he wanted to bring attention to issues surrounding veterans, of homelessness and mental health and the flaws at the v.a. as you saw them. as you dove into the story, what did you learn about the plight of our military veterans and what should our audience know? >> well, like brian, i stood in those lines. my dad is a navy veteran and those lines are very long. and i learned that through brian's story, i had a lot more empathy for what it means to acclimate back to civil