Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy poster & wallpaper
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Angela Bassett, Cedric the Entertainer, Dave Chappelle, Bill Cosby

Darryl Littleton's insightful book Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh serves as the inspiration for Robert Townsend and Quincy Newell's take no prisoners documen... read more read more...tary offering a critical overview and insider's perspective on the cultural impact of black comedy. Icons of comedy Chris Rock, Bill Cosby, and Keenan Ivory Wayans, among others, all weigh in on what it means to be a black comic in America, while cultural critics, noted scholars, and prominent politicians trace the evolution of black comedy from the days of Stepin Fetchit and blackface minstrels straight through the small screen success of The Jeffersons and Good Times and on to the cinematic superstardom enjoyed by Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg. Dave Chapelle's controversial career serves as a rich topic of debate, while the implication of corporate attempts to capitalize on the remarkable success of Spike Lee's Original Kings of Comedy and Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam highlight the ways in which individuals can inspire change in a cultural level. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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46% want to see it

228 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Robert Townsend

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DVD Release Date: April 27, 2010

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Kam Williams
April 27, 2010
Kam Williams, Sly Fox

A worthwhile walk down Memory Lane as likely to keep you in stitches as appreciating the long line of African-American geniuses who have made it their business to challenge the status quo, but always ... Full Review

S. James Wegg
February 17, 2009
S. James Wegg, JWR

A thoughtful history of on-colour humour. Full Review

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