The Impact of
Great Comedians of
Color on Comedy

The impact black comedians have had on America’s long lived show business tradition has without question been completely and totally ignored. 

Though the contribution that black comedians have had over the years has been more than largely significant, it’s often times dismissed in biographies and many books on American humor.  Comedians of yesteryear are not just ignored by the mainstream; however, they’re forgotten by modern black comedians as well.  It’s shameful to hear that our heroes and trailblazers are left as relics of the past. 

Comedy didn’t just start in the 60’s.  And most times when you hear of black comedians paving the way you think of Dick Gregory, or Bill Cosby, or Redd Foxx, but there were many before them.  You can trace the lineage of comedians back as far as the 17^th century when African slaves would laugh and joke around fires late into the night.  Years later when burlesque shows became popular, many white comedians found themselves impersonating slaves and servants. It’s said that one of these comedians, in and effort to improve upon his act took a wine cork burnt the end and rubbed the soot all over his face.  Just for a laugh.  Well, in typical fashion of comedians it was stolen and imitated at shows all across the country.  A few decades later, minstrel shows were in full swing.  After the turn of the century many white comedians had adopted burnt cork into their act.  And black performers were given soft shoe routines to do in between sets.  Turn the page to Bert Williams and George Walker; a comedy team who in the early nineteen hundreds and all through the Vaudeville era had audiences in stitches with their onstage antics.  They were dubbed the two original coons and were the first black comedians to appear in minstrel shows.  Later Bert Williams went on to star on Broadway and had audiences coming in droves to see his act.

That’s what might be missing from comedy today.  Greatness may have been left in the past.  Comedians and audiences alike really have no one to aspire to and appreciate.  And obviously aren’t making the effort to learn and laugh at comedy past.  “Great Comedians of Color” hopes to re-route that solemn direction.  We want audiences to laugh again… for real.  And these comedians of today could use the education.  We don’t want to talk badly about the more recent greats.  Because there are some and unfortunately they are few and far between. The consistent level of brilliance is not there like it was back in the days.  “Great Comedians of Color” features impersonations of performers who have spanned generations like Redd Foxx (Dark Gable Most), Bill Cosby (Eric Thomas), Moms Mabley (Black Pearl), Flip Wilson (Michelle Seabreeze), Freddie Prinze (Lazaro Viciero) and so many more, with different impersonations every week.  If you long for the days when comedy was truly king, then this is the show for you.  Running every Sunday throughout April and May 2002, at 5:00pm, at the New York Comedy Club.  Hope to see you there and be sure you bring your handkerchief because you’ll laugh till you cry!                                                                                                                              

Eric Thomas
Writer, Producer
Comedian
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