Product Description

For almost four hundred years, black Americans have been entertaining the masses through humor. Here is the only up to date book to examine this genre. This book traces the history and evolution through the 121 interviews conducted with some of the top African-American comedians in the world. Fables and myths are clarified, facts unraveled, and good times are nonstop as the makers of comedy history put that history in their own words. They not only share their appreciation of the established icons, but tip their hats to many of the unsung heroes as well. Those interviewed include: Dick Gregory, Eddie Murphy, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, Bernie Mac, Nick Cannon, Damon Wayans, Eddie Griffin, Arsenio Hall, Rudy Ray Moore, Chris Rock, Sinbad, Marla Gibbs, Thea Vidale, Robert Townsend, Timmie Rogers, Franklyn Ajaye, and John Witherspoon.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1917461 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-01
• Released on: 2006-11-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 343 pages

From Publishers Weekly
With a little help from his friends, writer and stand-up comedian Littleton's overview of the history of African-American comedy in America is smart, quick and full of funny one-offs, falling just short of its potential. Littleton begins at the beginning, presenting a well-researched account of early performances by slaves before moving on to highlight key performers from minstrel shows to the current day. Interspersed throughout the text are comments from black comedians (Eddie Griffith, J.B. Smoove and Thea Vidale among many, many more) on the matters at hand, or on a particular question like, "Which cartoon animals were supposed to be black?" and "What movie part would you not play?" Littleton has done a good job compiling biographical information about the well-known (from Sam Lucas and Stepin Fetchit to Martin Lawrence and Bill Cosby) and the more obscure, such as Tim and Tom, who in 1969 became the first interracial comedic duo. Unfortunately, Littleton fails to include any excerpts or detailed examples of any comedians' acts, a frustrating omission for readers who'd like a concrete example to back up Littleton's claim that, for example, Charlie Barnett "could have been the best stand-up of his generation." As a casual look at black comedy's past and an informal survey of black comedians today, however, the book succeeds admirably.
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From Booklist
Stand-up comedian Littleton offers a historical perspective on how humor has been used by black comedians and their audiences to comment on social inequities and absurdities and to relieve the suffering imposed by racism. It has also provided lucrative careers for comedians from Hattie McDaniel to Moms Mabley to Redd Foxx. In interviews with more than 100 black comedians, Littleton also chronicles their trials and triumphs, balancing the line between offense and cutting-edge commentary, or blatantly disregarding that line. Littleton intersperses the history of comedy and race--from slave entertainers through minstrelsy through the hard-edged comedy of today--with commentary from some of the leading black comedians, including Dick Gregory (who wrote the introduction), Arsenio Hall, Cedric the Entertainer, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Marla Gibbs, Robert Townsend, and Shawn Wayans. This is an interesting perspective on race and comedy, though some readers may be offended by the off-color humor and language. Vanessa Bush
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