Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

USA, Japan film

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Directed by| Robert Townsend[1]
Written by| John Long, Quincy Newell
Produced by| Jeff Clanagan, Richard Foos, Robert Townsend, Lydia Nicole
Edited by| Augusta Einarsdottir, Skip Robinson
Distributed by| Codeblack Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment

Running time

| 82 minutes
Countries| USA, Japan

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy is a 2009 documentary film based on the book Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh, by Darryl J. Littleton.[2]

## Plot

[edit]

The film analyzes the history of comedy and how the television and film industries have stereotyped African Americans throughout a multitude of generations. Quincy Newell, Executive Vice-President of Codeblack Entertainment, was the producer and co-writer with John Long on the project. The documentary was a selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, and eventually acquired by Showtime.[3] Newell himself has stated "the intent of the film is to spark meaningful discourse."[4]

## Cast

[edit]

The film features commentary from black comedians including:

* Chris Rock
* Eddie Murphy[5]
* Dave Chappelle
* Steve Harvey
* Katt Williams
* Marlon Wayans
* Sherri Shepherd
* Niecy Nash
* Marla Gibbs
* Dick Gregory[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Harvey, Dennis. "Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy". Variety. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
2. ^ "Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
3. ^ issues, Marcia G. Yerman Writer on women's; Rights, Human; environment; culture (2010-04-21). "Exploring Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
4. ^ "Inside the History of Black Comedy in 'Why We Laugh'". 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
5. ^ "Horizon Go".
6. ^ Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy, IMDb

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