African American Humor: The Best Black Comedy from Slavery to Today

Description

This collection of anecdotes, tales, jokes, toasts, rhymes, satire, riffs, poems, stand-up sketches, and snaps documents the evolution of African American humour over the past two centuries. It includes routines and writings from such luminaries as Bert Williams, Butterbeans and Susie, Stepin Fetchit, Moms Mabley, Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes, Redd Foxx, Ishmael Reed, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Martin Lawrence, and Chris Rock. This anthology includes classic stage routines, literary examples, and witty quotations presented in their entirety.

Mel Watkins is a former editor for the New York Times Book Review and the author of On the Real Side and Dancing with Strangers. He lives in New York City.

"Mel Watkins has done for comedy what Alex Haley did for the family." --Ishmael Reed "Full of raucous mirth." -- American Legacy "Full of raucous mirth." -- American Legacy