Jerrod Carmichael
Jerrod Carmichael brings something really individual and potent to the comedy table through his blunt and (sometimes painfully) honest stand-up. Carmichael dives into an array of dark topics and, as New York Times solidifies, "goes there.. pushing audiences to find humor in the darkest of places" (Weiner 2016).
The way in which Carmichael approaches race and class is with an unconventional approach. In the face of topics such as race and class, that are intricate and delicate subjects, Carmichael’s strategy ends up making bold and critical points in our society's framework. Carmichael’s sharp technique of discussing these topics in his standup, catches the audience off guard and sequentially, pushes them to think critically. For example, in Carmichael’s 2014 HBO Stand-up “Love at the Store”, he makes a joke about Trayvon Martin: Carmichael recalls a story of when he went past his doorman in his expensive apartment building wearing a hooded sweatshirt without being questioned. He tells his doorman, “I was concerned. I pay a lot of money-- like a lot of money, so that niggas in hoodies like me can’t waltz by you. Next time stand your ground”.
The reaction and energy of the audience is uncomfortable and on edge to where Carmichael confronts them saying, “Really? Cause, like, that Trayvon is really affecting your day to day… you wake up, have your cup of coffee, and [blows a kiss] to a picture of Trayvon. And then you start your day. Is that what you do? Cause you don’t”.
Spike Lee who directed the special, argued with Carmichael on doing this joke because it was too soon to be talking about Trayvon, but Carmichael pushed for the joke because he stressed his intent was not to mock Trayvon’s death; Carmichael wanted to confront and explore with the public the notion of ‘caring’, what it really means to care about Trayvon’s death, “I want to be the voice that challenges”, Carmichael said in an interview(Weiner 2016).
At 28, Carmichael explores and challenges these topics to a point of extreme that borders with twisted but despite that, Carmichael uses his jokes to pressurize people to think about these matters that are desperate to be unraveled. His fourth-right and powerful sincerity stands out from many other comics, having such a dynamic forward thinking mission.
Carmichael has two specials on HBO: "8" (2017) and "Love at the Store" (2014)
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- Introduction to the Truth Tellers Mary Lopez
