Comedy represents a growing industry with society in general and the Afrikan American community specifically. With this increased level of anxiety comic relief becomes a highly sought after commodity. We have organized some of the most highly sought after comics with the one idea of stroking people’s funny bone while provoking deep thought.
Contemporary Comedy
For centuries people have understood the healing effects of humor. It is unfortunate that much of what is called comedy today becomes an affront to the desirable morals, ethics and values that people seek to live by. Many comedians demean their racial, ethnic heritage and Black male-female relationships, use sexual overtures and extremely harsh language as central linguistic props for their jokes as well as encourage the excessive usage of drugs and alcohol. The conceptual frame of Comedy with a Conscience was born out of the desire to develop an agreeable solution that satisfies one’s desire to laugh and one’s lifestyle of high morals and ethical standards.
Conscience Comedy Concept
The Comedy with a Conscience Group is the brainchild of Kevin Washington, Ph.D. He noticed the rift of high standards and the human desire for entertainment first between university students and the university administration from the time he was an undergraduate in the mid 1980’s to the present. Additionally, he noticed the same rift within the larger population of people desiring humor but did not want to feel humiliated. Dr. Washington believes that there are ways to be funny without being demeaning. He further contends that comedy can be hilarious, uplifting and enlightening.
The Comedic Idea and Beyond
The idea for positive and profound Black comedy was taken to comedian/actress Meshelle Foreman Shields (MESHELLE) and several other comedians who all thought that the vision to bring comedy to the community, comedy that raised consciousness, highlighted high values, prompted self-respect while concomitantly promoted self-love was not only an idea that sounded good but it was a sound idea. Her vision is to promote socially responsible comedy that is spiritually grounded.
The Comedians (Comedians subject to change without prior notice.)
Meshelle Foreman Shields has called together some of the most provocative comedians of our generations. Visit her at www.meshelle.com.
- MESHELLE has appeared on 4 seasons of Black Entertainment Television’s (BET) COMICVIEW as well as a syndicated special airing on both ABC and NBC entitled, “Walk a Mile in My Shoes: A 90 Year look at the NAACP” as well as commercials and print adds. With a background in psychology and a consulting career as a mental health advocate, MESHELLE gives a punch to everyone of life’s challenges and contrasts and it’s a sight to hear and see! She focuses on family and Black womanhood.
- Mike Washington has also appeared on BET’s COMICVIEW and has toured throughout the country. With a gritty take on parenting mixed with an eclectic look at Urban America having been born and raised in Washington, DC, Mike has an awesome approach to finding humor in some of life’s most inopportune moments.
- BPHLAT has toured colleges and universities for years and is featured on BET’s COMICVIEW year after year. As a daughter of the mid-west who made her migration to the east several years ago, BPHLAT (Beverly Nelson) has made her mark in the world of Comedy. Although she is known to take things to the edge, BPHLAT possesses the ability to leave the driving up to the listener. She is provocative and stylish.
- Stacy Carver is an educator/husband and father who takes a side splitting take at all life has to offer the African-American man. Having appeared in film (12 Monkeys) and television (BET’s COMICVIEW), Stacy has grasped the power of comedy as it relates to those in and out of his gene pool. You’ll love his comedic take on life.
Feel the Power
It is our desire to provide the community with a social outlet that consists of good comedy that empowers. It is important to us that our minds have experiences that contribute to our aspirations to be high achieving adults who are positively impacting the forward flow of humanity. Our goals of empowerment are consistent with the goals that many people hold for themselves. We know that there is healing power in laughter and we want all members of the community to be able to sit together, laugh together and to ultimately feel the power together.
