Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to '90s Sitcoms

“A brilliant historical account of Black comedy and its role and place in American life. It’s also an account of a lifelong love affair with laughing out loud. What a wonderful book to read in these difficult days. Bennett takes us to the well of Black humor, revealing its political, moral, and existential power.”—Eddie S. Glaude Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University

The award-winning co-anchor of PBS NewsHour presents a sweeping and insightful retrospective on the history of Black comedy in America.

Black comedians have long played a pivotal role in shaping American humor. The 1990s showcased a golden era for Black comedy, highlighted by the surge of iconic sitcoms that redefined television and left a lasting cultural imprint. Shows like In Living Color, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Living Single, Martin, and A Different World stood on the shoulders of decades of groundbreaking work by Black comedians, both on-screen and onstage, to deliver nuanced portrayals of life, family, and culture. Yet, just decades earlier, the idea of Black artists dominating American airwaves with characters that were both hilarious and heartfelt would have been unimaginable. How did it come to be?

In Black Out Loud, Geoff Bennett chronicles the transformative history of Black comedy in America, drawing on research and interviews with the actors and executives behind some of the most impactful shows. This brilliant exploration traces the evolution of Black comics and provocateurs who reshaped the culture and ultimately became powerful agents of social change—revolutionizing the way America laughed along the way.

Includes interviews and insights from: Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Jaleel White, Tisha Campbell, Ben Vereen, Darryl M. Bell, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Yvette Lee Bowser, Erika Alexander, Larry Wilmore, and many more!