Monday, July 31, 2017

Trailblazers in Black History: Keenan Ivory Wayans


As the head and founding member of the multi-talented Wayans comedy empire, Keenen Ivory Wayans blazed a trail as a comedic actor and stand-up performer in the early 1980s. Though he made strides with guest-starring roles on several popular television shows, Wayans quickly became frustrated with the dearth of meaty comedic roles for African-American actors. 

He partnered with comedian Robert Townsend to channel his frustrations by co-writing the scathing and hilarious satire, "Hollywood Shuffle" (1987), which parodied the real-life challenges he faced trying to make it in show business. From there, he directed his first feature, "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" (1988), which showcased his talent for satire - particularly on issues affecting African-American culture. But Wayans made his biggest impact on the small screen with "In Living Color" (Fox, 1990-95). 

Click here for the full article. 

Sources: http://www.hollywood.com and FoundationINTERVIEWS

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