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How to Act Black

DeRay Davis

Netflix · 2017 · 66 min

A veteran Chicago comic targets Hollywood's narrow view of Black identity.

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DeRay Davis centers his first Netflix special on a central paradox of his career: he is a seasoned Hollywood character actor who keeps getting told by white casting directors that he does not know how to act Black enough. He illustrates this absurdity with a story about auditioning for a Chicago street gang member, only to be rejected for lacking authenticity, despite actually being raised on the South Side of Chicago. Davis uses this frustration to build a set around the gap between how white audiences perceive Black life and the reality of living it.\n\nRecorded at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, Georgia, the 2017 hour finds Davis transitioning from a loose, club-heavy stand-up style into a more structured performance. At this point in his career, he was hosting VH1’s Hip Hop Squares and preparing for a dramatic turn on the FX series Snowfall. Here, he balances show business anecdotes with sharp cultural comparisons, pointing out that when a white actor like Brad Pitt grows a scruffy beard, he looks ‘between roles,’ whereas Davis looks ‘between homes.’ He avoids heavy partisan politics by referring to Donald Trump solely as ‘President Dude’ but takes a swing at the cultural divide, offering a pragmatic compromise between Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter.

The set list

5 bits

  1. White casting agents telling him to 'act blacker' for an audition playing a Chicago street thug.

    Breaks down what 'acting Black' truly means, defining it as an attitude—such as being broke but acting rich, or acting like you didn't steal your neighbor's stuff while still in their house.

  2. Living with Kevin Hart before fame.

    Mocks pre-fame Hart's baby-sized shoes and contemplates whether he actually wants that level of superstardom when he still has petty or evil thoughts.

  3. Using waterproof phones to cheat on girlfriends.

    Uses a gargled, underwater vocal impression to act out a man whispering to a side woman while submerged in a pool, only to be confronted underwater by his furious girlfriend.

  4. Mass shootings and public awareness.

    Advocates abandoning the 'stop snitching' rule in favor of speaking up and staying aware of surroundings during public violence.

  5. The boy who fell into the zoo gorilla enclosure.

    Muses on the incident involving the gorilla and jokes about how the child will act when he grows up.

How it plays

Tone
Irreverent, lighthearted, observational, and candid with heavy use of profanity.
On stage
Described as a 'ball of fire' with the relatable charm of the 'funny dude in the barbershop' or a Chicago street-smart native who made it, blending confidence with self-deprecating cowardice.
Pace
Dynamic and energetic.
About
What it means to 'act Black', Navigating show business and Hollywood auditions, Growing up in Chicago, Dating, girlfriends, and infidelity, Mass shootings and situational awareness, Police relations

What the critics said

Received generally positive to mixed reviews; critics praised Davis's natural charisma, barbershop banter, and storytelling about his Chicago roots and acting career, though some felt his social commentary on mass shootings was less refined.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: imdb.com, vulture.com, revolt.tv, decider.com, wherever-i-look.com, paulgreenamyer.wordpress.com, cinafilm.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Reflecting on his upbringing in Chicago, experiences with gun violence, police relations, modern mass shootings, and navigating Hollywood casting expectations as a Black actor.

Details

Released
Taped
Variety Playhouse, Atlanta
Runtime
66 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Marcus Raboy
Topics
Before
Comedy Central Presents (2006)

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