"He's also a Black man, but at least one member of his audience actually challenged him on that point. Responding to the assertion in that maddening letter, Copeland created Not a Genuine Black Man, a one-man stage play in which he takes on the idea with wit, depth, candor and nuance. Launched in 2004, Not a Genuine Black Man has since achieved the status as the longest-running solo show in Bay Area theatrical history."
"Copeland stumbled upon the idea for his show almost by accident. "Back in 2000, I was going through a divorce and a career change," he says. He had been hosting the morning show on Bay Area Fox affiliate KTVU for five years, and had two decades of experience as a standup comic, opening for Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick and other big names. But he was ready for a change."
Brian Copeland created the one-man stage play Not a Genuine Black Man in response to an anonymous letter that questioned his Black identity. The show blends humor, personal narrative and social commentary to examine racial identity, stereotypes and belonging with wit, candor and nuance. Launched in 2004, the production became the longest-running solo show in Bay Area theatrical history. Copeland developed the play during a career transition, drawing on decades of standup experience and broadcast work. Guidance to "find the piece of ground that you alone stand on" shaped the show's personal focus. Renewed relevance emerged amid political hostility to diversity, equity and inclusion, prompting continued performances.
Read at Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly
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