--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Smart Funny & Black' came about because…" description: "\"'Smart Funny & Black' came about because I felt that black comedians were being considered as only capable of a certain type of comedy - sort of physic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/amanda-seales-8074_capable_smart-funny-black-came-about-because-i-f_598925.jpg" --- # 'Smart Funny & Black' came about because I felt that black… ![“'Smart Funny & Black' came about because I felt that black comedians were being considered as only capable of a certain type of comedy - sort of physical, kind of silly - and I felt like we are not a monolith, and our comedy isn't, either.” quote by Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/amanda-seales-8074_capable_smart-funny-black-came-about-because-i-f_598925.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/amanda-seales-8074_capable_smart-funny-black-came-about-because-i-f_598925.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e16/amanda-seales-8074_capable_smart-funny-black-came-about-because-i-f_598925.jpg) > “'Smart Funny & Black' came about because I felt that black comedians were being considered as only capable of a certain type of comedy - sort of physical, kind of silly - and I felt like we are not a monolith, and our comedy isn't, either.” [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote challenges the stereotype that black comedians only perform physical or silly humor, asserting diversity in style and content. **In simple terms:** Black comedians are not limited to one style. Key Takeaway Recognize and support varied comedic voices. Themes stereotypes representation diversity comedy culture Mood defiant hopeful critical Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - casting decisions - media coverage - festival programming Key Concepts identity media perception creative freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can audiences seek out diverse comedic voices? - What role do producers play in shaping representation? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can be deeply entrenched, making change slow and uneven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-funny/) ## Related quotes > ['Smart, Funny and Black' is about celebrating, critiquing and learning about black culture, black history, and the black experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/smart-funny-and-black-is-about-celebrating-critiquing-and-learning/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > ['Smart Funny and Black' is basically a live black pop culture game show that I created. We have a live band. We have two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/smart-funny-and-black-is-basically-a-live-black-pop-culture-game-show/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [As far as stand-ups go, I always loved Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, and Sinbad. Basically, I love black comedians because they're the funniest. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/as-far-as-stand-ups-go-i-always-loved-richard-pryor-chris-rock-and/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [There is a linear way in which black comedians are expected to talk about race by all audiences - black people are like this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/there-is-a-linear-way-in-which-black-comedians-are-expected-to-talk/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [All of us black comedians are trying to be mainstream, but you don't want to lose the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-foxx/all-of-us-black-comedians-are-trying-to-be-mainstream-but-you-don-t/) [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) > [I work with quite a lot of black comedians and I don't think they think doing accents is racist at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-whitehouse/i-work-with-quite-a-lot-of-black-comedians-and-i-don-t-think-they/) [Paul Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-whitehouse/) > [I don't like the fact that most black people or black comedians have to present themselves in a flamboyant way. It's good if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklyn-ajaye/i-don-t-like-the-fact-that-most-black-people-or-black-comedians-have/) [Franklyn Ajaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklyn-ajaye/) > [Black comics, they only watch Black comedians. You're a comedian; you're not just a Black comedian. You're a comedian. I try to get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/black-comics-they-only-watch-black-comedians-you-re-a-comedian-you-re/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [There are words that I wouldn't say because they hurt people's feelings. I just happen to be a white guy who writes for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/there-are-words-that-i-wouldn-t-say-because-they-hurt-people-s/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [My whole intention is to break down these limitations of what a black comedian is supposed to be and to open up a space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/my-whole-intention-is-to-break-down-these-limitations-of-what-a-black/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I know how to be funny to black audiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-t-jackson/i-know-how-to-be-funny-to-black-audiences/) [Brandon T. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-t-jackson/) > [Race makes things funny. A black guy driving in NASCAR: not funny. A black guy driving a car sponsored by Tide: not funny. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/race-makes-things-funny-a-black-guy-driving-in-nascar-not-funny-a/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [Until recently, Hollywood offered only a handful of roles to actors of color. The majority of my opportunities have fallen into two categories: Scary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-vaughn/until-recently-hollywood-offered-only-a-handful-of-roles-to-actors-of/) [Baron Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-vaughn/) > [Hopefully people will be reinventing comedy forever and ever. This is just what I do, and it's a type of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/hopefully-people-will-be-reinventing-comedy-forever-and-ever-this-is/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Animation is awesome because there's a really bold type of comedy you can get away with that you couldn't get away with in live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-miller/animation-is-awesome-because-there-s-a-really-bold-type-of-comedy-you/) [Christopher Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-miller/) ## More by Amanda Seales > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [The amount of silliness that happens to me is insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/the-amount-of-silliness-that-happens-to-me-is-insane/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I think it's always been especially hard for black people to let go of musicians who do heinous things because music is such an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-think-it-s-always-been-especially-hard-for-black-people-to-let-go/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I want to create and write scripted and unscripted shows, digital shows, stage shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-want-to-create-and-write-scripted-and-unscripted-shows-digital/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I always say your truth is your compass to your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-always-say-your-truth-is-your-compass-to-your-purpose/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [My mom is an incredibly direct person, and I like things to make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/my-mom-is-an-incredibly-direct-person-and-i-like-things-to-make-sense/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [For a long time, I didn't have a balance in terms of my worth and my market value; I was just a very talented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/for-a-long-time-i-didn-t-have-a-balance-in-terms-of-my-worth-and-my/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [Whether you agree with Trump or not, you can't deny he looks like a piece of pizza with the cheese off. It's just what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/whether-you-agree-with-trump-or-not-you-can-t-deny-he-looks-like-a/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I am black, and I loved 'Django.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-am-black-and-i-loved-django/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I have planted my flag in my comedy being useful for social change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-have-planted-my-flag-in-my-comedy-being-useful-for-social-change/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I've been grinding a really long time, and I've been broke for a lot of years. I may not have looked like it because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-ve-been-grinding-a-really-long-time-and-i-ve-been-broke-for-a-lot/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [As a lover of both hip-hop and jazz, I feel like much of the latter community still doesn't truly embrace hip-hop as a musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/as-a-lover-of-both-hip-hop-and-jazz-i-feel-like-much-of-the-latter/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [Growing up, dating seemed pretty straightforward: If someone was interested in getting to know you on a romantic level, they approached, exchanged info, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/growing-up-dating-seemed-pretty-straightforward-if-someone-was/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [When I came into stand-up, I found a certain safe space of intellectualism, of camaraderie, of excellence that really has always been natural to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/when-i-came-into-stand-up-i-found-a-certain-safe-space-of/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [Anytime I don't have to wear a bra is a good day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/anytime-i-don-t-have-to-wear-a-bra-is-a-good-day/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) [Explore all 84 Amanda Seales quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) ## More Capable quotes > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Everybody is different. Some writers can write reams of great books and then J. D. Salinger wrote just a few. Beethoven wrote nine symphonies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/everybody-is-different-some-writers-can-write-reams-of-great-books/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [But, outside of being a sweet little girl, she was awfully dumb and capable of doing horrible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/but-outside-of-being-a-sweet-little-girl-she-was-awfully-dumb-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [The mathematical facts worthy of being studied are those which, by their analogy with other facts, are capable of leading us to the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/the-mathematical-facts-worthy-of-being-studied-are-those-which-by/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [“If you not yet try How to know you can or not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sopharat/if-you-not-yet-try-how-to-know-you-can-or-not/) Sopharat > [I'm attracted to the garden, without a doubt, but I always try and image the wolf that's there, too. And that wolf would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-light/i-m-attracted-to-the-garden-without-a-doubt-but-i-always-try-and/) [Michael Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-light/) > [A man, as a man, could arrive at all the dignity that a man was capable of obtaining or receiving; but it needed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/a-man-as-a-man-could-arrive-at-all-the-dignity-that-a-man-was-capable/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [Playing is much, much harder than composing in my opinion, becoming a player. 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