Chris Rock: December 7, 1989
Christopher Julius Rock (born 1965), better known as Chris Rock, is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director. Rock is mostly known as a standup comedian and roles in film and television such as Madagascar, Grown Ups, and Everybody Hates Chris. Rock’s stand-up comedy was known by his high-pitched and blunt delivery on stage. He talks about subjects many people shy away from, including politics, race, and celebrities, all with fearlessness and brutal honesty.
A Brooklyn native, Rock attended predominantly white public schools, where he was subjected to discrimination at an early age. Rock’s early experiences with racism greatly influenced his comedic material later on in his career. He uses his art of stand-up comedy to expose Hollywood’s and America’s prejudice against African-Americans, for example using his show Everyone Hates Chris to demonstrate the experience of a black child going to an all-white institution. Rock’s talents expose systematic oppression towards the Black community and promote unity and activism while embracing African-American culture.
During Rock’s visit to SUNY Plattsburgh on December 7, 1989, he performed a stand-up set and discussed several issues such as abortion, AIDS, obesity, and racism. He made jokes about Plattsburgh’s weather and Jehovah Witnesses trying to persuade him that Jesus was black because of the average points he made per game. The audience loved his performance and even interviewed Rock after the show. During the interview, Rock was just at the beginning of his career and expressed his desire to move to LA and become a movie actor. Ironically, months later Rock was featured in a short film Who is Chris Rock?, which showcased his life and work. This gained him large recognition in the industry.
--Domenica Lacouture ‘20