Comedian Sampson McCormick "Church Boy"
Sampson McCormick is a comedian and stage performer many issues of the day, including intersectionality from a Black gay male perspective, in the newly released film, "Church Boy," on June 1, 2020. The new stand up comedy concert film is the fifth from the award-winning comedian and is now available on several online platforms.
The new comedy special, which was taped during a run of sold-out shows that he headlined at the DC Comedy Loft in Washington, DC, the week before the COVID-19 shut down, tackle a breadth of issues ranging from the challenges that black gay men face in social institutions like barbershops and the black church, the rising costs of living, gentrification, mental health, dating, and classic black films.
“What inspires me most is where we've come from as a Black community and the Black queer community,” said McCormick.” The preservation of our history and the stories of ours that haven't been told yet.”
With the current quarantine, high levels of unemployment, and national protests, the film offers laughter as a soothing balm for the state of depression, restlessness, and high tension that the nation faces some of the tensest times in recent history.
For nearly 20 years, McCormick headlined venues including the historic Howard Theater, Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts, Laugh Factory in Hollywood, San Francisco Punch Line, Harvard University, and has been shattering barriers, headlining major numerous mainstream venues including the Howard Theater, and in 2018 became the first LGBT comic ever to perform at a Smithsonian Institution.
“I do what I do is because more authentic narratives of the Black community and black queer men need to exist in media,” said McCormick. “I care about our stories being represented, how we are portrayed in media, and because of our narratives and voices in media bare socio-political importance. Comedy is also a bridge that allows us to connect and bring people together and is a healing balm for the challenges that we face navigating through life.”
McCormick's previous works include 2013's "That B*%@# Better Be Funny," 2019's "A Different Direction," performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture, as well as appearances on VICELAND, TV One, BET, and FOX SOUL. The upcoming film "Church Boy" and the artist, Sampson McCormick, can be found on Instagram @sampsonmccormick and the official website sampsoncomedy.com.
"Church Boy" (Trailer): https://youtu.be/lW_oxSScBe0
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