Amanda Seales discusses why she's bringing 'Smart Funny and Black' to NMAAM on June 17

For the past two decades, comedian Amanda Seales has been d at the progressive edge of the African-American comedic and entertainment tradition. The fan of Black Panther ideology whose notion of empowerment "by any joke necessary" governs much of her work as a Columbia University-educated actress, writer, producer, and all-around creative brings her "Smart Funny and Black" show to Nashville's National Museum of African American Music on June 17.

"Juneteenth weekend deserves to be a revitalizing celebration worldwide," Seales tells The Tennessean.

The "Smart Funny and Black" shows are free and scheduled for 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Comedians featured include Tufara Waller Muhammad, Odessa Kelly, Garrison Hayes and Joshua Black.

Tickets (plus a waitlist) are available via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/smart-funny-black-juneteenth-jam-tickets-634477097077.

A sign-up for a live-stream version of the shows is available at https://www.smartfunnyandblack.com/juneteenth.

Seales' Master's degree in African-American Studies came after her appearances on Russell Simmons' groundbreaking program "Def Poetry Jam" and work as hip-hop correspondent "Amanda Diva" on MTV and VH1. Thus, a studied and nuanced knowledge of protecting Black creative freedom is inherent to her work.

After earning that degree, she's been an activist who has made appearances on CNN, appeared on Grammy-nominated rap albums (Q-Tip's "The Renaissance," in 2009), hosted the 2020 BET Awards, and appeared as Tiffany DuBois on HBO's "Insecure" among numerous accomplishments.

"Fulfilling my life's work via the art I make requires me to blend my real, lived experience as a Black person with an academic, analytical and critical awareness of the fullness of the Black experience," says Seales.

She identifies America's "rapid decline" settling in places like Tennessee as why she's bringing her latest creative concept to NMAAM.

Many recent civil and social rights concerns have seen Seales become concerned about life in the Volunteer State.

"There's decision-making in Tennessee that's cloaked in Christianity but really just reflective of right-wing, corporate BS," she adds. "These decisions are made in a state with a strong racist history -- but also a significant history of Black academic, artistic, athletic and scientific excellence."

At 7 and 9 p.m. CT, Seales will host a game show version of her SiriusXM radio program, aimed at "creating a safe space for the Black voice" that "celebrates the many contributions Black Americans have made to history and pop culture." The exercise culminates with the crowning of two of Nashville's four competitors -- Muhammad, Kelly, Hayes or Black -- as "blacksperts" who are "proficient in encouraging the protection, credible critique and advancement of Black culture."

Citing names like Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory and Paul Mooney as comedians whose work as civil rights advocates has inspired her modern-era work, Seales states that "standing against division and erasure," plus "attacks on intellectualism, truth and the American cultural canon" restores Black culture's position in America from being that of "a diamond in the rough."

She expects NMAAM to be a "loud and uproarious space" serving as a "counter-point to wickedness" on June 17.

"I'm creating an event that, like church, people can gather together in community as a 'release valve' for a constantly emotionally, mentally and physically taxing existence. Tennessee deserves a break. Some of its residents -- especially in Nashville -- need a moment built on laughter and love that also recharges and revitalizes them to challenge a system not serving them."

When asked to crystallize where her intellect and intentionality have taken her life's work, she smiles and holds a copy of Alex Haley's 1965-published "Autobiography of Malcolm X."

"By any joke necessary," she reiterates.

"Black people have to tell the truth at any cost -- if that means upsetting people on the way to uplifting them, then so be it. It's imperative that I mindfully use radical Black comedy to bring educated, liberated joy to a country [trapped in] idiocy."

For more information on "Smart Funny and Black" visit https://www.smartfunnyandblack.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Amanda Seales discusses why she's bringing 'Smart Funny and Black' to NMAAM on June 17