© 2026 New Hampshire Public Radio

Persons with disabilities who need assistance accessing NHPR's FCC public files, please contact us at publicfile@nhpr.org.

Support

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Thank you for supporting our successful March Drive. Your generosity ensures that the vital work of our newsroom continues.

Journalist Geoff Bennett discusses his book on Black artists who shaped American comedy

NPR | By Scott Simon,

Eric McDaniel

Published March 21, 2026 at 7:43 AM EDT

NPR's Scott Simon talks with journalist Geoff Bennett about his new book, "Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to '90s Sitcoms."

Copyright 2026 NPR

Tags

Scott Simon

Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.

See stories by Scott Simon

Eric McDaniel

Eric McDaniel edits the NPR Politics Podcast. He joined the program ahead of its 2019 relaunch as a daily podcast.

See stories by Eric McDaniel

Related Content

What Nowruz means this year to one Iranian American family

Here & Now Newsroom

The author of a new children’s book about Nowruz, or Persian New Year, is heartbroken over the number of young people killed in the Iran war. But, she’s still celebrating the holiday in their honor.
The book behind the movie 'Project Hail Mary'

Here & Now Newsroom

The book by Andy Weir centers around a middle school science teacher who finds himself aboard a spaceship light-years away from Earth and entrusted with saving the planet.
'Nonesuch' author Francis Spufford explains the 'Blitz spirit' of 1940s London

Sam Briger

Spufford's new novel centers a young woman in sexist World War II England as she navigates romance, tries to survive the nightly bombings of the Blitz and fights time-traveling fascists.
Geopolitics may test the World Cup — a new book draws lessons from the past

Jeffrey Pierre

Countries all around the world will soon send players to the U.S. to compete in one of soccer's biggest events. Roger Bennett explores how past competitions met cultural and geopolitical moments.
Brooklyn baker Tanya Bush on her new cookbook, 'Will This Make You Happy'

Scott Detrow, Elena Burnett, Jeanette Woods

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Tanya Bush about her new cookbook. She writes about a tumultuous year in her life filled with challenges and self discovery -- through baking.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.