Portland Comedian Nathan Brannon is entering a new phase in his career that welcomes the awkward silence.
Nathan Brannon
Portland Comedian Nathan Brannon says he’s entering a new phase in his career: one that welcomes the awkward silence.
Brannon is recording a new comedy album that will tackle issues like race, class and gender head on. Brannon said those topics will make some people uncomfortable.
“When you can say something, and you know it’s funny, but they don’t want to laugh at it because they feel like they’re not supposed to laugh at it, I’m okay with that,” Brannon said.
One of his jokes that makes some uncomfortable is about his pre-toddler son. For the setup, it’s important to know that Brannon is black and his wife is white. And when some strangers see Brannon and his son in public together, they think a black man has snatched a white baby.
“It’s insulting, but they don’t ever say it outright,” Brannon said. “Instead of going ‘you stole that baby,’ they’ll say something more like, ‘Oh, how old is he? No, what’s his exact birth date? I need to know that you know his exact birth date before I leave.'
“It bothers me, because it’s kinda like a double standard, right? Like you can’t accuse black dads, especially, of being bad dads or not even in the picture, and they like to steal babies," said Brannon.
Brannon spoke with OPB’s Weekend Edition Host John Sepulvado.
