Preacher Moss
Encyclopedia
Preacher Moss is an American
comedian
and writer
.
, United States
. He began practicing comedy at the age of seven, when he earned the nickname "Preacher" for his imitations of the pastor at his family's church. He was raised as a Christian in a Maryland suburb and was sent to a local military academy for his schooling.
In 1988, at the age of 20, he converted to Islam. He graduated from Marquette University
in 1988 with a degree in journalism and a took a job teaching emotionally disturbed children in Milwaukee, while continuing to do standup comedy.
, who would later become a regular on the NBC
comedy show Saturday Night Live
. Hammond hired him as a writer. Seeking to develop his comedy skills, Moss moved to Los Angeles
. There, he continued to teach special education classes and worked as a writer for many comics, including Damon Wayans
and George Lopez
.
In May 2004, Moss and other Muslim comics Azhar Usman
and Azeem Muhammad (later replaced by Mohammed Amer
in 2006) launched a comedy tour titled "Allah Made Me Funny
," the show not only offered non-Muslims a chance to get to know a little about Islamic culture, but it provided a place where Muslims could gather to share humor about their own lives and experiences. He and the other comics on the tour made sure that their jokes were respectful and did not include sexual references or profanity. To ensure that Muslims would be comfortable attending the show, the comics requested that comedy clubs not serve alcohol or pork or allow smoking during performances. "Allah Made Me Funny" toured 30 U.S. cities during its first year, and also in Canada, Europe, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East.
He has performed at the Global Peace and Unity Event
in the ExCeL Exhibition Centre London
in London
and also at Council on American-Islamic Relations banquet in Oklahoma City in 2010.
, Canada
. When not on tour, he lives in Long Beach
, California
, and visits his mother's home in Washington, D.C., frequently.
Americans
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Background and education
Born Bryant Moss in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He began practicing comedy at the age of seven, when he earned the nickname "Preacher" for his imitations of the pastor at his family's church. He was raised as a Christian in a Maryland suburb and was sent to a local military academy for his schooling.
In 1988, at the age of 20, he converted to Islam. He graduated from Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
in 1988 with a degree in journalism and a took a job teaching emotionally disturbed children in Milwaukee, while continuing to do standup comedy.
Writing career
In 1994, Moss was the opening act for a comic named Darrell HammondDarrell Hammond
Darrell Hammond is an American actor, stand-up comedian and impressionist. He was a regular on Saturday Night Live from 1995 until 2009, the longest tenure of any cast member. Upon his departure, Hammond, at age 53, was the oldest cast member in the show's history...
, who would later become a regular on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
comedy show Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
. Hammond hired him as a writer. Seeking to develop his comedy skills, Moss moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. There, he continued to teach special education classes and worked as a writer for many comics, including Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans
Damon Kyle Wayans is an American stand-up comedian, writer and actor, one of the Wayans brothers.-Early life:Wayans was born in New York City, New York, the son of Elvira, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager...
and George Lopez
George Lopez
George Lopez is an American comedian, actor, and talk show host. He is mostly known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including the Mexican American culture...
.
Comedy career
Moss wrote his own show, titled "End of Racism." Beginning in 2000, he toured hundreds of national college campuses and and high schools performing, teaching, and discussing poverty, racism, multiculturalism, civil rights, and critical race theory. He performed "End of Racism" for four years when he got an idea for another kind of progressive comedy experience which addressed another kind of prejudice, that was spreading rapidly throughout non-Islamic communities in post-9/11 America.In May 2004, Moss and other Muslim comics Azhar Usman
Azhar Usman
Azhar Usman is a Indian American Muslim comedian and actor born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.He is a former lecturer, community activist and lawyer and is often referred to as the 'Ayatollah of Comedy' and 'Bin Laughin'.-Background and education:...
and Azeem Muhammad (later replaced by Mohammed Amer
Mohammed Amer
-Background:Mohammed Amer is originally of Palestinian decent, and the youngest of six children. He and his family fled his birth country of Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War when he was 9 years old...
in 2006) launched a comedy tour titled "Allah Made Me Funny
Allah Made Me Funny
Allah Made Me Funny is a documentary film directed by Andrea Kalin, an independent filmmaker , and produced by . This live concert features three Muslim Americans Mohammed "Mo" Amer, Bryant "Preacher" Moss and Azhar Usman....
," the show not only offered non-Muslims a chance to get to know a little about Islamic culture, but it provided a place where Muslims could gather to share humor about their own lives and experiences. He and the other comics on the tour made sure that their jokes were respectful and did not include sexual references or profanity. To ensure that Muslims would be comfortable attending the show, the comics requested that comedy clubs not serve alcohol or pork or allow smoking during performances. "Allah Made Me Funny" toured 30 U.S. cities during its first year, and also in Canada, Europe, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East.
He has performed at the Global Peace and Unity Event
Global Peace and Unity
The Global Peace and Unity event is an annual two-day conference held at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in Royal Victoria Dock, London and organized by the Islam Channel. It is the largest Muslim, interfaith and multicultural event of its kind in Europe, having attracted over 55,000 visitors from...
in the ExCeL Exhibition Centre London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and also at Council on American-Islamic Relations banquet in Oklahoma City in 2010.
Personal life
In 2003, Moss married Yasmin, an Indian Muslim living in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. When not on tour, he lives in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and visits his mother's home in Washington, D.C., frequently.
See also
- Allah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me FunnyAllah Made Me Funny is a documentary film directed by Andrea Kalin, an independent filmmaker , and produced by . This live concert features three Muslim Americans Mohammed "Mo" Amer, Bryant "Preacher" Moss and Azhar Usman....
- Azhar UsmanAzhar UsmanAzhar Usman is a Indian American Muslim comedian and actor born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.He is a former lecturer, community activist and lawyer and is often referred to as the 'Ayatollah of Comedy' and 'Bin Laughin'.-Background and education:...
- Mohammed AmerMohammed Amer-Background:Mohammed Amer is originally of Palestinian decent, and the youngest of six children. He and his family fled his birth country of Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War when he was 9 years old...
- Islamic humourIslamic humourIslamic humour is the long tradition of humour in Islam, dating as far back as the Prophet Muhammad.-Islamic restrictions on humour:In accordance with Islam, Muslims generally abide by some basic rules on making jokes, such as humour being within the limits of Islamic tolerance, and not going...
- African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
- Lists of African Americans
- List of African-American writers
- List of converts to Islam
External links
- Official Website
- IMDb Entry
- Allah Made Me Funny: Muslim Comedy Tour
- Performance at Muslim Public Affairs Banquet at the University of Houston
- Encyclopedia.com - Contemporary Black Biography - Preacher Moss
- Comedy of the ‘Allah Tour’ Has Muslims Laughing," Beliefnet
- "Poking Fun, In Good Faith: Muslim Comics Laugh In the Face of Intolerance," Washington Post.com
- "Poor Righteous Preacher," Muslim Round Table Television
- "Clean Jokes and an Attempt to Foster Understanding," The State.com: South Carolina's Homepage
Further reading
- Independent on Sunday, Apr 1, 2007.
- India-West (San Leandro, CA), January 27, 2006, p. C1.
- Los Angeles Times, December 12, 2004, p. I10.
- Recorder (Indianapolis, IN), May 6, 2005, p. C3.
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle, WA), October 1, 2005, p. C1.
- Seattle Times (Seattle, WA) April 14, 2004, p. H29.
- The Toronto Star, May 16, 2004, p. 15.
- Weekend All Things Considered (Washington, D.C.) August 14, 2005, p. 1.