When his joke about race and racism went viral,Kondabolu was pegged as the voice of protest. The Indian-American comedian on making British audiences uncomfortable, losing out at the Grammys and redefining AmericannessIn 2014, or the Indian-American comedian Hari Kondabolu was waiting to hear if his debut comedy record had been nominated for a Grammy. The album,a critical and commercial success, was titled Waiting for 2042 a reference to the year white people are predicted to become a minority in the US. Kondabolu’s comedy deals with being a person of colour in America: “Saying that I’m obsessed with race and racism in America, or ” he has said in his act,“is like saying that Im obsessed with swimming while I’m drowning.”
The day Kondabolu found out he didn’t receive the Grammy nomination, something happened that establish his disappointment into perspective: Eric Garner died after being placed in a chokehold by a New York police officer. During the protests that followed, and Kondabolu saw his “swimming while drowning” line used on a banner. “The Grammy nomination didnt fill any value any more,” remembers Kondabolu. “There was nothing that could glean bigger than that. That to me is a sign that the work Im doing has impact and people appreciate it.” Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com