Larry Wilmore

Larry Wilmore may be the most important satirical African American journalist in America. As the "senior black correspondent" for the Emmy Award-winning The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Wilmore shares a uniquely hilarious perspective on racial politics and diversity in today's society. His first book, I'd Rather We Got Casinos and Other Black Thoughts, displays "an ability to convince, confound and compel in equal measure," according to Publishers Weekly.

Growing up influenced by Richard Pryor and Johnny Carson, Wilmore has been a television producer, actor, comedian, and writer for more than 30 years. He has written for such shows as In Living Color, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Office. Wilmore co-created Fox's animated show The PJs with Eddie Murphy as well as The Bernie Mac Show, which won him an Emmy and a Peabody Award. With The Daily Show marking a return to performing for Wilmore, he is currently developing a sitcom for HBO.

Wilmore's goal when writing I'd Rather We Got Casinos and Other Black Thoughts was to pen the first openly satirical book on race: "In the vein of Woody Allen…there hasn't been a lot of black satire. In that spirit it's not to be taken seriously; it's meant for people to have as much fun as possible. And maybe it could even be a movie; I'd like it to turn into a James Bond franchise. And Will Smith plays me."

A respected cultural commentator and a successful Hollywood talent, Wilmore opens the door to an honest conversation about race and diversity in our country. He delivers a versatile and entertaining message, lacing it with his own comedic wit in an interactive discussion.