Black When I Was A Boy

Mind Blown. This is a play everyone would benefit from watching.Yes his life stories were entertaining, unpredictable and occasionally downright funny. But when I realized how seemingly uneventful acts of normal life can result in deeply racist emotional scarring, whether intentional or not, it made me rethink American cultural history and it's impact today. His stories shared the horrors of modern racism through everyday experiences that anyone of us could've had ourselves, whether on the giving or receiving end. Hearing about his coping mechanisms though out his life conquering such adversities also provided much needed hope for all of us. Cooper's stories are not easily forgotten, nor should they be.... full review

I absolutely loved this show, “Black When I Was A Boy.” Cooper Bates tells a very powerful story. This was truly a stellar performance with beautiful storytelling! I highly recommend! ... full review

I was so entranced by Cooper's authentic story-telling, that I was shocked when it was over. I could've listened for another hour.... full review

Fascinating portrayal of racism as experienced by a young black boy in Kansas in the 60s and 70s. Sometimes the scenes made me squirm due to the uncomfortable nature of navigating the racism. Highly recommend you go see Black When I Was a Boy. Cooper Bates naturally entrances you with his story. ... full review

BLACK WHEN I WAS A BOY is a powerful exploration of one young man's journey from being forced to challenge his identity of who he is and his place in the world simply because of the color of his skin. It was incredibly moving and universal in it's exploration of how young lives can be shattered in an instant -- by one word, one look, and a racism that is both insidious and explosively violent. Cooper Bates' is an incredible actor, but even more importantly, he is a thoughtful and insightful human being who is able to look back at the events of his life and identify the key moments that made him who he is. Powerful and painful, but ultimately full of hope. ... full review

What an amazing night at the theater with Cooper Bates. Cooper pulls the audience into the past, while he explores what it means to discover being black in America. ... full review

Cooper Bates' one man show, Black When I Was a Boy is a truly heartfelt tale of that banishment from paradise so many of us experience when we first come to learn the sinful truth: The serpent of prejudice and racial intolerance slithers through our world. A solid Gold Medal. ... full review

This show turned out to be a surprise gem at the Fringe. I knew I was going to see a show about race, and it's easy for show about a hot-button topic to turn into a polemic that simply preaches to the converted. Instead, Cooper Bates has woven a story that's at times hilarious and charming, but that in its often disarming humor opens a window that suddenly leaves us staring at a much bleaker landscape. While it's not a perfect play--there are moments that can be tightened or developed further--it's well on its way, and well worth the price of a ticket and an hour of your time.... full review

Born black in a historic black town, raised good-old-boy in a mostly white town and what do you become? Cooper Bates became a thoughtful, gleeful, funny and deep teller of stories. He conveys both the joy of growing up in a small town with an abundance of friends and activities and the ugly eruptions of racial and family violence that make finding his true self a struggle. Never the list, as the play progresses, we see a unique individual stand up and use a combination of strength, patience, and humor to form a positive world view and teach himself as well as his erstwhile enemy that we all should honor our best selves, but no one owes loyalty to a stereotype .... full review

Wow, what a show! Such an incredibly moving and heartbreaking story. The specificity of the story telling takes you through Cooper's life as he recounts the way race impacted his childhood. ... full review