What I liked
Though his show exposes the horrors and ugliness of racism, Bates has a quality that is larger than his race or his nationality. He is kind of an “every man”; so he touches cords in all of us who have been bullied, whatever the reason.
His use of stage, and lighting, media, and sound was very on point and helped with the storytelling.
What I didn't like
I would have loved to have known more about his parents.
My overall impression
Cooper Bates is a superb storyteller. In ‘Black When I Was A Boy’ he gives a heart-wrenching account of the humiliation and danger he continuously experienced as the only black child in a very prejudice small American town in the 70’s and 80’s as he was coming of age. As dark and uncomfortable as racist issues are, his lively delivery and comedic moments keep our spirits high and and our hearts hopeful throughout the show.
