Artist, Author, Speaker, Comedian, Educator
Greater Los Angeles Area
- Current
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- Author at How to Rent a Negro
- Artist, Author, Speaker, Comedian at damali ayo dot com
- Past
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- artist at damaliayo.com
- Education
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- Portland State University
- Brown University
- Sidwell Friends School
- Recommended
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8 people have recommended damali - Connections
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196
connections
- Industry
- Entertainment
- Websites
damali ayo’s Summary
damali ayo brings a unique style of playful humor and piercing honesty to the conversation about race and human relationships.
damali ayo uses art, wit and satire to expose the remedial state of race relations with such creations as "the race card," "white noise," "panhandling for reparations," and the website "rent-a-negro.com." The international success of the web site was followed by her best-selling book How to Rent a Negro, a satirical guidebook that explores the absurd state of race relations in our culture. damali's newest book (2010) Obamistan! Land without Racism explodes the myth of post-racism America.
In response to a request from her audience, damali created a free practical guide of ten steps to improving race relations titled I Can Fix It! This guide gives ten simple solutions to address our current "third grade level of race relations." The guide has been used in communities across the United States and across the world.
damali brings the I Can Fix It! guide to life in her stage shows where she uses humor, stories, and slides to inspire people. Presented simply and directly, ayo’s approach to race relations is unforgettable. She makes people pay attention to what is going on inside and around them and to take responsibility for changing it.
In this spirit, damali invites everyday people to participate in her "Living Flag" performance each year on the "National Day of Panhandling for Reparations." So far over 100 performers in 30 states and 3 countries have been involved.
damali ayo names her particular approach to art "Now Art." She describes Now Art as being immediate, participatory, and engaging social issues. Ayo believes that "art should make you think and feel." She eschews art that is primarily for decoration. She believes that artists and comedians have a special task to push our culture to understand itself in order to change itself.
damali ayo’s Specialties:
Solutions to racism, American studies, cultural studies, modern culture and media, race, class, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, multicultural studies, diversity studies, feminism, conceptual art, visual art, performance, art and social change, participatory art, art and social practice, audio art, public speaking, design, environmental fashion, leadership, team building, and writing, culture, society, patriotism, environment, sustainability, eco-living.
damali ayo’s Experience
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Author
How to Rent a Negro
(Writing and Editing industry)
July 2005 — Present (4 years 5 months)
http://damaliayo.com/book%20promos/pages/How%20to%20Rent.htm
"A must-read book that gleefully
blows past the boundaries of tentative
talk on current race relations"
- BUST Magazine
A hilarious and satirical look at race relations that is almost too close for comfort, this pseudo-guidebook gives both renters and rentals "much-needed" advice and tips on technique. Tips are provided in step-by-step outlines for renters to get the most for their money, and how rentals can become successful and wealthy, what they should wear, and topics of conversation to avoid. The book also serves up photo-dramatizations of some of the popular approaches covered in the book, handy tip-boxes, frequently asked questions for renters and rentals, a "How do I know if I'm being rented" quiz, a glossary of important terms, and "quickie" insta-rentals for those who need to rent on the go. -
Artist, Author, Speaker, Comedian
damali ayo dot com
(Entertainment industry)
1999 — Present (10 years )
damali ayo brings a unique style of playful humor and piercing honesty to the conversation about race and human relationships.
damali ayo uses art, wit and satire to expose the remedial state of race relations with such creations as "the race card," "white noise," "panhandling for reparations," and the website "rent-a-negro.com." The international success of the web site was followed by her best-selling book How to Rent a Negro, a satirical guidebook that explores the absurd state of race relations in our culture. damali's newest book (2010) Obamistan! Land without Racism explodes the myth of post-racism America.
damali's passion for smart comedy takes center stage in her presentations, lectures and even in her teaching style. Influenced by comedy greats such as Dick Gregory, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, and even a little Eddy Murphy, damali makes the hard issues easier through her "standup/smackdown" style that leaves audiences with their attention heightened, hearts open, and minds awake. -
artist
damaliayo.com
(Renewables & Environment industry)
2000 — 2008 (8 years )
damali ayo’s Education
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Portland State University
MFA , Studio Art , 2004 — 2006
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Brown University
BA , American Civilization / Public Policy , 1990 — 1994
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Sidwell Friends School
1976 — 1990
Additional Information
damali ayo’s Websites:
damali ayo’s Interests:
To obtain a position teaching American Studies, Cultural Studies, English or History in a secondary or post-secondary school in the Los Angeles area. To be an engaged member of a dynamic educational community dedicated to cultivating educational excellence and personal development in young people.
damali ayo’s Groups:
damali’s work has been featured in:
Harpers Magazine, The Nation, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Independent UK, The Tavis Smiley Radio Show, Public Radio International, The O’Reilly Factor, ABCNews.com, MSNBC.com Nerve.com, and Salon.com.
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KIVA -
Obama for America -
Green Marketing
damali ayo’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- expertise requests
- getting back in touch
