To print this page, select "Print" from the File menu of your browser salon.com > People June 16, 1999 URL: http://www.salon.com/people/feature/1999/06/16/wayans Writing the Wayans way The Emmy-winning comedian takes on black icons like Al Sharpton and Magic Johnson in his book, "Bootleg." - - - - - - - - - - - - By Douglas J. Rowe Ask a comedian why he wrote a book, and you're likely to get an answer like the one Damon Wayans gives: "I wanted to see if I could spell." "Nah, I just wanted a challenge," he quickly adds, showing a more serious face. He saw other comedians writing books and topping bestseller lists and concluded: "You know what? I think I can do that." Thus, "Bootleg," which he said was a jokey way of conceding the book would fall prey to bootlegging. Plus, he says, "It's catchy. Bottom line." Wayans received two Emmy nominations as a writer of "In Living Color," the Fox sketch comedy show on which he created the memorable characters Homey the Clown and one of the ("two snaps up!") Men On Film. He has appeared in the movies "Beverly Hills Cop" (as the fey Banana Man), "Bulletproof," "The Last Boy Scout," "Mo' Money," "Major Payne" and "Blankman." But his first and enduring love is standup comedy, where he's used to just blurting things out on-stage. So writing this book turned out to be a revelation, he says. "Saying it is one thing. But to read it back is another thing. You know: 'Wow, is that really how I see things?' Because I don't hear most of the things I say ... When I have to read it back, I go, 'Wow, you're a sick puppy.'" In the book, Wayans tackles the cult of personality, mocking sports stars Magic Johnson and Mike Tyson and suggesting that today's black leaders constitute a pretty bleak bunch compared with their predecessors: "I must have been asleep the day they elected Al Sharpton the black representative. He is the only leader in history to show up to a rally wearing a tight red velour sweat suit. "Then there's Jesse Jackson. I have just one question for him: Why is he at every sporting event that ever takes place? ... You never saw Martin Luther King at a Muhammad Ali fight." "Finally, there's Minister Farrakhan ... His speeches are so powerful he can make black people stop celebrating Christmas." Wayans doesn't consider the book too harsh or politically incorrect. "I think that's my sense of humor. I think to try to make it a little more palatable takes out what's funny about it," Wayans says. "I have great respect for all these men ... You cannot really tell a joke about somebody unless people know them and love them." The 38-year-old Wayans, who's been married for 15 years and has four children, takes on marriage and family life as well as ethnicity in his book, making such points as how it's important to appreciate your parents and how it's a high compliment when people like your kids. One of 10 children himself, five of whom are in show business, Wayans feels children are a direct reflection of their parents, and he personally measures success as a husband and father, not by his career. "I'm a comedian until I retire. I'm a father until I die," he says. "Ultimately, in 10 years if I can still be going up and down, as opposed to being out, I'm happy. That's what a career is. A career is a journey," he says. "I love the challenge of a comeback." Wayans has had no shortage of challenges. He's still coming to grips with the cancellation of the 1997 critically acclaimed drama that he created and produced, "413 Hope St.," which he feels Fox sabotaged by scheduling it opposite NBC's "Seinfeld." "Put it on after 'The Simpsons' or something. Just so people can get a taste of it. You don't just put it against the No. 1 show in America," he says. As a result, he didn't have his heart in "Damon," the short-lived sitcom that followed, in which he starred and produced. Now, besides writing the book, he's planning a summer stand-up tour and looking forward to the release of the movie "Harlem Aria," which he produced and in which he also co-stars. Wayans' resilience dates back to his childhood, when he underwent several operations to fix a clubfoot. Barefoot and wearing a canvas jumpsuit during an interview, he unselfconsciously shows the scars on what now looks like a normal foot. "I spent so much time in the hospital as a kid it was scary," he says, recalling that it kept him from playing sports but also developed his sense of humor because he wanted to part of the gang somehow. "I know what it's like to be black and looked down upon. AND handicapped ... AND poor ... There's a lot you have to overcome. The only thing that really helps you overcome it is other people. You meet some wonderful people who look you in the eyes and say, 'You're my brother. I don't see this.' Or 'I do see it, and it's OK.'" His adversity also gave him greater empathy and led to his creating "underdog" characters like Homey the angry clown and Handi-Man the handicapped super hero. "I guess my job is to help you understand," Wayans says. But don't look for those characters again. To paraphrase Homey: Wayans don't play that. Even though he has great affection for them, he says, "I feel like if I don't challenge myself and do something different, then the audience is going to see me as dated." salon.com | June 16, 1999