DeRay Davis: How to Act Black

DeRay Davis Takes on Race, Fame, and Comedy in Netflix’s How to Act Black

DeRay Davis’s 2017 Netflix special How to Act Black isn’t just a stand-up comedy hour—it’s a sharp, self-aware exploration of Black identity, cultural stereotypes, and the absurdity of fame. Directed by Marcus Raboy, the 66-minute special blends Davis’s signature humor with a meta-commentary on what it means to "act Black," both onstage and in Hollywood. latestnetflix.com's take is that but behind the laughs, the project carries a few behind-the-scenes quirks worth unpacking.

The Netflix Special That Almost Wasn’t (Or Was It?)

Rumors swirled before How to Act Black dropped that Davis’s Netflix deal was a long time coming. The comedian had built a career on impressions and observational humor, but his transition to a solo special wasn’t seamless. In a clip from Inside the Black Actors Studio , Davis hinted at the pressure of crafting a Netflix-worthy set, joking about the platform’s reputation for greenlighting projects with "built-in audiences." While the evidence doesn’t confirm delays, Davis’s own teasing suggests the special was a high-stakes gamble—one that paid off with a viral trailer and strong audience reactions .

Dave Chappelle’s Unlikely Influence

One of the most talked-about moments tied to How to Act Black isn’t even in the special itself. In a separate Netflix Is A Joke clip , Davis revealed that comedy legend Dave Chappelle once pulled him aside with a blunt piece of advice: "Act more famous." The context? Chappelle allegedly told Davis he was too humble for Hollywood, urging him to embrace the swagger of a star. Whether this pep talk directly shaped How to Act Black is unclear, but the special’s title alone—playing on racial performance and celebrity—hints at Chappelle’s fingerprints. Davis’s impressions, a staple of his act, take center stage here, from exaggerated Black stereotypes to spot-on celebrity parodies .

The Special’s Double Meaning

The title How to Act Black is a masterclass in comedic provocation. On one level, it’s a satirical guide to "Blackness," mocking everything from church culture to the way Black people are expected to perform for white audiences. On another, it’s a meta-joke about Davis’s own career—an actor who’s played everything from thugs to sidekicks, often in roles that rely on racial tropes. The Netflix trailer leans into this duality, cutting between Davis’s stand-up and clips of him "teaching" the audience how to "act Black," complete with exaggerated mannerisms. Reviews praised the special for walking the line between edgy and accessible , though some critics noted it occasionally veered into familiar territory for Davis .

What’s Missing? The Unanswered Questions

For all its buzz, How to Act Black leaves a few mysteries unanswered. There’s no confirmed budget or box-office equivalent for the special (Netflix rarely releases such numbers), and Davis’s own reflections on the project are scattered across interviews and clips . One lingering question: Did the special’s success lead to more opportunities? Davis has since appeared in films and TV shows, but the evidence doesn’t link those directly to How to Act Black. Another gap: the creative process. While Raboy’s direction is credited , there’s no detail on how the special was filmed—was it a one-take shoot, or pieced together over multiple nights?

The Verdict: A Cult Favorite with Room to Grow

How to Act Black may not have broken Netflix records, but it cemented Davis as a comedian unafraid to tackle race with humor and bite. The special’s legacy lives on in clips and fan reactions, even if its behind-the-scenes story remains half-told. For now, it stands as a snapshot of 2017’s cultural moment—when comedy specials could still shock, and when a title like How to Act Black felt both daring and necessary.