Whoopi Goldberg (Courtesy photo)
Whoopi Goldberg (Courtesy photo)

Famed comedian, actress, producer, author and humanitarian Caryn Elaine Johnson, better known as Whoopi Goldberg, made a rare appearance Saturday at the Strathmore Theatre in Maryland, giving fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience her comedic talents live.

Goldberg, one of 12 entertainers and the only black entertainer to garner the industry โ€œGrand Slamโ€ of a Grammy, Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony, was welcomed to the May 27 event by a sold-out audience.

โ€œI am the American dream,โ€ she said. โ€œI am the epitome of what the American dream basically said. It said you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country. Thatโ€™s exactly what Iโ€™ve done.โ€

As just the second black woman ever to win an acting Oscar, Goldbergโ€™s thought-provoking stand-up comedy routine did not shy away from risquรฉ topics including sexual orientation, racial disparity and Americaโ€™s new president.

โ€œThe new guy is not the issue,โ€ Goldberg confidently proclaimed, โ€œItโ€™s all the folks around his aโ€“, make sure you vote and check sโ€” out โ€ฆ and letโ€™s look for somebody whoโ€™s going to cut student debt.โ€

In addition to her rapid-fire jokes and quick comedic wit that allowed her to keep her audience captivated with laughter during a brief microphone malfunction, Goldberg also addressed the hurdles for a woman of color in the entertainment business during a Q&A session with the audience after the show.

โ€œWell Iโ€™ll tell you, if you take a take all the groups of women in color that are in television on all the networks, opportunities are there,โ€ Goldberg said. โ€œExecutives not so much, writers and folks running their own stuff not so much, but itโ€™s happening. โ€ฆ Itโ€™s moving slow and itโ€™s going to be slow, because people canโ€™t help what theyโ€™ve been raised to believe.โ€

Goldberg โ€” whose lengthy list of credits include โ€œThe Color Purple,โ€ โ€œGhost,โ€ โ€œThe Lion King,โ€ โ€œSister Actโ€ and its sequel, and โ€œHow Stella Got Her Groove Back,โ€ as well as her stint as moderator of ABCโ€™s Emmy Award-winning show โ€œThe Viewโ€ โ€” outlined her future plans of producing, including โ€œAccording to Alex,โ€ a docu-series following Alex Martin Dean, the daughter of Goldberg, and her children, scheduled to premiere on Centric in October.

Lauren Poteat is a versatile writer with a strong background in communications and media experience with an additional background in education and development.

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