Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White

by Ron Rapoport, Tom Dreesen, Tim Reid, et al.

Book Overview

As the heady promise of the 1960s sagged under the weight of widespread violence, rioting, and racial unrest, two young men--one black and one white--took to stages across the nation to help Americans confront their racial divide: by laughing at it.
Tim and Tom tells the story of that pioneering duo, the first interracial comedy team in the history of show business--and the last. Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen polished their act in the nightclubs...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226709000
• ISBN13: 9780226709000
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Amazingly good book!!!

I was lucky enough to interview Tim and Tom on my [...] podcast for this incredible read. Truly an impressive story in so many ways, poverty to success, the many many sides of discrimination, the the tremendous contributions Tim and Tom made to society outside of show business. I hope this will become an incredible movie! -Doug Vannier

Tim and Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White

This was a remarkable story about two very successful and interesting people who have led a life few of us could ever imagine. Together, they conquered many obstacles and no doubt enjoyed every minute. I enjoyed reading this book immensley and had a hard time putting it down; give me another week and I may read it again. Norm Elliott

"Tim & Tom: A Triumph in Black and White"

"Tim & Tom" is a compelling story about the audacious attempt of a black guy and a white guy to bring a sense of humor to what is still the most explosive domestic issue in the United States. The wonder is not that they failed as much as is the wonder of their idealistic youth that made them believe they could succeed. And, yet, with this moving account of their careers, "Tim & Tom" does very much succeed, in vividly bringing to life their trails and their truimphs and the enduring friendship between them througout the many years of racial turbulence and conflict. What better testament to this great period of hardly dreamed of social change we're now experiencing than this wonderful story of two pioneers, our country's first and only black-and-white comedy team. This is a story for the ages! Chris and LaMarr

A fantastic read!

I loved this book. As a comedy fan, I am always interested in comedians I may never have heard of... Tim & Tom's story is a compelling one, and this book is a tough one to put down. It's not only funny and interesting to read about their personal lives and their professional challenges, it also reveals so much about race in this country -both how the issues have changed and how they stay the same. I highly recommend this terrific book.

Dared To Be The First---And Last

With so little personal experience with or exposure to racism, and choosing to embrace a post-racial America, this book really opened my eyes to how high the hurdles are/were that we have/had to overcome. I never realized how pervasive racism was, even at this late period in the twentieth century. This book honestly relates the nitty-gritty realities of the journey to discover, and be, "who you are" instead of conforming to the multitude of expectations imposed on each of us, while challenging racial barriers that have never been crossed again since Tim and Tom blazed the trail.