On Thursday, February 4, 2016, Lil Duval and DeRay Davis both visited Kean University. Between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., students clutched their stomach with tears in their eyes as the comedians shared their stories. A roar of laugher rang through Wilkins Theatre as the performances got better and better throughout the night.

Roland Powell, affectionately known by his stage name Lil Duval, is a distinguished comedian. He adopted the stage name Lil Duval to pay homage to his birthplace, Duval County in Florida. A self-made comedian, he has been in everything from comedy shows and competitions to television shows and DVDs. Over his lifetime, he has created a brand for himself and always loved what he was doing. For more than a decade, he has graced many stages and brought joy and laughter to countless people. He explains how as his fame grew, he remained grounded and humble.

He states, “I think because I’ve always been a celebrity in some sort to certain people…to some people fame is like a drug and it’s the worst drug because its attention.” For those that have people that support them, fame becomes more of a feeling than glamour. That feeling was with Duval far before he stepped on any stage.

Davis is also a renowned stand-up comedian. Originally from the south side of Chicago, he has traveled all across the nation spreading happiness and laughter, but it was not always easy. He expresses some of his hardships on the road to fame, “…the hardest part is getting out of your own way and being accepting of success. A lot of people don’t think they deserve to be in the place they are. If you come from nothing, sometimes you think you don’t deserve it, you think you owe the world everything…and sometimes we’re too accepting of failure. So I’ll say that, the hardest part is getting out of your own way and allowing yourself to be great.”

Over time he has ventured across multiple areas of entertainment, being featured in various tours movies, and TV shows. Like most comedians, he uses his comedy to share his story and describe what life has taught him over time. He personalizes his performances, frequently referencing his childhood, his mistakes and his life at present.

Both performers are considerably successful men. They use their platform of success as a way of expressing to the world what things they feel are important to share. Davis explains what he has learned from his experience with success.

He states, “Success can be just about where you set your own personal goals and not where other people’s goals are. Because you look at somebody else and you say they’re successful but you don’t know what they’re going through personally. So you can be successfully financially but emotionally…broke.”

Duval expresses a similar sentiment stating, “Success is relative. Some people think success is just actually just being on a show, some people think success is having a certain amount of money and neither one of them is wrong. It’s just what you consider it to be.”

The event was put together by Graduate and Part-Time Student Council (GPSC) and Student Government who worked together to make the show possible. Both organizations exist to serve the student body. They often hold events that enrich the academic, social and cultural experiences of the community. As a substantially diverse community, many student organizations reflect that diversity by hosting events that celebrate all cultures. They unite the larger community and Kean University by making sure that both can enjoy what the other has to offer.

The comedy show was scheduled as a part to celebrating Black History Month. Both performers are prominent role models for young men, especially young black men. Duval explains how that influences him in his role.

He states, “I lead by example, I think the best thing to do is lead by example…to be the best example of what you want to see in the next generation.”

Comedy has enormous potential to take such things, like history, race and tragedy and put them into perspective. It presents reality in a way where people do not shy away from the discussion.

DeRay Davis
Photo courtesy of Student Government 

Consequently, topics that are typically controversial and uncomfortable become easily discussable. Davis states, “comedy has evolved to something that went from just telling a few jokes amongst friends to stopping violence and making people comfortable around each other and making people feel good about things that normally make you feel really messed up.”

Contemporarily, the value of entertainment in ineffable; It allows performers to share their talents and experiences while the audience can enjoy their story and reflect on their own lives. In that way, comedy is a tremendously important medium of entertainment and most comedians are well aware of its importance. Their performances often reflect that awareness. They explore everything from politics to relationships to poverty.

Specifically on college campuses, comedy allows students to relax and take a break from their busy lives. Duval advises college students to find that same balance within their collegiate experience. He states, “Enjoy it but at the same time understand that being in school isn’t about the degree, it’s about what it takes to get the degree. Having a degree is really just a piece of paper. What it takes to get the degree, that’s what you’ll apply in life.”

The unique thing about comedy is that it can infuse anything within it. That is where the true value lies. It has the ability to broach any subject and make it something people openly discuss. DeRay aptly states, “Comedians are the astronauts of conversations, because we can go to spaces and places that people can’t get to, so it’s important.” Comedy is timeless and laughter is medicine; the two together are an invaluable recipe for healing and change.