An Interview with Comedian Homer Shadowheart
Homer Shadowheart is a stand up comic based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is of Susquehanna/Chippewa heritage and holds a bachelor's degree in music. I interviewed him to learn more about how he combines comedy with his Indigenous activism. He has been involved in activism for years, speaking against racist mascots and petitioning for the removal of racist signage in Cincinnati. Homer lives in Cincinnati with his wife and coonhound and serves as a board member of the Urban Native Collective. In addition to having the coolest last name on Earth, Homer is currently writing a sitcom. You can also find Homer co-hosting on Urban Native Collective’s upcoming podcast, “Life on the Margins: An Urban Native Experience”.
What inspired you to pursue a career in comedy, how did you get your start in the industry? I was actually a working musician and had a kidney and pancreas transplant. During the surgery they managed to paralyze my arms from the shoulder down. I've gotten most of the movement back now, but after about 5 years of not playing my wife (at the time) said, “I bet you miss being on stage. You should try comedy, you're kinda funny.” So, I took a class at a local club to get my foot in the door and never looked back.
What role does humor play in your culture, and how does that influence your approach to comedy? We tend to use humor as a coping mechanism and to talk about serious issues. This is the basis for my humor on and off stage.
Can you talk about any specific experiences or challenges you've faced as an Indigenous comedian in the entertainment industry? I've been called preachy, because I do talk about Indigenous issues. I've been told I should stick to playing the casinos, to which I responded, “Oh thanks you should do more klan rallies.” We won't even get into the racism that exists at some clubs and the comedy community in my area as a whole.
How do you balance the desire to entertain with the responsibility to represent and educate your audience about Indigenous perspectives and issues? Writing is the only answer I have. The best compliment I've ever received from another comic I was working with, (*whispers* he is white). He said, “you do a great job of making a point and being funny, most trying to make a point forget the funny part, you never do.” I may have that put on my tombstone, well, my urn.
How do you incorporate your own experiences and identity into your comedy routines? It's the old “write what you know.” I use my life including my culture, family, failures, and even others’ racism as material. I believe anything you can laugh at can't kill you, so I laugh at everything.
What do you hope your audience takes away from your performances, both in terms of entertainment value and broader social or cultural awareness? I hope they think about the show and laugh or try to retell one of my jokes. Ultimately I hope it makes them think and talk to each other.
How do you navigate the potential for humor to be misinterpreted or offensive, particularly when addressing sensitive or controversial subjects? My greatest asset and best part of my life is my wife. I tell her every joke and she is brutally honest with me, “that's not funny”, “you can't say that”, “what were you thinking?” I never write to shock or offend, being misinterpreted is tricky because we as humans don't always take what is said the way the person saying it meant it. Again, I go to my wife with, “hey can this be taken in a different way?” She truly makes me a better human and comic.
What advice would you give to aspiring Indigenous comedians or other performers who are hoping to make an impact in the industry? I think the best advice I'd have is to be true to yourself. Don't feel that because you are Indigenous you have to be an activist also. My set deals with problems in our community because that's who I am, so be yourself and ignore the haters.
