DARREN BRAND | ENGLISH MAJORS |SEASON 3 | EP 02

Darren Brand and Clayton English emphasize that HBCUs are unique spaces where Black individuals are universally celebrated, fostering self-love and a diverse understanding of Black identity. The rigorous environment, coupled with strong community support, teaches accountability and problem-solving, preparing students for life's challenges. Brand specifically highlights North Carolina A&T's homecoming as an unparalleled event, demonstrating immense alumni loyalty and community engagement.

Brand states, 'The one thing about HB.CU's that's the one time in your life as a black person you're gonna be celebrated.' He details how NC A&T's homecoming sees 135,000+ people, hotels booked a year out, and students taught to 'rep the school to the death of you.' He also shares how 'the love that was poured into me gave me the courage to pursue comedy.'

Darren Brand's journey onto Wild 'N Out was not straightforward, beginning as an uninvited 'walk-on' who had to prove himself without initial support. He describes the intense competition, the necessity of joke clearance, and the constant battle for airtime against established cast members and special guests. His rise from crashing in friends' rooms to becoming a core cast member, even participating in voting on other cast members, underscores the blend of raw talent, persistence, and strategic relationship-building required in the industry.

Brand recounts, 'Wild Out didn't even really want me... I killed the audition, they was like, 'Yeah, you was good, but how about you just come to rehearsals?'' He explains the 2-hour taping cut to 22 minutes, where 'your joke has to be cleared' and compete with Nick Cannon, special guests, and top cast members like Chico Bean. He also notes, 'I asked the cameraman... he said, 'Well, you the only one who speak to me every morning.''

The hosts discuss the prevalent resistance within Black communities towards traditional therapy, attributing it to a cultural emphasis on survival mode and a fear of re-opening deeply buried traumas. They suggest that many individuals have 'over-achieved' to suppress past pain, making the idea of revisiting it daunting. Alternative forms of mental well-being, such as meditation, engaging in hobbies, seeking spiritual guidance, or finding personal 'safe spaces,' are proposed as accessible and effective methods.

Brand states, 'I think therapy is the ultimate form of vulnerability and black people just don't have a lot of space for that.' He adds, 'We have this fear of bringing it up back in therapy... you done buried it.' He suggests meditation, hobbies like pickleball, church, ice plunges, or even 'smoking a blunt' in the garage as forms of therapy.

Comedians often struggle with acknowledging their achievements, constantly focusing on the next goal. The discussion highlights the importance of pausing to appreciate past successes, arguing that this reflection can provide renewed energy, confidence, and a deeper sense of validation. Recalling the excitement of a younger self learning about future accomplishments can be a powerful way to reconnect with one's journey.

Brand challenges, 'Do y'all have a problem with like just sitting in that for a second and recognize what you done or you already focus on the next thing?' He then lists numerous achievements, concluding, 'Let's appreciate that... when I do stop and think about it, it's like, damn, I'm a bad motherfucker.'