Carrie Mae Weems and David Alan Grier have an intimate discussion on a range of topics including childhood idols, the definition of blackness, race and politics during Obama’s presidency, and a desire to make work that addresses not only personal identity but also the broader human condition.

David Alan Grier started his career in New York, on Broadway in the production of “The First” playing the role of Jackie Robinson for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. Grier has appeared in many productions on the New York stage, including “Soldiers Play”, and Shakespeare In The Park. On Broadway he has been seen in “Dream Girls”, “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum”, and starred in “Race”, written and directed by David Mamet, for which he received a Tony nomination. Grier has appeared in over 30 films, most recently “Dance Flick”, “The Woodsman”, “Bewitched”, and “The Poker House”. Grier won the Golden Lion award for best actor for the film “Streamers” directed by Robert Altman at the Venice film festival. On television he has appeared in “The Chocolate News” and for four seasons in the Emmy award winning series “In Living Color”. Grier is the author of the book “Barack Like Me: The Chocolate Covered Truth”. Grier has been an avid collector of art, and has collaborated on a performance piece “The Alchemy Of Comedy, Stupid” with the artist Edgar Arceneaux which was included in the 2008 Whitney Biennial.