I'd Rather We Got Casinos: And Other Black Thoughts

As ""Senior Black Correspondent"" on cable TV's The Daily Show, comedian Wilmore provides some of the program's most hilarious moments while turning its satiric edge on his (largely white, middle-class, left-leaning) employers and audience, as well as his own people-retaining the full measure of his cynicism even in the midst of Obama-mania. In this collection (including essays, fake radio show transcripts, letters and wisecracks), readers get a tour of Wilmore's smart, sarcastic approach to race, media and the modern American psyche (perhaps most efficiently captured in back-to-back thought pieces, ""Black Weathermen Make Me Feel Happy"" and ""Black Weathermen Make Me Feel Sad""). Part of Wilmore's appeal is the straight-faced mix of conviction and arch absurdity-more Steve Colbert than Jon Stewart-that's sometimes lacking without his deadpan, vaguely deprecating delivery. Still, fans will find consistent laughs, even if some of his longer, one-note pieces could have been better balanced with more of his goofy one-liners (""Random Black Thoughts""). Several of Wilmore's modest proposals, like his ongoing campaign to replace terms like ""African-American"" and ""Black"" with ""Chocolate"" (""everybody loves chocolate!"") display a classic satirist's ability to convince, confound and compel in equal measure.