The Unknown Black Artist

Vanessa Fraction, Mia Jackson, and Akeem Woods visit Friends Like Us for a hilarious take on hot topics! Vanessa Fraction: Action Fraction is a fitting handle for the intelligent and hilarious stand-up comedian, actor, writer, television personality, and women’s empowerment advocate Vanessa Fraction. A mother of two, working at the phone company in 2001, Vanessa Fraction hit the stage of a popular open mic at The Cotton Club, Chicago to sing backup for a co-worker. Performing the gig with a few girlfriends from church, they weren't great, but Fraction decided that night, she wanted to be on stage. She went back the next week to do a comedy set and got booked for a show. Two years later she landed the role of Monisha in Barbershop 2: Back in Business. Currently, Fraction is the high-spirited, outrageously funny co-host of Nappy Boy Radio Podcast hosted by rapper and producer T-Pain. She also guest hosts on the entertainment news television series Dish Nation (FOX) and can be seen in Universal Pictures’ cinematic musical, Praise This written and directed by Tina Gordon, produced by Will Packer, Tim Story, James Lopez, and Sharla Sumpter. From Def Comedy Jam (HBO) to NickMom Night Out (Nick Jr.) to Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks (truTV), 1st Amendment Standup (STARZ), Mike Epps Live at Club Nokia, Just for Laughs Montreal Festival (2008, 2018), and Just For Laughs Chicago (2013), Fraction’s bold and clever stand-up has been a welcomed highlight on these and other showcases. The demand for her comedic brilliance has garnered opportunities to perform abroad touring the UK and performing for the U.S. troops in Germany, Japan, and South Korea. After performing on The Monique Show, a year later she was offered her first writing gig. Fraction’s versatility as a writer blossomed on shows like Raven’s Home (Disney), The Arsenio Hall Show (CBS), the Triumph Awards (Bounce TV), and 106 & Park (BET). Fraction’s passionate take on women’s freedoms and rights to empowerment stretches beyond the stage. She is a certified self-defense instructor, and her branded style of teaching, Kicks & Comedy, equips women with life-saving self-defense skills and lifts spirits by infusing comedy. Vanessa's mission is to empower her audience to overcome their struggles while laughing at hers. Akeem Woods is the funny little brother you always (never) wanted — his comedy style will have you on the edge of your seat reeling from laughter! No topic is safe from discussion, whether it be the KKK or the hardships of growing up poor. Akeem is a regular at the Comedy Cellar in NYC, was a semi-finalist on Stand Up NBC, has been seen on Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, and just recently made his television debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden! Currently, you can find Akeem working on a new show for BET and at clubs and colleges all over the country. Mia Jackson is a bonafide Georgia peach (that's Georgian for “native”). In 2017, she was selected as a New Face by the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and Atlanta's Creative Loafing named her the Critic's Choice Best Stand-Up in the city. She has toured nationally with Amy Schumer and is a featured comic at festivals and clubs across the country. Her first stand up special aired in October 2018 as part of Unprotected Sets on EPIX. Mia has appeared on NickMom's Night Out, Viceland, Comedy Central's This Week at the Comedy Cellar and was a semi-finalist on Season 9 of NBC's Last Comic Standing. Her Comedy Central half hour special debuted in November 2019. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.