WS Chronicle

Jerrod Carmichael, a Winston-Salem native, has a new HBO special about the black experience.  In a previous special “Home Videos,” Carmichael explored common themes within the black community.  In his newest docu-series entitled, “Sermon on the Mount,” he tackles those black experience themes by having intimate and in depth conversations with his family members. 

Carmichael was born the son of Cynthia, a secretary, and Joe Carmichael, a truck driver. He has an older brother, Joe Carmichael Jr. He was raised in the Morningside neighborhood. Carmichael grew up poor, which is a frequent topic in his stand-up comedy. In fifth grade, he hosted a morning news show on his elementary school’s local access channel. He graduated from Robert B. Glenn High School in 2005. 

At the age of 20, Carmichael moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of being a stand-up comic.  After working on many roles in Hollywood, Carmichael produced and starred in his own sitcom, “The Carmichael Show,” which aired on Fox from 2015-17.   The show also starred Loretta Divine and David Allen Grier.  “The Carmichael Show” continued the subject matter of his stand-up comedy by putting emphasis on issues plaguing the black community, like police shootings and the n-word.  This narrative evolved into the HBO documentary-style videos where Carmichael comes home and records conversations with his family members.  In “Sermon on the Mount,” Carmichael has a candid discussion with his father about infidelity and forgiveness.

“Sermon on the Mount” premieres on HBO June 30 at 6 p.m.