John Gebretatose is Eritrean born but American raised who at an early age had to learn coping skills in order to deal with the hands that life deals us.John opens up with me about his mother having schizophrenia and have to care for her at an early age and using laughter to help him cope with all that he had going on at a very young age. His father was around but was dealing with his own demons of alcoholism and not really understanding his wife's illness and how to deal with it was all too much for him to cope with.John found comedy as a form of escape and a way to channel his feelings and emotions through laughter. While performing stand up he found his new passion and love in the form of Improv. While doing so he realized a community was needed for Black comedians in the Improv world and so he helped create BlackOut Improv. After a long and awaited time away due to the pandemic, they will be performing again at HUGE Theater in South Minneapolis.