- But I know before me, there were other black females.

I can't say that I was the first, 'cause I wasn't.

I know at that point in time, in comedy, I was consistently going out and doing it.

So I was the only one that I was seeing, and I was seeing her.

- We were like... That's how we bonded.

- Yeah.

- We're at this bar.

- We were at this bar, so it was only an Asian girl or a black girl.

- And like 30 other straight white- - And then 30 other white people.

- You know, yeah.

- Which I'm from Chattanooga, that's normal.

- Yeah.

- So.

(audience laugh) - Yeah.

- So I grew up, that's looked like my family reunion, and so (audience laughs) (laughs) I guess when I looked at it culturally, I was like, "Okay, this is what it looks like."

Because comedy, let's just be honest, it's a man's game.

- Okay.

- It is a male dominated field.

- Yeah.

- Okay.

- And it is a white male dominated field.

- Okay, Matt?

- Yep.

- Yeah, Matt.

- I'm trying to say (indistinct).

- I'm getting more and more- - I think she's just saying your name without saying your name.

- Nuh-uh, but again, when you have good comics and you have good owners, and you have good bookers, shout-out to Brian, owner of Zanies, shout-out to him all day and Andrew Dorfman, shout-out to... Because the comedy seen in Nashville, I can't ever say anything bad about the men here ever.

And I won't, because I've been propped up like they've been on my spine like, "Ey, CJ, keep going, keep going."

- Okay.

- The act... The men in the acting community.

So even though it is a male dominated field, I've been truly blessed to have beautiful and talented men behind me, black and white, and Hispanic, pushing me in my back saying, "Keep going, keep going, keep going."

So, I mean, I'm blessed to have that at least.

- [Narrator] "A Slice of the Community" is made possible by the support of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

(upbeat music)