Tommy Davidson’s extraordinary range from stand-up comedy and acting to diverse musical accomplishments has earned him a reputation as an exceptional performer. His visibility has allowed him to become a household name known for his innovative talent. He is best known as one of the stars of the hit television series In Living Color. But did you know how he ended up being adopted by a white family?
Tommy Davidson, comedian and actor from “In Living Color,” was eighteen months old when he was abandoned in a pile of trash. A white family rescued and adopted him.
Tommy Davidson: The Baby From the Trash
In 1966, a couple found Tommy Davidson in the trash and they have decided to take to the poor boy to their home, Tommy is black, and his new family is white
I actually was abandoned in the trash in 1966 in Mississippi, and she found me. She had gone down there with her husband to do some immunization and some voting drives during the civil rights movement. They were teachers at Colorado State. They went down there, and they were working with my natural mother.
Tommy Davidson
According to Davidson, the couple returned to Mississippi a year later and attempted to visit his birth mother, who had abandoned her home and her baby. When his adoptive mother couldn’t locate the family, she looked all over the house.
She saw a pile of trash outside of the house, and Something told her to look under the tire that was on top of the trash. When she moved the tire, she saw my foot. She uncovered the trash, and there I was, starved. I had contusions on my skull. I was in a coma. I was 18 months old.
Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson and His Experience with Racism
Davidson was brought to Washington DC. as the white family’s youngest son. He tells Uncensored that he was often bullied and constantly faced racism all throughout his childhood, but that he found joy performing for his family as early as the age of four.
There would be situations that would pop up where I’d be out with black people, and they would see my sister, and they would look at me differently, And there would be situations where I would be around whites, and I could feel the racism in the air; walking to a restaurant or to a party, I could see their expressions change.
Tommy Davidson
(Source: Encyclopedia)
Tommy Davidson’s Career in Stand-Up Comedy
Davidson began his stand-up comedy career in 1986 when a childhood friend persuaded him to perform at The Penthouse strip club in Park View, Washington DC Despite the difficult audience and the fact that he had not prepared any material in advance, he received a positive response.
I just winged it and got through, and it actually sounded good, ‘Wow, maybe this is what I should be doing.
Tommy Davidson
(Source: Encyclopedia)