By Edward Henderson
One of the most difficult talents in the entertainment industry is to illicit laughter on a stage in front of people you’ve never met in your life. It takes a sharp intellect, stellar work ethic and the guts to unapologetically be yourself even when your perspective is different than the norm. Jaleesa Johnson not only embodies these attributes, she delivers her unique brand of comedy with the flow of a professional and the focus of a woman fueled by purpose.
It’s a popular notion that most comedians draw humor from dark places in their lives. The New Orleans native experienced the chaos and displacement of Hurricane Katrina at the age of 12. Her grandparents’ home the entire family was living in at the time was destroyed by the storm. They were forced to take refuge in the Louisiana Superdome with thousands of other displaced families. In a turn of fortune while attending a habitat for humanity meeting, Oprah showed up and built an entire neighborhood for families affected by the storm. Johnson’s family was a featured beneficiary. She even spent the night at the new home with them.
“Oprah used our toilet. That was so dope. Not many people in the world can say that,” Johnson joked.
In her senior year of high school, Johnson and her immediate family moved to San Diego. She went on to community college using scholarship money she received from Oprah’s foundation but struggled to find motivation and direction. However, a date to a comedy night at Lestat’s Coffee House in North Park sparked something in Johnson. The energy and excitement the acts brought on stage captivated her and inspired a new passion. Johnson began performing at the open mics and after a rough start began gaining respect on the scene.
“It wasn’t until I started doing stand-up comedy that everything came together. I found something to work towards,” Jonson said. “That was my change into adulthood, finding a purpose.”
Johnson’s topics range from slavery to LGBTQ issues while finding inspiration from political comedians like Steven Colbert and John Stewart along with intellectual legends Christ Rock, Dave Chappelle, Louis CK and Sarah Silverman.
“I like to describe my comedy as uncomfortable. If it’s a topic that made you cry yesterday, I’m going to try and make you laugh today. I try to focus on things that make people tense up the most because that’s where you find out their true colors.”
Johnson is coming into 3rd year of comedy, a benchmark year within the industry that signifies growth and potential success. She was recently selected to perform two showcases at the Burbank Comedy Festival in August which many television executives attend.
“If they’re an open minded person, they’ll likely enjoy my comedy. If you’re more conservative … we’ll see how it goes,” Johnson joked. “I take pride in getting someone to laugh at something they didn’t think they would before.”
Like Jaleesa Johnson’s comedy page on Facebook for more information on how to see the young comedian in action.
