What does it mean when Kenny says dad decided to cut up in the book Watsons go to Birmingham?

In the book "The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963" by Christopher Paul Curtis, when Kenny says his dad decided to "cut up," he means that his dad decided to act silly or misbehave in a playful manner. This phrase is often used in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to describe someone behaving in a humorous or exaggerated way. Kenny's dad's decision to "cut up" is a moment of levity in the story, providing comic relief in the midst of serious events.