Controversial Monday Morning Topic: Racism and Comedy
Here’s the thing. I have listened to A LOT of people and read A LOT of articles, post and tweets about Dave Chappelle and the reaction of people who consider themselves ‘progressive’ and folks who consider themselves ‘conservative’. I have never dedicated a post to exegete the public’s response to a comedy special but I think it’s important that we have a proper conversation that highlights the dissenting opinions surrounding his Netflix special.
Dave Chappelle is a black comedian. That in itself signifies a uniquely influenced approach to comedy. An approach that uses comedy as a way to engage the tragedies of racism and persecution in America by using comedic relief to unify and communicate the plight of black suffering. Hip-Hop and Rap music were born from the same roots but black suffering is communicated differently between the two entities.
By and large I’ve seen many people who would qualify themselves as “white liberals” (or liberal in general) show support to Dave Chappelle as he walked away from Hollywood and called out systems of oppression that exist against people of color. Ok.
By and large I’ve seen some people who would identify as “white conservatives” (or conservative in general) bemoan his rhetoric, style and incessant reminders of the racial inequalities of America. Ok.
Yet, in 2019 I am witnessing and shift, due to his latest Netflix special ‘Sticks and Stones’, in the demographics of those who ‘support’ him and those who criticize his work. Due to the nature of his special many critics who consider themselves “progressive” (Vice, Young Turks, The Atlantic) found his special to be highly offensive while some conservatives (like TUCKER CARLSON) are bellowing their support as he, ‘stood against the ‘cancel culture’ of the ‘far-left.’
Honestly, what I see are people, from both sides of the isle, targeting yet another black man and using him and his special as Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) used Stephen’s (Samuel L. Jackson) character as a tool for his bidding in the movie ‘Django’.
Essentially, I see another black man being used, by contingencies on both sides, as their weapon of irony or as the target of their vilification.
Perhaps I am simply viewing this out of my lived experience as a black man who has watched other black men be sacrificed for causes that are areas of concern for the white majority. I will readily admit that I could be dumping years of being “sick and tired” into this op-ed and that this great ‘white reaction’ to Dave Chappelle could be causing old trauma to be relived. Either way this discussion is valuable.
What is deeply frustrating, to me, is that many ‘white liberals’ have historically never seen their role in the mass persecution of black men and women. What is also frustrating is that, after not realizing their role in oppression, when black men (in particular) “step out of line” by being unsupportive of their social agendas we are castigated, threatened and vilified.
It is a very similar feeling I get when I hear some of the ‘conservative’ ilk say, “You should be thankful for what you have.”
It is not outright racism nor is it outright malicious. Yet it smells like that same unseasoned chicken that I’ve been offered to coax my feelings of uncertainty before.
Who knows, I could be way off of my mark but I cannot simply shake the feeling I get when it comes to the support and/or criticism of Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special. This is not to say that Chappelle did not make any controversial jokes or talk about subjects that some consider to be “off the table” (which is problematic in and of itself since it is the majority culture that largely determines what ‘acceptable content’ is).
Furthermore, when I learned that #RottenTomatoes temporarily closed the audience reviews and only allowed for critics (of a very similar social ilk and complexion) to post their negative responses it gave me further cause to pause.
Then when I saw #TuckerCarlson use Dave Chappelle’s stand-up to make his point in criticizing “the left” I about fell out of my chair.
To add to my speculations was when Bill Burr released his #Netflix special (Paper Tiger) one week after Chappelle did. It had a similar tone and parts of his standup were just as abrasive as ‘Sticks and Stones’ but he has not received near the same level negative feedback as #DaveChappelle did.
Yet, I could be overthinking it all.
#SticksAndStones #Netflix #DaveChappelle #BillBurr #PaperTiger #RottenTomatoes
Here’s the thing. I have listened to A LOT of people and read A LOT of articles, post and tweets about Dave Chappelle and the reaction of people who consider themselves ‘progressive’ and folks who consider themselves ‘conservative’. I have never dedicated a post to exegete the public’s response to a comedy special but I think it’s important that we have a proper conversation that highlights the dissenting opinions surrounding his Netflix special.
Dave Chappelle is a black comedian. That in itself signifies a uniquely influenced approach to comedy. An approach that uses comedy as a way to engage the tragedies of racism and persecution in America by using comedic relief to unify and communicate the plight of black suffering. Hip-Hop and Rap music were born from the same roots but black suffering is communicated differently between the two entities.
By and large I’ve seen many people who would qualify themselves as “white liberals” (or liberal in general) show support to Dave Chappelle as he walked away from Hollywood and called out systems of oppression that exist against people of color. Ok.
By and large I’ve seen some people who would identify as “white conservatives” (or conservative in general) bemoan his rhetoric, style and incessant reminders of the racial inequalities of America. Ok.
Yet, in 2019 I am witnessing and shift, due to his latest Netflix special ‘Sticks and Stones’, in the demographics of those who ‘support’ him and those who criticize his work. Due to the nature of his special many critics who consider themselves “progressive” (Vice, Young Turks, The Atlantic) found his special to be highly offensive while some conservatives (like TUCKER CARLSON) are bellowing their support as he, ‘stood against the ‘cancel culture’ of the ‘far-left.’
Honestly, what I see are people, from both sides of the isle, targeting yet another black man and using him and his special as Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) used Stephen’s (Samuel L. Jackson) character as a tool for his bidding in the movie ‘Django’.
Essentially, I see another black man being used, by contingencies on both sides, as their weapon of irony or as the target of their vilification.
Perhaps I am simply viewing this out of my lived experience as a black man who has watched other black men be sacrificed for causes that are areas of concern for the white majority. I will readily admit that I could be dumping years of being “sick and tired” into this op-ed and that this great ‘white reaction’ to Dave Chappelle could be causing old trauma to be relived. Either way this discussion is valuable.
What is deeply frustrating, to me, is that many ‘white liberals’ have historically never seen their role in the mass persecution of black men and women. What is also frustrating is that, after not realizing their role in oppression, when black men (in particular) “step out of line” by being unsupportive of their social agendas we are castigated, threatened and vilified.
It is a very similar feeling I get when I hear some of the ‘conservative’ ilk say, “You should be thankful for what you have.”
It is not outright racism nor is it outright malicious. Yet it smells like that same unseasoned chicken that I’ve been offered to coax my feelings of uncertainty before.
Who knows, I could be way off of my mark but I cannot simply shake the feeling I get when it comes to the support and/or criticism of Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special. This is not to say that Chappelle did not make any controversial jokes or talk about subjects that some consider to be “off the table” (which is problematic in and of itself since it is the majority culture that largely determines what ‘acceptable content’ is).
Furthermore, when I learned that #RottenTomatoes temporarily closed the audience reviews and only allowed for critics (of a very similar social ilk and complexion) to post their negative responses it gave me further cause to pause.
Then when I saw #TuckerCarlson use Dave Chappelle’s stand-up to make his point in criticizing “the left” I about fell out of my chair.
To add to my speculations was when Bill Burr released his #Netflix special (Paper Tiger) one week after Chappelle did. It had a similar tone and parts of his standup were just as abrasive as ‘Sticks and Stones’ but he has not received near the same level negative feedback as #DaveChappelle did.
Yet, I could be overthinking it all.
#SticksAndStones #Netflix #DaveChappelle #BillBurr #PaperTiger #RottenTomatoes
Comments
Post a Comment