February 17, 2006
My 2 Cents On The Boondocks Topic
By way of my boy EJ Flavors, I found myself on cool Lynne D Johnsn's weblog, reading up on the evergrowing topic of The Boondocks' excessive use of racial slurs in it's Adult Swim animated show. The whole thing started with an open later to the show's creator, Aaron McGruder from blogger Hardcore over at 3rdEyeOpen.com.
Here' are the blo entries in question:
Hardcore's "A Letter To Aaron"
Lynne's "On Misusing The N-word"
Here's the comment i posted on Lynne and Hardcore's blogs:
First off I want to say that all the talk about defusing the word "nigga" by saying it more... reducing it's power is wishful thinking. The word "nigga" in any shape or form has ONE MEANING... and we all know what it is. I don't care who uses it, how it's used, or where it's used, it's the same thing. So people need to get over that.
Secondly, I say the word "nigga". Why? I grew up with it. It's part of my language. Dave Chappelle was correct when he said all Black people speak at least two languages: "The Street" and "Job Interview". When I'm with my friends, the word "nigga" creeps out. True, I don't say it 40 times in one sentence, but it's sprinkled within my casual lexicon.
I don't believe the word "nigga" will EVER be defused or, for that matter, expunged from our language. It has history... powerful, powerful history, and the only way for it to disappear is for us as a (Black) people to dismiss our rich history as a whole. You can't destroy the bad without destroying the good. It's all intertwined.
Now with all that said, I have to say that I believe in the truth of being free. I believe that any and all persons have the right to say whatever that want. If there's a White man who feels he needs to call me a "nigga" to make whatever point he's trying to make, then so be it. Say it. Use it the way you want to use it. BUT IN SAYING THAT, I think every person with half a brain understands there's always a REACTION for any action you take. If that White man has the right to call me a "nigga", I have the same and equal right to take offense to him calling me a 'nigga' and beat the sh!t out of him. That's how freedom works.
Now bringing it back to this show, I have to say I love this show. I'm starting to believe this is quite possibly the most important Black TV show that's every existed. Not because it serves some type of purpose in 'uplifting' the Black race, or it show some type of positivity. But because it just 'is'.
It's just my experience, but i don't think the word's being used too much. Have you heard language on the street before? I KNOW THOSE PEOPLE. Every character on that show... I can name 5 people I know who can fit each of those molds. The Activist, The Wannabe Thug, The Assimilated Lawyer who marries the White Woman, The Bi-Racial Kid, The Wiggers, The Uncle Tom Ignorant... I think McGruder has done a great job and building a broad spectrum of characterization based on "The Black Person". And i love the fact that there's no "right" character. No protagonist who's elevated above all the 'buffoons'. All these characters are flawed, exaggerations which bring the point across.
Being that I don't buy into the whole Politically Correct movement, I can safely say that this show is bordering on brilliant. I feel that Aaron McGruder has done (with this show), what filmmakers like Spike Lee and John Singleton haven't been able to fully pull off. Tell intelligent and thought-provoking stories, masked in 'nigga-speak'.
But the greatest thing that this show has done, is that it's started people talking again. People on all sides of different arguments are adding their '2-cents' the the social collective. This is what suppose to happen.
And I strongly feel that if the majority of our people have a problem with The Boondocks, then maybe they need to look past an obscure 'cartoon' and finally help do something to change the 'reality' it represents.
But yeah, you're right. Whateva nigga...
Posted by toddkelley at February 17, 2006 07:00 AM
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Posted by: lazer at April 15, 2006 10:32 AM