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Dave Chappelle Sighting

Boaz YakinWilliam Jelani Cobb wrote an even longer article, “The Devil and Dave Chappelle,” on seeingblack.com—longer than my previous note. I think we got this Dave thang covered. But maybe Dr. Michael Eric Dyson has a book coming out—and on his book tour he can perform entire Chappelle show sketches right behind the podium, in keeping with his tradition of busting out in rap song while speaking publicly about Tupac.

Dave Chappelle—like any red blooded American that is not a member of a dynastic, elite family like the Bush family—is a victim of a war of attrition. The surface area that Dave exposes to suburban “multicultural” mediocrity produces a pressure that cannot be ignored. You can’t have a writing partner like the one Dave had and expect him (his writing partner) to be Black forever. You can’t work for the same house that produces South Park and not get shit on by the Christmas Poo… Even a Chappelle-Show equivalent of Boaz Yakin, the guy who made one Black movie better than all of Spike Lee’s movies put together, would eventually reveal his birth nature and kneel down to the Christmas tree looking for presents.

There is disagreement here with William Jelani Cobb about his assertion that the Rick James sketch was not a political sketch. This is like saying that Sir Nose Devoid of Funk was not a political character. This is like saying Br’er Rabbit is not a political character. The danger behind this assertion is a possible lack of imagination. There is the implication that there is one way to be political. And these awkward assumptions reveal the poverty of the post-modern Negro.

Comments

AG, 2006-09-12 16:45:15

Though I've not seen Fresh, not sure if I can go along w/the 'better than all of Spike's Films'.. That's a hell of a statement ;) Spike has about eleven films to his credit, admittedly, not all were well received, but give credit where it is due.

Completely, forget that I'm B'klyn :)

rasx(), 2006-09-14 06:10:40

You gots to check out Fresh. When you talk about community love, Mo' Better Blues reigns---I can feel it even though I'm from L.A.

rasx()