Aaron "I Love The N Word" McGruderI used to LOVE The Boondocks comic strip when it was in my local newspaper. Now that The Boondocks is on TV, I hate it. I've hated it from the beginning. Once again though I might have been a bit ahead of the curve because most Black people were loving The Boondocks when it first appeared on TV.
I feel the same way about The Boondocks as I do The Dave Chappelle Show, they are minstrel shows. The Boondocks is just an excuse to say the N word 50 times an episode and make use of the same pimp images of Hip Hop and other tired stereotypes.
Do you think The Boondocks has become The Coondocks?
Read the inspiration for this post at the blog The Happy Go Lucky Bachelor.
18 comments:
I never followed this comic strip.
Now, I wish I had.
Interesting.
I think that the show is excellent. The second season isn't as good as the first one was to me, but it remains a great form of social satire. The show is critical of negative African American behavior and presents this behavior in a humorous light. For example, the stop snitchin episode shows the consequences of Riley embracing the negative philosophy when he and his family robbed. Another example would be the n-word moment episodes where the machismo that many African American men possess was shown to have dire consequences. To me the show is a brilliant piece of social satire aimed specifically at the African American community.
MDC,
I do see social satire in The Boondocks TV show. For instance, the recent episode that saw the Freeman family taking in folks displaced by Katrina showed the hypocrisy of people who claim sympathy for hurricane survivors, yet are loathe to truly help and resent the intrusion of survivors into their world. It mocked the way the media has branded American citizens "refugees." It also highlighted that all survivors are not saints. Some of the folks displaced by Katrina suffer from self-perpetuated problems. Some folks are just triflin. They were before Katrina and still are after.
The problem with The Boondocks is that for every morsel of social commentary, there are five big hunks of un-ironic negative stereotype. McGruder's treatment of black women, when he deigns to include us, is particularly poor. What is it with black funny men like McGruder and Dave Chappelle (who I think was even worse), who CLAIM to be conscious and all about the uplift, but see black women only as irritations, sluts or the butt of the joke?
When I watch Boondocks, especially this season, I find myself equal parts amused, entertained, annoyed, angered and disappointed.
I do remember that the comic strip was a little more socially conscious, but not by much. I've missed the cartoon several weeks in a row (fell asleep)-guess I hadn't missed much.
I think we need more socially-conscious TV shows, cartoons, and magazines, that won't just cater to "what's funny and popular."
I have always found his comic strip eyebrow-raising, but in a negative way. Not sure I'd call him a coon but he has some serious issues and a sense of humor that I can't get with.
Baby Pease,
The comic strip version is worth a look. I really enjoyed that.
_____________________________________
HC,
The problem is; most viewers are not savvy enough to get any of the satire. All they see is a minstrel show.
And many who do get it are too turned off by the imagery and language to care.
___________________________________
Tami,
"The problem with The Boondocks is that for every morsel of social commentary, there are five big hunks of un-ironic negative stereotype. McGruder's treatment of black women, when he deigns to include us, is particularly poor."
I could not have said it better myself.
___________________________________
Randi,
I just think this show along with all the other media images of us is too much. I'm sick of it.
___________________________________
Lennie G,
His since of humor has defiantly lost me. And to think I really liked his work in print.
Thanks for stopping by.
I'm not a big fan of the show because I don't find it as sharp with the satire as the original comic. It's done so far in advance that he misses out on events that he would have tackled on the comic. I wish he would do another graphic novel or special orignial collection.
Also, I'm not really surprised that McGruder has gotten comfortable with the show over the strip because he was always complaining about the grind of the daily strip.
YES! I loved The Boondocks comic strip! I thought it was intelligent, insightful and witty.
The T.V. cartoon is another matter entirely. I am not feelin the gratuitous use of "nigga" or any other potty mouthed language. It's not that I can't stand to hear the word "nigga" in music/television, it's just that the comic strip was so funny and intelligent without it.
I have the Boondocks tivoed, but the eposodes just sit there because I don't watch.
I know it CAN be a great show, because it was a great comic strip. It feels as though Aaron McGruder has sold out for sales. I hope not, but until they get their integrity back, I ain't watchin!
I can't say anything bad about The Boondocks. lol. I think America deserves this blunt comedy. Especially seeing as how it is America itself who provides McGruder with his material.
good point don, i agree with you on that.
i loved the comic strip! it cracks me up. i signed up to rec' it to my inbox daily,(ucomics.com) so even though the strips are old--they still crack me up!
i agree with you mdc, i didn't take to the tv show much either,,,jsut didn't do the same thing as the written strip.
Professor Tracey,
I just wish he would have a "Dave Chappelle" moment. Lol and realize that not everyone gets it; some people are just tuning in to see ignorant Black people.
_____________________________________
Janie,
I know it can be better too. I wonder what the heck McGruder is thinking about.
I'm with you about hearing the N word. It's not entertainment to me if I have to hear that word just to hear it.
___________________________________
Don,
How would you feel about the show if a White person was behind it?
___________________________________
Wisdom Teaches Me,
I loved the comic too. I read it without fail. That’s why the show is such a disappointment.
but isn't that probable
anyway don? i mean, some where in the handling of the contract-through all the steps of the business relationship and production-yada, you know the whole shabang-we know they are in there some where. doesn't change it-- it appears he still has enough creative decision power ....it appears....
Like wisdometeachesme, I would be seriously offended for black folks if a white person had actually created The Boondocks...
Mes, stop starting stuff. lol.
i loved the comic strip too. however, i too am viewing the cartoon as a means to be a buffoon w/mainstream media's permission. I won't let my son (16) watch it, bcuz if I EVER CAUGHT HIM TALKING LIKE THOSE KIDS, he'd have the fist of furies raining down on his temples!
If the author was attempting to convey a message, it's truly diluted in trash.
Wisdom Teaches Me,
I think Aaron is in the same boat Dave Chappelle was in. The show is a hit so certain elements probably won't allow the show to change for the better.
_____________________________________
Don,
Who me?
___________________________________
Bria,
"If the author was attempting to convey a message, it's truly diluted in trash."
You said it, that is so true. Most people can't see the political satire through the buffoonery.
I know it can be better too. I wonder what the heck McGruder is thinking about. i loved the comic strip! it cracks me up. i signed up to rec' it to my inbox daily,(ucomics.com) so even though the strips are old--they still crack me up!I think that the Boondocks Free is excellent. The second season isn't as good as the first one was to me, but it remains a great form of social satire.
Yeah, Coondocks is complete sellout programming and the worst part is that the creators (at least the Black ones) feel like they're entitled to basically clown the African-American community. Their position seems to be that the last minute or two of each show represents an attempt (and failed) go at a contrived "moral of the story" segment. It's sad considering the way that it started in the newspaper comics.
omg...are you people really that ignorant. all you "activist" who has negative things to say about the boondocks I urge you to take the time out to do research, analyze, and sit down and think about it. The author is by NO MEANS trying to pick fun at the african american community. When people do not understand something they do and say the things that I am hearing on this blog. The show is a social satire, exaggerating black stereotypes forcing blacks who behave that way to look at themselves and see that the things that we think are cool are obviously not. everyone please look beyond what you see, instead of reacting off of impulse. It is a parody/satirical comedy!! Many people who dont understand needs to really get an education and learn to not judge this way. Thinking that we will get "peace on earth" by eliminating this series is wrong and hilarious. the creator of boondocks is a very intellectual guy evidently by his need to try something new with blacks. Instead of sugarcoating and telling them what they need to do and stop doing, have them look at themselves from an outgroup perspective. Guys to suggest that boondocks is meant by the author to "Pick fun" or "clown" black people is not only far from the truth but IGNORANT!! thank you and goodbye
Post a Comment