So I sat down to watch Chocolate News on Comedy Central®, hosted by David Alan Grier, formerly of In Living Color. I also watched D.L. Hughley Breaks the News on CNN® and I hate both of these shows. I know hate is a strong word, but the content of these shows invokes strong emotions within me...seriously!
In this day and age, I think it is sad to see two accomplished African-American males further undermine my people by perpetuating those negative stereotypes we see played out over and over again in the media. I have to wonder why b/c I view both of them as men that should know better. David Alan Grier was educated @ Yale University for crying out loud and he is running around on TV acting like a damn fool. Sketch comedies can be funny w/out making Black people look ignorant and dumb, right? The more I watched his show, the more I respect Dave Chapelle for leaving Comedy Central® when he did. He got it right; he knows some jokes are to remain amongst our people and no amount of money is worth the bad media. Way to take a stance Dave! Others don't understand and laugh AT us, believing what they are viewing depicts how and who we are as a people.
D.L. Hughley has an even larger audience on CNN®, a respected news network where people all over the US tune in on TV and the web for the latest in the news. These people most likely did not watch Comic View or see Kings of Comedy, understanding his background in comedy. So when they see him for the first time on CNN® and he uses a pimp to depict Freddie Mac, it’s all bad! Here’s why: As an avid news watcher, I tune in to all networks to get the varying opinions on today’s issues. I even watch Fox News Channel® b/c we need to be aware of what everyone is saying, everyone! Many discussion forums on Fox News (I’ve seen it w/ my own eyes; heard it w/ my own ears…last week) consist of panel members that blame the housing market crisis on people that “went out and bought houses they could not afford.” Now we know those people were victims of predatory lenders, but it doesn’t matter to them. Many of those people started out w/ affordable mortgages, but when those rates flipped, their payments nearly doubled and THEN they could not afford their homes. It’s very easy for people like Bill O’Reilly or Sean Hannity to say, “I did the right thing. I invested the way we were always told. I built my credit. I didn’t live beyond my means.” Well, my friend’s aunt did the same, but w/out being raised to invest b/c she grew up poor, struggling to finally have a “fair” credit score, and only earning $35k a year, she lost her first home @ 52 years old, after only having it for four years. I wonder if D.L. considers this type of situation and the extreme bias out there when he sits w/ his writing team to come up w/ his skits and jokes.
Why can’t they be like John Stewart or Steven Colbert when reporting the news? Or even Keith Olberman or Rachel Maddow on MSNBC? Not because they are White, but because they don’t consistently make Black people look foolish. Like these hosts, they can put an objective, comedic spin on the news, but keep the ignorant Black stereotypes out of it. A press release by Comedy Central Corporate Communications (2008) posted online @ Yahoo! Finance says Chocolate News “fills TVs Black hole.” FOR WHO??? I am Black and his show only offends me! In an interview w/ the NY Times about his new show on CNN®, D.L. Hughley said, “I barely even know how to read. I’ve got a G.E.D. (Itzkoff, 2008).” Shut up D.L.!!! Someone thought you were intelligent enough to offer you a show on CNN and you minimize your intelligence w/ such ignorant statements…ugh! With an astonishing 50% or greater of black males dropping out of high school before graduating…that’s right, 50% (Umah, McMahon & Furlow, 2008), it would be better for you to let them know they can and should make it in life, not say you can’t read.
Oprah is an awesome show host and she NEVER uses such foolery. Many people respect her, tuning in daily to listen to what she has to say, not just Black people. Why can’t David and D.L. be more like Oprah, just neutral w/ their content, not using ghetto, stereotypical crap for laughs? It’s called “cooning” and they are still getting our men to coon in 2008, oh brother. D.L. showed a clip of a young Sammy Davis, Jr. looking like the little happy, good Negro boy while singing w/ what D.L. said was a pork chop in his hand. D.L., you might as well have a pork chop as well…and some kool-aid…and watermelon…and ribs...and fried chicken. But then we’ll get upset when Republicans create a horribly racist “Obama Buck,” even though we help add to these stereotypes about ourselves. Why would David Alan Grier wear tight, leopard-print draws and dance around on TV looking like he’s just “a-shucking-and-a-jiving?” I can’t call it, but I want both shows off the air, especially when there are still undecided voters out there.
References
Uwah, C., McMahon, H., & Furlow, C. (2008). School belonging, educational aspirations, and academic self-efficacy among African American male high school students: Implications for school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 11(5), 296-305.
COMEDY CENTRAL Corporate Communications. “Filling TV's Black Hole:
David Alan Grier's 'Chocolate News' Premieres on Comedy Central(R) Wednesday, October 15 at 10:30 P.M.” 9/24/08.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080924/ny34957.html?.v=1
Itzkoff, David. “For Once, CNN Takes News Less Seriously.”
(2008). http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/arts/television/25hugh.html
Opinionated
4 comments:
WOW!!! How do you really feel? I have said the same thing about DL for years but everyone thought he was soo funny! He isn't!!! Anytime a comedian has to disrespect his race and culture to make mainstream media laugh says a lot about that comedian!!!
I never really thought either one was funny, but I am most certainly NOT the majority! I have accepted that also! I have been griping over whether to watch the shows or not, but I had decided against it because I was already going into it negatively! But, I see I don't have to! LOL!
Kei, I too was very disappointed w/ what DL Hughley chose to do w/ his life's work as a comedian. I've seen him on other forums and he actually seemed sensible to me. What a let down I had when I saw his show. How long will we "shuck and jive" to get attention. Helloooo, all attention is NOT good attention.
Very well put. I see both sides of the coin..not agree with but I see them. Here is a black that has made it this far in his career to reach mainstream. Now he has two choices: 1. be a self respecting black man and not get the money and publicity (whether it be good or bad it is still PR)2. be the one getting paid. Now that I brought up the money issue I will say this, What is the difference in an african american child leaving high school to go right to the pros. They both have talent, both should be doing it the right way by either getting education or by having better comic material. The bottom line they both choose to entertain the public and get paid. I personally do not get upset with people like D.L or David. Do we see white folks upset with their public figures i.e. brittany, the going back to rehab girl, or any of the US weekly stories. They (white folks) don't give a damn. And I will end it with WHY SHOULD WE!
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