March 27, 2022. “The Slappening” aka “The Slap Heard Around the World”. Whatever you may call it, it will be a day that will live in infamy. Many have their opinions of what transpired on the 94th Annual Oscar’s stage, but my goal here is to wade through all of the political, cultural, and ethical waters to get down to brass tacks and provide cogent thought on this saga. Pray I do not drown in the depths.
Read MoreOn Thursday, March 5, 2020, Elizabeth Warren suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination for the 2020 presidential election. Once considered to be a frontrunner in a crowded race, Warren at the end of day could not convert her great financial support into physical votes at the polls.
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“I was dreaming when I wrote this. Forgive me if I go astray.”
Three weeks ago, Dave Chappelle released his fifth stand-up special for Netflix. Living up to its title, Sticks & Stones has proven to be his most controversial work to date. Fans familiar with Chappelle’s style and deft ability to find the funny in some of the most contentious topics of the day should not be surprised by its content. On that level, it does not disappoint. However, in this era galvanized by #CancelCulture and #MeToo, the comedic flair that once established Chappelle as an immutable member of any comedian’s top 5 places him in direct confrontation with perhaps Chappelle’s greatest hurdle—his audience. And rather than surmount that hurdle, Chappelle dropkicks it across the stage.
It is not my intention in this piece to defend Chappelle’s special but rather explore the conversation that has been sparked as a result. From talks around the water cooler to vehement diatribes on Twitter, Sticks & Stones has provided fuel for many a critic. It’s uncomfortable, yes. It’s offensive, yes. It’s funny…yes. So let’s dive into it.
“But when I woke up this morning could’ve sworn it was Judgement Day.”
To say that Chappelle’s goal from the outset was to call out political correctness is inaccurate. This is not a vehicle for indignation toward “PC culture”, an attack on the “liberal agenda”, nor is this an endorsement of the bastardization of “free speech.” Therefore, in analysis, it is wholly unproductive to resolve to partisan slights which amounts to nothing more than dogmatic drivel and playground insults. Regardless of your political affiliation, deeming someone a “snowflake” or “too PC” for taking offense to something they genuinely found offensive is not helpful. Deeming someone a bigot because they laughed at something you may find offensive is also unhelpful.
In truth, Chappelle is no more provocative than he has ever been onstage (Killing Them Softly, For What It’s Worth, etc.). If Sticks & Stones has demonstrated anything for certain, it is that Chappelle, unswayed by the social tide, will continue to deliver his real and raw brand of comedy to all who will witness it. As for his detractors, well this is Netflix, and "…you clicked on [his] face.”
Chappelle is a comedian, and his job is to make us laugh. In that effort, one can surmise from the thunderous applause of the audience in the Atlanta auditorium, Chappelle was successful. But roaring crowds does not a righteous man make, and boy did Twitter and prominent news outlets across America let you know it. Some of the loudest voices in opposition of Chappelle regarded his takes on the LGBTQ community, gender equality, and #MeToo as not only reductive but in poor taste. And honestly, the criticism is not unwarranted. Some of Chappelle’s material here felt feeble, leaving much to be desired in the realm of the transformational commentary he has so skillfully crafted in previous work. However, one might suggest Chappelle’s occupational handicap is the inherent “privilege” he possesses as a heterosexual [black] male. Perhaps Chappelle’s commentary would have been more positively received had he been a member of the communities in question. But is anything truly off limits to a comedian? If a recent Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with comedic legends Eddie Murphy and Jerry Seinfeld is any indication, then the answer is no.
Comedy is subjective and cannot be all things to all people, but I find the true genius of a comedian is their ability to artfully mine humor out of the dark coves of the most difficult and controversial subject matter. If a comedian can entertain us, make us laugh, think, and rethink how we see a particular concept, however uncomfortable, that’s worth a $12.99 subscription—thanks for the inflation, Netflix.
“So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.”
At the very least, Chappelle was effective in inciting the very outrage his routine sought out to condemn. And it’s given him more free press than you could possibly imagine. Whether you laughed, were offended, or laughed and were offended, you are right. And that’s okay.