Is the Boondocks Representative of Black Culture?

[catspook]

deadguy

Wendall

Yes I think Boondock's represent the black community in almost all aspects.

The intellectual non whitewashed character - Huey
The n***a - Riley
The Uncle Tom - Tom
Then there's Grandad - he's just grandad man
And then there's all the other ignorant a** loud extras.

The episodes do depict on how black people act sometimes (though it does take it to the extreme sometime), but it's a comedy cartoon, not to be taken seriously

I just wish they'd have more black people that are somewhere in between, Not whitewashed, but not really ghetto, kinda like Huey.

Huey, the radical Islamic extremist?

In the cartoon, Huey is not Muslim; he's non-religious - I don't know about the comic strip

[Kaosgirl]

Princess Z-M

Kobanya

Yeah...let's try not to get the thread derailed again.

Let's shift the focus slightly to rap music: Why is the concept of having tons of cash, a lot of women, and giant rims so appealing? Well, the cash is self-explanatory, but it seems in some of the rap videos the best (and preferred) way of getting it is through the sale of illegal drugs. Thoughts?

The irony is Rock music aka White music have the same elements however no one seems to fully understand that and Rock music has been woven into America fabric thus it's okay to have half naked white women shake their hips, wear dog collars (See Papa Roach's Last Resort), and basically have soft core porn.

Why the double standards?

When Columbine went down, it wasn't Dr. Dre that got blamed. It was Marilyn Manson, and the rest of the "uber-white" goth/industrial genre. Alice Cooper and Ozzy have been scapegoats since probably before you were born.

When it's "white crime," it's "white music" people blame - just nobody mentions the white part. I think it's because the default assumption is "white unless otherwise specified."

But this is my answer. You came close to an alternative that seems no less valid:

Princess Z-M

The problem is that Blacks don't have as many positive imagery in the media as whites to counter all the negativity that we see.

Right there, could explain the apparent double-standard.

Princess Z-M

I mean come now mostly all Blacks in the media are either related to some type of comedy, hood drama, and/or sitcom.

Whereas whites can view themselves in a wide range of roles thus it doesn't matter how dumb Gossip girl is since you also have shows like House. Yeah there was Sex in the City but then you had things like Sabrina the teenage witch and positive roles for white girls to see.

Whereas for little Black girls how many positive roles models do they have on TV?

Oddly, all four examples you threw up are IMO utterly terrible sources for white girls (or really, any girls) to be looking for role models.

[Kobanya]

theundeadchrist

Vixianna

Well it was a general question to the thread I think. I get what you're saying. My sister(Kobanya) and I are blessed, but all of our cousins are not. On my father's side there's people who have been jailed for selling drugs. On my mother's a cousin is only interested in his cousin's easy many from selling drugs. It does impact us, but our parents made sure we stayed away from that life.

ya'll thought i was gone but im back to derail the thread yet again scream twisted

The hell you are. Do it again and get blocked.

@Everyone: Can anyone name at least 5 shows that could be considered a role model for black youth?

[Marris]

I'm going completely off the general topic here but I recently watched the first season of The Boondocks and I have to say that the theoretical episode with Martin Luther King really struck a chord with me, not just because it was a good episode but because it spoke a lot of truths about the black community and what they've become in recent years.

If MLK was still alive I think he'd be ashamed. He fought so hard for equal rights and freedoms and in the end what have a lot of the black community chosen to do with their hard won victory ... throw it away.
Glorifying drugs and gang life, not pursuing a higher education ... it seems like far too many of the black community has lost all ambition. And yes, I know this a generalization but for far to many this is true.

That episode really touched on that and it was pretty brave of them to do so because I think everyone knows that if MLK could see what has become of a lot of the black community he would be disappointed.

[icanhaznomorepicklez]

Kobanya

Ok, so this had been rolling around in my head for a while, and I was debating whether to make this a topic or not, since I'm sure to get some ignorant "shut up *****!" posts in here. rolleyes But I decided, "hey, why not?"

As a black female, I enjoy watching the Boondocks. I realize that the show is one of satire, but one can't help but notice some similarities to the black community:

-Thoughts on spanking
-Snitching
-Use of the word "niggah" vs "******"
-Black Nationalist Movement
-The "Gangsta" Lifestyle
-"***** Moments"

So what do you think ED? Some questions for you:

Does the Boondocks accurately (or somewhat accurately) represent black culture or black community as a whole?
What are your thoughts/feelings on the use of the word *****? Should it ever be used? Is there a difference between "*****" and "******"
Do you like/hate/love the Boondocks, and why? (The why is more important people.)

spanking - representative of black, indian and chinese culture.

snitching - universal for poor culture. think you're going to to get an Irish-american family to snitch? an italian? gypsie? poor chinese? never. they all deal with everything in house.

use of the N word - representative only of poor black americans.

black nationalist movement - smaller than white nationalist movements, all races have a few fringe groups. as long as you are a rational person don't sweat it. (unless you live in the UK since they just elected another BNP racist)

***** moments - sounds alot like redneck moments, and I could go on. Once again don't compare the degradation in culture experienced by poor to race.

like the boondocks because it's pretty much like south park. it shows up social ill's e.g. when the rich white kids whose families own the banks keep doing illegal things but getting away with it ...

[Princess Z-M]

Kaosgirl

When Columbine went down, it wasn't Dr. Dre that got blamed. It was Marilyn Manson, and the rest of the "uber-white" goth/industrial genre. Alice Cooper and Ozzy have been scapegoats since probably before you were born.

When it's "white crime," it's "white music" people blame - just nobody mentions the white part. I think it's because the default assumption is "white unless otherwise specified."

True but it's usually a bigger backlash when it's a Black artist. Do you think NWA was the first group to say ******** the police? Yeah try listening to the Sex Pistols and other punk band. At the bare essences both genres are about rebelling against "the system" and are rooted from the African-American experience. Also, bold for truth.

Kaosgirl

But this is my answer. You came close to an alternative that seems no less valid:

Princess Z-M

The problem is that Blacks don't have as many positive imagery in the media as whites to counter all the negativity that we see.

Right there, could explain the apparent double-standard.

Well it's true right? I mean white kids can be anything from Animal police to zoologists. Whereas Black kids let's see either some sort of sport superstar, rapper, musician, comedian, ect. Basically be a trained monkey for whitey that's what I used to see from TV and it hasn't changed much. Of course we have these rare cases that break that model but....

Kaosgirl

Oddly, all four examples you threw up are IMO utterly terrible sources for white girls (or really, any girls) to be looking for role models.

Sorry I don't really watch TV much. Yeah I can't say I have been into TV since stuff like The Practice or Touch by an Angel were on air. Like I watch Heroes, Ninja Warrior, and old cartoons nowadays. I basically just stick to reading, going out with friends, and playing video games. Yup I'm old.

Still I am pretty sure white girls can see their likeness in more positive roles than non-white girls can.

[Princess Z-M]

Kobanya

The hell you are. Do it again and get blocked.

@Everyone: Can anyone name at least 5 shows that could be considered a role model for black youth?

Not anymore. As BET has stopped showing anything worth a damn. Ummm

I remember reading this: LINK

However I hated most of those shows. Like Paul Mooney said: UPN: You Pick N***s. WB: got that little Quincy Jone N****r look a like frog.

Better yet it's what Spike Lee was saying in 2005 Bamboolze. It's the same slapstick crap nothing has really changed since The Jeffersons or Good times. The majority of these shows have either low-income or middle-class Black who never seem to get anywhere. Girlfriends was a totally rip off of Sex in the City and was painful to watch as you actually had Black men grabbing themselves and all of them were skanky.

Also, Living Single which came a decade before was much better but then look who was in it.

The best Black show I every seen was City of Angels it was about an all Black medical staff. (It was kind of like ER)

Since then it's been hit and miss. Like yeah Terry Perry has his two shows but it's downgrade from the plays. It's all slapstick (yeah it makes you think) but at the end they both are slapstick.

So no I can't name too many Black series that are good granted 1) we don't have many left and 2) most of them are slapstick sitcoms.

The rare gem is Jada's little show that I miss this summer but I don't see that lasting too long anhyway. Plus Black viewers are hatin' on the fact that there's no Black men on the show and she's always in love with a White guy. So...

[Princess Z-M]

ZechsK

spanking - representative of black, indian and chinese culture.

snitching - universal for poor culture. think you're going to to get an Irish-american family to snitch? an italian? gypsie? poor chinese? never. they all deal with everything in house.

use of the N word - representative only of poor black americans.

black nationalist movement - smaller than white nationalist movements, all races have a few fringe groups. as long as you are a rational person don't sweat it. (unless you live in the UK since they just elected another BNP racist)

***** moments - sounds alot like redneck moments, and I could go on. Once again don't compare the degradation in culture experienced by poor to race.

like the boondocks because it's pretty much like south park. it shows up social ill's e.g. when the rich white kids whose families own the banks keep doing illegal things but getting away with it ...

Actually most minority groups spank their kids. You miss the Latinos. or did you not see George Lopez?

Use of the N word: Yeah white kids are calling other white kids that as well as Latinos.

Paul Mooney

Everyone want to act black but no one want to BE Black.

[deadguy]

catspook

deadguy

Wendall

Yes I think Boondock's represent the black community in almost all aspects.

The intellectual non whitewashed character - Huey
The n***a - Riley
The Uncle Tom - Tom
Then there's Grandad - he's just grandad man
And then there's all the other ignorant a** loud extras.

The episodes do depict on how black people act sometimes (though it does take it to the extreme sometime), but it's a comedy cartoon, not to be taken seriously

I just wish they'd have more black people that are somewhere in between, Not whitewashed, but not really ghetto, kinda like Huey.

Huey, the radical Islamic extremist?

In the cartoon, Huey is not Muslim; he's non-religious - I don't know about the comic strip

I could have sworn Huey was radical Islamic, but I guess I was thinking of Dewey. Huey's just a normal radical.

[eikocarol212]

Kobanya

theundeadchrist

Vixianna

Well it was a general question to the thread I think. I get what you're saying. My sister(Kobanya) and I are blessed, but all of our cousins are not. On my father's side there's people who have been jailed for selling drugs. On my mother's a cousin is only interested in his cousin's easy many from selling drugs. It does impact us, but our parents made sure we stayed away from that life.

ya'll thought i was gone but im back to derail the thread yet again scream twisted

The hell you are. Do it again and get blocked.

@Everyone: Can anyone name at least 5 shows that could be considered a role model for black youth?

Most of them are cancelled now:

City Guys
Different World
Moesha
Living Single
City of Angels
The Cosby Show

Now with some honorable mentions:
-Girlfriends: Yes, it's not the best, but it was the longest running black sitcom ever. And it did touch on some important topics from time to time.
-Fresh Prince of Bel Air: Again, not the best, but the show touched on how black people have to deal with the rich vs poor black mentalities, such as "selling out" and the like.
-Half and Half: Same boat as Girlfriends
-The Parkers: Had its moments, but it's the only television show I'd ever seen where the fat girl got the hot guy in the end, so I will support it till the day I die.
-The Steve Harvey Show: Now there were some ignorant moments, yes, but I honestly loved how they had the different students deal with issues of growing up.

It sucks that we don't have really any good television shows that represent black people anymore.

[catspook]

deadguy

catspook

deadguy

Wendall

Yes I think Boondock's represent the black community in almost all aspects.

The intellectual non whitewashed character - Huey
The n***a - Riley
The Uncle Tom - Tom
Then there's Grandad - he's just grandad man
And then there's all the other ignorant a** loud extras.

The episodes do depict on how black people act sometimes (though it does take it to the extreme sometime), but it's a comedy cartoon, not to be taken seriously

I just wish they'd have more black people that are somewhere in between, Not whitewashed, but not really ghetto, kinda like Huey.

Huey, the radical Islamic extremist?

In the cartoon, Huey is not Muslim; he's non-religious - I don't know about the comic strip

I could have sworn Huey was radical Islamic, but I guess I was thinking of Dewey. Huey's just a normal radical.

Yup, just secular radicalism for Huey - in the episode where Ruckus has his hallucination about "white heaven", Huey even asks his Grandpa "What makes your god any less made up than his?" - It's true that Huey is obsessed with Jesus being black, but I think it's more from a historical and political standpoint than a religious one, and I think the whole "Ronald Reagan is the devil" thing is really a dig at religious people more than anything

[icanhaznomorepicklez]

Princess Z-M

ZechsK

spanking - representative of black, indian and chinese culture.

snitching - universal for poor culture. think you're going to to get an Irish-american family to snitch? an italian? gypsie? poor chinese? never. they all deal with everything in house.

use of the N word - representative only of poor black americans.

black nationalist movement - smaller than white nationalist movements, all races have a few fringe groups. as long as you are a rational person don't sweat it. (unless you live in the UK since they just elected another BNP racist)

***** moments - sounds alot like redneck moments, and I could go on. Once again don't compare the degradation in culture experienced by poor to race.

like the boondocks because it's pretty much like south park. it shows up social ill's e.g. when the rich white kids whose families own the banks keep doing illegal things but getting away with it ...

Actually most minority groups spank their kids. You miss the Latinos. or did you not see George Lopez?

Use of the N word: Yeah white kids are calling other white kids that as well as Latinos.

Paul Mooney

Everyone want to act black but no one want to BE Black.

I'm sure most minority groups do. I wasn't even limiting it to minority groups in the US, but just the races globally.

[Princess Z-M]

eikocarol212

Most of them are cancelled now:

City Guys
Different World
Moesha
Living Single
City of Angels
The Cosby Show

Ah you made me remember The Parent Hood! Thank you! There was also CJ and Jamal (I think) which was a cute animated series that came on ABC Saturday or Fox. I forget it's been awhile but it was a black kid and his teddy bear. (WAY BEFORE LITTLE BILL) Moesha is kind of on the fence since it played on the whole cheating Black father stereotype when stupid Ray J was brought in. I mean it's not like it doesn't happen but damn come on!

eikocarol212

Now with some honorable mentions:

You did a good job.

eikocarol212

-Girlfriends: Yes, it's not the best, but it was the longest running black sitcom ever. And it did touch on some important topics from time to time.

Yup and by touching you mean how Black men would touch themselves I fully agree. I really can't get over that. Other than BET I never thought I would see something like that. I mean yeah they were nude or anything but just the act of grabbing themselves on national, basic cable was like WHOA! WTF! Are you MJ? I don't think so.

eikocarol212

-Fresh Prince of Bel Air: Again, not the best, but the show touched on how black people have to deal with the rich vs poor black mentalities, such as "selling out" and the like.

I wonder if Will Smith knowing what he knows now would have kicked out the Original mom from the show for her suggestions. Which were focusing more about education instead of all the slap stick?

eikocarol212

-Half and Half: Same boat as Girlfriends

Agree.

eikocarol212

-The Parkers: Had its moments, but it's the only television show I'd ever seen where the fat girl got the hot guy in the end, so I will support it till the day I die.

Yeah they were sluts. I mean they both kind of wanted the same dude, and even though they were in college they were still kind of stupid. I rather support the fat lady on Night Court than this show.

eikocarol212

-The Steve Harvey Show: Now there were some ignorant moments, yes, but I honestly loved how they had the different students deal with issues of growing up.

In agreement. I wish more shows like it would have happen. As it's sad but only Sesame Street diverse cast. I mean they have everyone! Yeah most of the colors are on the muppets but still they have Latinos, Blacks, Asians, Whites, and even an Middle Eastern now. Also Elmo is Black. (Still I miss Kermit the most)

eikocarol212

It sucks that we don't have really any good television shows that represent black people anymore.

Like I said we got Sesame Street if that's worth anything. Me and the youngsters still watch it. I like Dora... but yeah for us grown folks we got basically nothing.

[Princess Z-M]

ZechsK

I'm sure most minority groups do. I wasn't even limiting it to minority groups in the US, but just the races globally.

Ah then we are squared but you still miss the Latinos and they are a global. One of the bigger groups really.

[Princess Z-M]

Marris

I'm going completely off the general topic here but I recently watched the first season of The Boondocks and I have to say that the theoretical episode with Martin Luther King really struck a chord with me, not just because it was a good episode but because it spoke a lot of truths about the black community and what they've become in recent years.

If MLK was still alive I think he'd be ashamed. He fought so hard for equal rights and freedoms and in the end what have a lot of the black community chosen to do with their hard won victory ... throw it away.
Glorifying drugs and gang life, not pursuing a higher education ... it seems like far too many of the black community has lost all ambition. And yes, I know this a generalization but for far to many this is true.

That episode really touched on that and it was pretty brave of them to do so because I think everyone knows that if MLK could see what has become of a lot of the black community he would be disappointed.

Do you think he would have used the N word though?

That's the only part that really kind of irked me. Like as much sadness this generation had causes our fallen warriors I do NOT believe that word would come out of his mouth. No matter how stupid we can get as people.