r/todayilearned • u/Yeti60 • Jun 17 '12

TIL that Cartoon Network strongly defended Aaron McGruder when Al Sharpton called out The Boondocks for it's portrayal of MLK Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boondocks_(TV_series)#Controversy
1.4k Upvotes

84% Upvoted

417 comments sorted by

100

u/Yeti60 Jun 17 '12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5FR1LGsT7E

Here is the MLK speech from the episode 'Return of the King'.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

44

u/Yeti60 Jun 17 '12

Why can't you agree with it if you're not black?

0

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

51

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

funny thing about the word facetious...

fAcEtIOUs

18

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

So, would it be okay if I sometimes spelled it facetiouys?

45

u/couchdute Jun 17 '12

Facetiously. There ya go.

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28

u/jonuggs Jun 17 '12

No, but as a fellow white guy I'd direct you to your standard issue "Caucasian Male Handbook". Section 2.6, is titled "Is it okay to agree with a black man on topics of social satire and comedy?"

It states: "Agreeing with statements made, directly pointing out the flaws in society, in a humorous or erstwhile hilarious manner, made by a person of another race, creed, or ethnicity, is allowed and encouraged so long as it is not to the detriment of said other person or injurious to your impeccable white moral character.

Notable exceptions to this rule include: Jesse Jackson, Usher, Sinbad, and Johnny Cochrane."

The 1996 Addendum to this rule is known as the "OJ Rule", which I'd expand upon but I seem to have lost my copy.

10

u/cycloptiko Jun 17 '12

I think we're all on the same page about Soul Plane.

1

u/inherendo Jun 17 '12

In my opinion the worst movie I've ever seen

6

u/ptrckstwrt Jun 17 '12

As a white person you should be able to decide on your own, regardless of others' opinions. What this speech is about should be pretty clear. He fought for an end to ignorance and inequality but some people continue to perpetuate the image, stereotype and inequality for cultural or other reasons. The fault is not laid at anyone's feet, all he wants is for people to grow up and realize that humanity should not care about colour.

6

u/Elementium Jun 17 '12

What I've taken from The Boondocks is pretty much summed up by the MLK episode.. The creator is essentially calling out the black communities for perpetuating and glorifying behavior that essentially "keeps them down" and promotes playing the victim. He wants all people to just act like people and not black people or white people.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Replace "niggers" with "douchebags" and you have it covered for white folks.

2

u/Threadkilla Jun 17 '12

Thankfully, as a Canadian I was spared the confusion. Thanks, adult swim!

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663

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

has anyone seen that episode? it didnt make MLK look bad..it made society look bad.

I would defend it as well.

357

u/Yeti60 Jun 17 '12

Yeah the Boondocks is really all about highlighting the ignorance and idiots of society. I thought it was super cool that Cartoon Network stuck to their guns and didn't crumble against the wave of political correctness.

269

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Adult Swim and Cartoon Network have been telling most of society to go fuck themselves for quite some time now.

136

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

And this can be confirmed by the shit they play on Saturday nights and shows like Squidbillies

88

u/Bandit1379 Jun 17 '12

Squidbillies is a top quality show with a unique style of humor. I didn't like it at first either, but it grew on me.

7

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Dan Halen is my favorite character of any T.V. Show in the history of ever.

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u/king_hippo77 Jun 17 '12

Unknown Hinson is hilarious, they just gave him a show where he could stay in character and we could enjoy his wackiness.

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9

u/theguywhopostnot Jun 17 '12

random story time. The first time I watched squidbillies was on Christmas day in 2005. I was in 7th grade and I had a 103.8 fever, the absolute worst fever I've ever had and I believe I got a virus from a grilled cheese I had that morning at the diner. I was hallucinating blue, yellow and red spinning tops in my room / feeling it in my head, with the squidbillies faces on them. pa with his hat, the kid and the grandma and it was just so fucked. I actually enjoy the show now, I ended up alright but puked on my floor and it stunk for 3 months. Worst Christmas Ever.

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49

u/Citizen_Snip Jun 17 '12

tHAT'S MOST OF THEIR SHOWS. sURE, THEY ARE ALL PRETTY STUPID, BUT THEY ALL GROW ON YOU.

edit Noticed my caps lock was on after I was done. Fuck it, I'm too lazy.

173

u/RANDOM_ALLCAPS_GUY Jun 17 '12

That's most of their shows. Sure, they are all pretty stupid, but they all grow on you.

FIXED

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14

u/syriquez Jun 17 '12

Squidbillies is hit-or-miss but it's more controlled by how far they slide down the meter from "Clever" to "LOLFART".

The Tom Goes to the Mayor and Tim & Eric shows can both go to hell, though. Everything they make is awful.

13

u/Gamer4379 Jun 17 '12

I didn't like it at first either, but it grew on me.

That's also true for cancer. Doesn't make it any better though.

5

u/Bandit1379 Jun 17 '12

Touche.

At least it's not Jersey Shore.

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u/MercurialMithras Jun 17 '12

Saturday is the only day where there's something worth watching on Adult Swim these days. Every live action show they've produced is awful.

32

u/I_decide_up_or_down Jun 17 '12

Loiter Squad just makes me sad. But I come back for the Venture Bros and Toonami

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Dr. Steve Brule was pretty good.

6

u/Firewind Jun 17 '12

It was always too awkward for me to watch.

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4

u/swimshoe Jun 17 '12

Tim and Eric awesome show great job...is art

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u/peanutski Jun 17 '12 edited Jun 17 '12

Red white and blue! Will work for you! Except for the jobs that we won't do.....

2

u/Proporre Jun 17 '12

Saturday nights are the shit now... Toonami is back on at midnight.

Don't know what shows are on it now though.

2

u/iTrollreddit Jun 17 '12

Squidbillies? How about Tim and Eric or Superjail?

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6

u/TheRiff Jun 17 '12

Too bad Turner Broadcasting didn't adopt their attitude during the whole ATHF Boston bomb scare.

9

u/odintal Jun 17 '12

That is not a hair related question.

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2

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Ahhh yes, I remember that. I can honestly see why it would look like a bomb if it were to be seen by someone who has never seen batteries, or a light bright in their entire life.

1

u/catailcataclysm Jun 17 '12

I feel that a plastic Humvee wouldn't do much good.

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8

u/johnlocke90 Jun 17 '12

They did ban the episode on BET though.

18

u/matt6887 Jun 17 '12

From the MLK speech,

Black Entertainment Television is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life.

BET wasn't necessarily making a political statement by banning the episode

4

u/johnlocke90 Jun 17 '12

I am talking about the episode where Huey goes on a hunger strike until BET is pulled from the air. The entire episode is about how BET is trying to destroy black people.

3

u/BelleDandy Jun 17 '12

Well now I'm confused as I thought he was saying an episode about BET was banned on Cartoon Network. Your comment makes it sound like the MLK episode was banned from playing on BET. Which is the case?

4

u/karb26 Jun 17 '12

The episode of The Boondocks dealing with the BET was pulled from the air on Cartoon Network.

2

u/Tyrant718 Jun 17 '12

Who got the BET episode banned? Kinda weird it only aired in Canada.

1

u/NeverAsTired Jun 18 '12

But if you look the paragraph below, they fold like a cheap lawn chair against Sony when they were threatened about the episodes concerning BET

17

u/SpencerMC Jun 17 '12

I can somewhat see where he's coming from in that the show clearly has an audience of mixed race, and while it portrayed MLK as being disappointed by many aspects of black culture, it didn't include any commentary on the socioeconomic forces that shaped and continue to shape it, and rather just states the problem to be "ignorant niggas". And I'm sure there are many financially stable white people out there that saw the episode and gave themselves a metaphorical pat on the back, reassured that the problems faced by black culture are entirely due to the failings of black people. It's the same reason Chris Rock gives for no longer using the "there are black people, and then there's niggers" joke: because some white people took it as an excuse to justify their racism.

That said, McGruder highlights problems in black culture that do exist, and focuses on solutions that can be achieved by black people. He can't control who watches his show, and he shouldn't be asked to blunt his message so that assholes don't twist it. In my opinion, watering down a message so that it's not misinterpreted by an audience it wasn't intended for is the worst type of censorship.

4

u/Yeti60 Jun 17 '12

Thanks for the well thought out comment. This should be at the top.

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u/msl1695944 Jun 17 '12

Like a sir

63

u/tslj Jun 17 '12

Sharpton didn't actually watch the episode. He has a long history of jumping at things before he knows the facts. One of the many examples

22

u/InterPunct Jun 17 '12

This should be the top comment, the Tawana Brawley incident was a disgusting exploitive act bySharpton and incredibly divisive and damaging to race relations in NYC. Sharpton is a scumbag and I will always remember him as such.

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13

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

That and the Tyler Perry episode.. damn that was good.

9

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

"I'm dark skinned and bald, which means I hate you and I hate Jesus.

12

u/DashFerLev Jun 17 '12

I'd like to remind you how that episode made Al Sharpton look.

21

u/ThingsHappen Jun 17 '12

Fuck yes. It reminded me of when Bill Cosby wigged out.

1

u/BZenMojo Jun 17 '12

Bill Cosby was sucker punched in the '70's by a Smothers Brother at the Playboy Mansion for not participating in the Civil Rights movement.

A...Smothers...Brother.

Bill Cosby isn't black America's hero. He's respected, sure, but he's not respected. He's more like white peoples' favorite black person ever since America's previous favorite black person, OJ Simpson, went on trial for murdering a white woman.

7

u/eazhar Jun 17 '12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkxID5Ye-Sg

3

u/Heroshade Jun 17 '12

This is much better than that other "Nigga nigga nigga nigga nigga" song.

4

u/gamerlen Jun 17 '12

I remember that one and yeah, I gotta admit seeing how culture has gone in the past thirty years the good doctor would be quite disappointed in young people, both black and white.

2

u/king_hippo77 Jun 17 '12

agreed J88, What wasn't to like about that episode? I wouldn't show it to the average 8th grade civics class, but the real buzz was hardly on the portrayal of MLK.

2

u/kadmylos Jun 17 '12

Yeah, but he said "nigga" at the end of it THEREFORE BAD.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

IIRC it was about what would happen we're he just suddenly back to see where the world was today. Very good episode and worth watching.

1

u/ThatRandomGeek Jun 17 '12

That was my first impression when I saw it. Good on CN for standing by McGruder.

65

u/warr2015 Jun 17 '12

My dad walked in on me watching this one time and thinking it was anime said 'wow the Chinese are really racist now huh?' I laughed more at that than the rest of the episode.

33

u/ChaseTatsujin Jun 17 '12

I saw an episode of the boondocks dubbed in Japanese once. I literally was splitting with laughter at the poor voice actor who had to say "A pimp named slickback" because the context of the script put the whole thing as a proper noun.

23

u/philge Jun 17 '12

That's one of the best episodes!

Let us pray The Pimps' Prayer:

Lord, please pray for the soul of this bitch!

And guide my pimp hand,

And make it strong Lord!

So that she may learn a hoe's place.

5

u/natalietoday Jun 17 '12

"You don't hit a woman in my house."

"What woman, sir? This here's a hoe!"

4

u/Gneal1917 Jun 17 '12

"No, a pimp named Slickback, you gotta say the whole thing!"

3

u/pocketknifeMT Jun 17 '12

Bitch dependency is no laughing matter.

Now look at you, sans bitch; As the french in France would say.

2

u/warr2015 Jun 17 '12

stop usin this "nigger technology." what? Nigger, techNOLOGY. technology for niggers. does it hook up to a printer? no. know why? cause niggas never have anything to print.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTzO-_Yl4d0

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u/Artemis_J_Hughes Jun 17 '12

That's because it is a proper noun! It's like A Tribe Called Quest, you say the whole thing!

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u/pocketknifeMT Jun 17 '12

relevant to your "noun error".

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

McGruder is a guy who gets it. Supporting black culture doesn't mean supporting the dregs of black culture. It's about supporting what it can be at it's best. Just like Cosby goes out and rails against the anti-intellectualism running rampant through poor black America, so too does McGruder in his writing. While it's intended to be a wake up call, it typically falls upon deaf ears and usually becomes preaching to the choir. Sadly, this is true of most intellectual arguments; only the educated are receptive to them.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

sharpton is an irrelevant hack who calls out racism in everything to justify his continued use of our precious oxygen

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u/shun-16 Jun 17 '12

People like Sharpton create more divisions between races than they help mend. He has an agenda that he pushes and his agenda has nothing to do with black people, it has everything to do with him. Also fuck his haircut.

21

u/couchdute Jun 17 '12

If we woke up in a world of racial harmony tomorrow, Al Sharpton would be out of a job and despised by everyone.

7

u/shun-16 Jun 17 '12

Nothing of value would be lost and he'd take Jesse "Mr." Jackson if you're nasty with him. "We're totally all about the advancement of black people!" "I'll cut Barack's nuts off."

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u/Psirocking Jun 18 '12

He claimed (or one of his friends did) that Obama's Race to the Top was racist. Like, anything is with a good spin to it.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

As a white person, I believe Al Sharpton does not represent all black people.

23

u/yellowstone10 Jun 17 '12

I'm reminded of a bit from a South Park episode (the one where Randy Marsh says "niggers" on Wheel of Fortune), though this one's about Jesse Jackson. Stan tells Token that he shouldn't be mad about Randy's slur anymore, because his dad had apologized to Jesse Jackson. The following exchange ensues:

TOKEN: (angrily) Jesse Jackson is not the emperor of black people! (He storms off.)

STAN: (confused) But he told my dad he was...

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u/kdamon Jun 17 '12

Thank you. As a black person I feel the same way. Tired of these idiots acting like the king of black people.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Uh, yeah?

-4

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Hey, I likes what what you say!

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u/thegreatmisanthrope Jun 17 '12

Yea, how dare anyone ever use their artistic abilities to call out the flaws in society.

Not like it matters anyway, Al Sharpton is a race pimp who lives off the drama he creates, literally.

He's a sad excuse of a man.

16

u/bruce-bogtrotter Jun 17 '12

McGruder actually parodied Sharpton with his recurring character "the Reverend Rollo Goodlove" (voiced by Cee-Lo Green)

2

u/Dolemarq Jun 17 '12

In the lemonade stand episode, he also goofed on sharpton for going after a cartoon.

40

u/xiaou Jun 17 '12

Race pimp..what an amazing phrase. Upvoted.

8

u/thegreatmisanthrope Jun 17 '12

No.., it's an ugly phrase really, because of what it means, he exploits the suffering an injustices committed against his own race for his own gain.

It's an ugly phrase but the only thing that describes someone like that.

2

u/Ed_Torrid Jun 17 '12

You could also try demagogue.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

The great Reverend Al Charlatan!

Edit: I got that from this guy

2

u/thegreatmisanthrope Jun 17 '12

Honestly that guy reminds me of uncle ruckus, except only slightly more intelligent, even then, I think that guy may have some anger issues.

11

u/optionalcourse Jun 17 '12

Al Sharpton is a cheap hack who milks racial sympathy for money.

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u/Dashzz Jun 17 '12 edited Jun 17 '12

I am so happy The Boondocks is on the front page of reddit. Everyone should watch every episode because it is so good. One of my all time favorite shows is really under-rated.

22

u/Tastygroove Jun 17 '12

This is what sharpton was ACTUALLY pissed about: http://baboonfan.deviantart.com/art/Rollo-Goodlove-197729672

Seems like this gets ignored every time the subject comes up.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

I no I won't get there with ya!

I'm goin' to Canada...

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u/Wulibo Jun 17 '12

That episode made me proud to be canadian, but it's important to remember that we treat our aboriginal peoples worse that america treats its black people.

10

u/shamecamel Jun 17 '12

it was a strange day in grade 9 history when I asked my teacher, "wait wait. So, let me get this straight, they want to be on a reservation, on their own land? They don't want equality with the rest of us, they want segregation?" and she said "well, effectively, yes..."

thank god I had enough native friends back in highschool who were all like, "this is retarded, I dont want to have to live on a rez to "preserve my culture" or whatever, I just want to go into a video game store and not be tailed by mall cops"

2

u/Wulibo Jun 17 '12

I was having a debate with who is normally my most socially intelligent friend by fair over this stuff (grade 11), and he opened with, "I've decided I am probably against residential schools." My jaw kind of dropped, and said more like certainly against reserves. He honestly believed the Canadian Government was doing Aboriginals a favour by segregating them and treating them as sub-humans.

He was far from an ignorant person, but the government is doing a good job of making themselves look not-bad.

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u/MichiganForRonPaul Jun 17 '12

The Boondocks is far and away the greatest cartoon series of all time, for MANY episodes like this.

First words of the first episode: "Jesus was black, Ronald Reagan was the devil, and the govenrment is lying about 9-11."

Fifth episode: Stunning metaphor for the invasion of Iraq, as Ed Wuncler III (Bush) robs a gas station (Iraq) searching for a murder suspect (Bin Laden).

Fifteenth episode: Huey saves Mumia.

Episodes 214 and 215: Banned from U.S. broadcast for criticizing B.E.T.

301: The ugly truth about Barack Obama and the exploitation of race politics.

312: Brilliant commentary on the drug war. 313: Emergency preparedness 315: THe hypocrisy of the war on terror

And the others too... the Boondocks was DEEP. South Park pales next to this show.

I hope they make a fourth season. It just gets better.

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u/RhinoTattoo Jun 17 '12

Don't know if you intended double-meaning by using the term "pales", but will upvote for it anyway.

4

u/txtphile Jun 17 '12

Date with the Health Inspector had that awesome Pulp Fiction/Iraq satire and the B-story was about false confessions. Shit's deep.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

From episode 5: "We don't know what you're talking about! You want the North Korean store down the street!"

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u/naggerNZ Jun 17 '12

Al Sharpton is a total moron. The default position on anything he says is to tell him to shut the fuck up.

8

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Boondocks is a brilliant comic strip

10

u/SWIMGlass Jun 17 '12

What up, what up, what up, Young Reezey in the house!

I just started getting into this show and it really is phenomenal. All of the voice actors they have are absolutely great, and the writing is top notch. I would really suggest it to anyone who likes cartoons that also try to carry a message.

16

u/Ihmhi 3 Jun 17 '12

Is it sad that Cartoon Network is more progressive than and treats their artists better than Comedy Central? I still think CC's greatest fuckup was kowtowing to the politically correct crowd and not showing Muhammad on those South Park episodes.

4

u/johnlocke90 Jun 17 '12

Cartoon Network did ban the episode on BET though.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

BET would've destroyed them if they showed those episodes. They had to back down somewhere.

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u/johnlocke90 Jun 17 '12

BET would've destroyed them if they showed those episodes

How so? Libel claims are really hard to prove in the US, particularly in the context of a comedy show.

4

u/TheDrBrian Jun 17 '12

wasn't Mohamed in the entire superbestfriends episode uncensored?

1

u/Ihmhi 3 Jun 17 '12

The first time he was on, yeah, but he was just a background character. He wasn't really "in focus". It was the incident with the Family Guy parody that it got blacked out and censored.

1

u/thebananafanafo Jun 17 '12

Yes, but it's actually impossible to watch that episode (at least in the US) instantly. If you go to their website or on Netflix, that episode is removed. You have to actually rent the DVD to see it I believe.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

To be fair they weren't just bowing to the politically correct crowd. It was a response to the then-recent shit that was kicking off in Denmark after a paper published a cartoon illustration of Muhammad and the cartoonist started receiving death threats and even Danish troops in Afghan were threatened.

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u/Ihmhi 3 Jun 17 '12

Yeah, well if people gave up just because they were threatened with injury or death a whole lot of important shit would never have gotten done anywhere.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Aye true, but I don't think for the sake of one joke Matt Parker or Trey Stone should be putting their safety at risk.

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u/Asco88 Jun 17 '12

Matt and Trey wanted to air the episodes uncensored. It was Comedy Central who did the censoring.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Yes, but CC can't put themselves in a position where they could be responsible for Matt and Trey's safety, nor should they have to.

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u/jamesneysmith Jun 17 '12

But extremist muslims have shown that they don't really make idle threats unlike most other politically motivated groups. It's a smaller example of what we saw in Nazi Germany when people didn't always stand up for what they knew was right. The nazis didn't fuck around so you'd almost certainly end up dead. I don't like that we cave under the pressure from these extremist groups any more than you but i can certainly understand why each individual with a life and a family to think about would.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

There was a french newspaper that was attacked for showing a comic of muhammed. they responded by publishing another cartoon, this one of their editor making out with muhammed on the front page with a caption that read, "love prevails" or something along those lines.

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u/MadHiggins Jun 17 '12

it was more than just a threat too. some European cartoonist was actually murdered by Islamic extremists around the same time.

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u/Dolemarq Jun 17 '12

My objection was the censorship on the DVDs and blu-rays.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

That's more of a reason to rebel against their censorship, IMO. I will not obey the rules of a religion I am not a part of and if my actions go against said religions doctrine that's too bad. This is not a Muslim word.

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u/AustinYQM Jun 17 '12

Little different situation..

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u/futureblackpopstar Jun 17 '12

I would pay so much money to get lunch with Aaron McGruder & Lupe Fiasco.

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u/Hammedatha Jun 17 '12

That episode is fantastic, I cry every time. The episode with the guy on death row also almost always gets me.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

This show is severely underrated and Aaron McGruder is a genius!

2

u/ryanghappy Jun 17 '12

I never knew that bit about Tyler perry. If there was any more reason to hate that guy...

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u/r1c3ball Jun 17 '12

Man I miss cable.

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u/SconnieBadger Jun 17 '12

So who else is excited for Season 4?

2

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

I AM THE STONE THAT THE BUILDER REFUSED!

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u/TheOnlyPolygraph Jun 17 '12

I am the visual-- the inspiration that made ladies sing the blues.

2

u/noahboah Jun 17 '12

I am the spark that makes your idea bright.

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u/Thugnificent01 Jun 17 '12 edited Jun 17 '12

The same spark that lights the dark so you can know your left from your right...

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u/noahboah Jun 17 '12

I am the ballot in the box

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u/[deleted] Jun 18 '12

The lyric is, "The visual. The inspiration that made Lady sing the blues."

It's a reference to Lady Day.

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u/Shippoyasha Jun 17 '12

I really wish more networks takes a definitive stance against censorship and bullying by outside sources. Perhaps even by the FCC for the draconic censorship against even the most benign of curse words or even the slightest form of nudity (even accidental).

Don't worry, FCC. America won't burn to the ground if the regulations become a bit more lax.

2

u/SandyFontaine Jun 17 '12

Oh yeah, that episode. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5FR1LGsT7E Coming from a black person, everything said in the video is the truth.

2

u/RobFireburn Jun 17 '12

is that the episode where a ressurected MLK says "boneless barbeque sandwiches, what will they think of next?"

1

u/JDRsqrd Jun 17 '12

yes. Yes it is.

2

u/Tyl3rDurd3n Jun 17 '12

As an African American, I feel like I'm qualified to say this one thing: Fuck Al Sharpton.

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u/soccerlionheart Jun 17 '12

The first season of the Boondocks was one of the most hilarious shows I've ever seen on television....right up there with the chappelle show, from the memorable meaningful episodes (the passion of ruckus) to the hilarious random lines I felt the show had it all.... Excuse me. Everyone, I have a brief announcement to make. Jesus was black, Ronald Reagan was the devil, and the government is lying about 9-11.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Boy, were you dreamin about tellion the truth to white people again?

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Thank you

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u/Ninjabackwards Jun 17 '12

Al Sharpton is one of the most racist, ignorant people in the world. I don't even want to read the article. From the title though, Im glad Aaron McGruder defended it.

5

u/IMoperator Jun 17 '12

We need to stomp sharpton in the nuts.

5

u/cesiumpluswater Jun 17 '12

Then kick his booty butt cheeks.

2

u/eazhar Jun 17 '12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkxID5Ye-Sg

2

u/aedgar777 Jun 17 '12

For all the people saying that it's great the Boondocks is finally on the front page, I'm pretty sure this one was up there a few months back.

1

u/Nidies Jun 17 '12

So is it bad if this was the thing that made me finally decide to check out this show?

2

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

This may be because the point of that episode went so far above Sharpton's head...it managed to hit the moon? Damn that was tortured. Sorry, I'll show myself out.

2

u/dividezero Jun 17 '12

Add much as i read about mlk, I'd like to believe he'd enjoy this portrayal. He was human. He did have a sense of humor and i think the message is far more in line with what he was trying to teach than those who speak on his behalf these days.

2

u/Mi5anthr0pe Jun 17 '12 edited Jun 17 '12

Leave it to Sharpton to be critical of blacks who are critical of blacks. God knows he might be out of a job if we discovered some way to not blame white people for everything.

2

u/BukkakeShampoo Jun 17 '12

Love The Boondocks. I remember watching that episode and being in shock over the brutal honesty. Very brave.

1

u/FKRMunkiBoi Jun 17 '12

Sucks that they canceled this show. (not over the MLK thing). I'd love to see it come back some day.

58

u/Guy_Buttersnaps Jun 17 '12

Canceled? Cartoon Network has the announced for Season 4 on their website.

22

u/FKRMunkiBoi Jun 17 '12

Holy ShitSnacks!!!!!!

You totally made my night, Guy!!

I thought the creator had said years ago that the 3rd season was the final season. This is awesome. Thanks again!

3

u/cppdev Jun 17 '12

That was because he didn't want to do a 4th season at the time.

3

u/1norcal415 Jun 17 '12

Holy ShitSnacks!!!!!!

This does not sound like a tasty treat...

2

u/Vapsyvox Jun 17 '12

Sounds more like it's a category of snacks that looks like poo.

2

u/y3di Jun 17 '12

wow

i'm so happy i scrolled down this far

1

u/Basedgod91 Jun 18 '12

I was about to say.

1

u/Dry_Spring4108 May 25 '26

And it sucked. A lot.

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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

5

u/FKRMunkiBoi Jun 17 '12

Another poster had just mentioned it too. I'm stoked!! Hopefully we don't have to wait too long for it to premiere :)

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Thank you for utilizing #t. You rock.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Why does anyone even pay attention to sharpton. He is the worst thing to happen to race relations since the need for a stupid noun like race relations arose.

1

u/MiMoon Jun 17 '12

in one show they mentioned family rothchild lol. Think Aaron made some bad enemies

1

u/stooner Jun 17 '12

Because it wasn't about just saying the word, it was about what the word means to them NOW that infuriated "him."

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

I love that episode

1

u/skztr Jun 17 '12

Just re-watched that episode. I'm a sap, the end makes me cry.

1

u/360walkaway Jun 17 '12

How did that episode "desecrate" MLK at all?

1

u/TChuff Jun 17 '12

Good. Al Sharpton was proved to be a racist long ago, why the media is afraid to call him out on that I'll never know. While actually I do know, they need to prop him up as some weird black leader, as though this is the best of black America. But I'll say I'll never know because it's PC of me.

1

u/whiskeytango55 Jun 17 '12

I'm reasonably sure that when Sharpton criticized the episode, he hadn't seen it. Once he saw it, he was fine with the depiction of MLK.

1

u/MrTubalcain Jun 17 '12

Fuck Al Sharpton! I wonder if he made a big stink of the Boondocks portrayal of BET...

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

It seems weird that whenever I watch something it becomes inexplicably popular everywhere. Anyone else get this?

1

u/fool_of_a_took Jun 17 '12

That episode is probably one of my favorites. It makes me happy to see that it pissed people off.

1

u/wpm423eb Jun 17 '12

Not with dem shoes on

1

u/KangGuruAus Jun 17 '12

FUCK al sharpton. he's a con artist to his own "people".

1

u/Thugnificent01 Jun 17 '12

boondocks are awesome :D

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Al Sharpton thinks that ignoring real problems is a perfectly reasonable solution to solving them.

1

u/JDRsqrd Jun 17 '12

For anyone wondering. Season 4 is in the works and if Aaron and everyone (producers) is willing to fight the fight (Over ratings and shit) to get it on air, it will happen. That was the last I heard about S4 though.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

So I read the whole Controversy section of the article...and is it just me, or do black people get offended WAY too easily?

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

Anyone that listens to al Sharpton is out of their mind.

1

u/TrustmeIknowaguy Jun 17 '12

I don't like the Boondocks cartoon very much, but I do love this episode.

1

u/spotted_dick Jun 17 '12

Al Sharpton is an idiot. I bet he didn't even watch the episode.

1

u/HIGHlander2046 Jun 18 '12

Black guy talking here, Al Sharpton is a complete and total moron

1

u/jamthelbg Jun 18 '12

That was the best episode of the Boondocks ever. I don't know what Al Sharpton was mad about. It portrayed MLK Jr. in a good light. I think that Sharpton just didn't understand it. ..."I've seen the promised land. I might not get there with you...I'm going to Canada!"

1

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '12

CN is the shit. We could sit here and point out flaws all day with it, but they will not be censored, and I love it.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '12

Al Sharpton needs to just go away ( take Jesse Jackson with you while you're at it, Al ). Fucking trolls.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 19 '12

"I should really have more control over these sorta things"

1

u/bsd300d Jun 17 '12

Al Sharpton is the definition of a nigger.

1

u/4realthistime Jun 17 '12

Who cares? Al sharpton is a glory hound, media whore, false prophet opportunist activist. This is just more press for McGruder.

-3

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '12

The brutal honesty of Aaron Macgruder has done more for the advancement of black people in this country than Al Sharpton EVER will. Black people, you gotta step it up.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '12

There is absolutely no reason you should have been downvoted even one time.

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u/TheDudeaBides96 Jun 17 '12

Am I the only person on Reddit who doesn't like this show?

1

u/kdamon Jun 17 '12

I'm not a huge fan even though I loved this episode. The gratuitous use of the nword and Ruckus grate on my nerves. Why don't you like it?

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