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December 19, 2005

The Dark Crusade

Let's imagine that Dave Chappelle isn't crazy. Let's imagine that he is a brilliant satirist and that a great number of Americans think so. Let's imagine that he has come up with stuff that is so controversial and funny that it became a staple of comedy and because of this he has made millions of dollars. Now let's imagine that somebody somewhere said that he was doing so at the expense of the image of black people. In fact, let's imagine that that somebody was ohh, say Bill Cosby or Oprah Winfrey. What do you think would happen to Dave Chappelle?

I think that's what happened. Why? Because of this, The Chappelle Theory. This is the biggest bombshell, or the most outrageous conspiracy ever to hit pop culture. It's huge. Here's the thumbnail sketch. Sharpton, Farrahkan, Cosby, Winfrey, Jackson, the five greatest oxygen suckers in all of black America formed a joint task force to derail Chappelles Show. Why? Because of his negative portrayals of black people. It came to threats and intimidation on his family.

Now if you read the whole thing, it might seem a little outrageous, but let me give you some personal perspective as a black Republican. Do not doubt the willingness of blackfolks to destroy someone they feel is a traitor to the race. It doesn't take much to convince some people that someone is a sellout, that they hate blackness and black people and that they essentially live for the comfort of whitefolks. It's the atom bomb of blackness and it has been dropped on a lot of black heads, including this writer's head. Today, I don't have any powerful enemies, but I've stepped on enough toes to know what enemies would do if they could. Cosby can if he wants, and dirt has been done to him. So I don't doubt for a minute, given his track record with Eddie Murphy, that Chappelle has been on the bad end of Cosby's ire. You know he still thinks he's America's Dad, and dad has a bad attitude.

But if you're still not convinced, think of it this way. Chappelle is 'gangsta comedy' and like gangsta rap, it is consumed and made prosperous by millions of young white suburban males. In other words, whitefolks are making Chappelle rich and all Chappelle is doing is mocking black culture. So what's up with that?

I think Chappelle is hilarious, and I think that he's so close to black popular culture that his skewering of it is more on target than anyone else's. He has gone there, and he's paid the price. The question is whether or not black culture, or rather we should say the Dark Crusaders against Chappelle have the stomach to handle a little ribbing. Apparently not. So long as they can see Chappelle as the target of white money and he embarrasses them, he's in trouble.

This is going to get a whole lot uglier before it gets better. I'm watching closely.

Posted by mbowen at December 19, 2005 08:07 AM

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Comments

interesting. I love Chappelle because he goes there when no one else does, and he skewers us white folks just as accurately, too. That one sketch with John Mayer, where he does the music experiment and determines that white folks MUST dance to "Every Rose has its Thorn".... SO right on. I nearly choked laughing.

Posted by: Caltechgirl [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 19, 2005 09:18 AM

So Cosby, Sharpton, Winfrey, Johnson, Goldberg, Jackson and Farrakhan have it like that, eh? Maybe they took out Biggie and Tupac, too.

I have no dog in this fight. I never watched the show, but based on feedback I got from others, fans of the show are like fans of dirty-souf and gangsta rap, where nothing is offensive. So be it.

Could I add some to the hit list:

Lil' Jon
Ludacris
50cent

Posted by: brotherbrown [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 19, 2005 04:27 PM

First Richard Pryor, then Eddie Murphy, then Martin Lawrence and now Chappelle. This might run deeper than we think.

Posted by: David Boyd at December 19, 2005 06:26 PM

Meanwhile, on 3 lists I've seen this, and on 3 lists, people are saying it's nuts.

Thanks for spreading the nonsense.

Posted by: DarkStar [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 19, 2005 06:37 PM

As I read the website, I noticed how much physical evidence appeared to have been left by the supposed purpetrators. If Chappelle's wife wouldn't react to a picture of her sleeping kids with a strange male next to them, something is really strange in this story. Adding a bit to the broadcast to Chappelle's house ran the risk that he was recording the incoming signal. I'm kind of lost here; the only thing I know of the guy is that my son has one of his dvds.

Posted by: UncleSmrgol [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 19, 2005 10:43 PM

I don't think Chappelle's epiphany was a result of what anyone else said to him, especially high-profile Blacks moonlighting as PC police.

He appears to be a very smart and thoughtful cat. I believe that unlike Chris Tucker -- who's supposedly found Jesus (but lost his sense of humor) -- Chappelle became uncomfortable watching the cultural reaction to his schtick. There's the more likely scenario that he felt himself falling into a rut of race comedy and wanted to reinvent himself.

Posted by: MIB at December 20, 2005 06:33 AM

12 20 05

Hey Cobb: Merry Christmas and Happy HOlidays to you and your family! I like Cosby and Oprah and almost everyone you mentioned. I think Chapelle was quite hilarious, but his frequent use of the N word did piss me off from time to time. By freely using that word, the White suburbanites (where I live in Modesto) think they have license to use the word too. I don't like that one bit. And I also see your point about perceived enemies of Blackness and traitors and Toms...blah blah blah What a sad state of affairs we have!!!:( I got put on the chopping block in high school by the Black Student Union once. Why? Because I didn't think that banning Huck Finn made any logical sense, but alas the worst insults hurled etc. And funny that, I said: "Well if you are gonna disallow the book because of its use of the N word, you will have to similarly disallow Dick Gregory's autobio called NIGGER!" Of course, folks don't listen to reason to on the chopping block I stayed...Good read. I am blogrolling you because you never said that I couldn't;) Have a nice day:)

Posted by: mahndisa at December 20, 2005 08:11 AM

That's a little far fetched isn't it? a conspiracy to remove this man from his show...i dunno...

Posted by: JC at December 20, 2005 12:39 PM

First of all, Cosby, Sharpton, Winfrey, and Farrakan all have different viewpoints. What makes you think they would collaborate on something as "little" as Dave Chappelle's show or even have the same opinions of him? Or you think all black non-Republicans think alike and will willingly conspire over any perceived threat large or small. When have these people ever worked together on anything? Their egos and interests are too big and disparate for me to imagine them coming together over Dave. Lastly, why would these folks do anything on the DL? What, no soapbox? No public challenge? Shaprton and Farrakan would not miss a chance for a press conference to instead approach an issue incognito. And Cosby certainly doesn't mince words even when he's stating an unpopular opinion. If these cats wanted to bring Dave down, they would do it independently and publicly.

Posted by: ll at December 20, 2005 05:30 PM

You all make good points, and I am coming to distrust this story despite all of the credible details. But the whole thing with the Wayne Brady episode sounds so right. Maybe this is one of the writers on the show putting together an interesting practical joke. I haven't seen anything elsewhere on this...

Here's the other thing which makes me doubt it upon further reflection. I had dinner with someone very close to Dave earlier this year. Al Sharpton was in the room too and not an unkind word was said about him. Now I just met the guy that night and why would he confide in me? But there wasn't even a hint of bad blood. So...

The world may never know.

Posted by: Cobb [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 20, 2005 05:43 PM

"This is the biggest bombshell, or the most outrageous conspiracy ever to hit pop culture. It's huge."

Not. Like the pop culture pimple it is, it'll dry up in a few weeks.

This is one putrid bit of conspiracy theorizing. I'm shocked (really, i am) that you gave this serious consideration for more than a milisecond. God, can you imagine what hell the In Living Color crew was going thru?

Posted by: memer [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 21, 2005 12:20 PM

ok, i clicked to the last page and i see now it's all a big yuk. i got caught breathin hard about it *hangs head*

p.s. erm, you DO realize it's a joke, right Cobb?

Posted by: memer [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 21, 2005 12:33 PM

Sure I do. uhm . I er ah knew it all the time. Yeah that's the ticket.

Posted by: Cobb [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 21, 2005 12:47 PM

just saying, why would he drop a 50 million dollar contract if it was not true?

Posted by: ? at December 22, 2005 04:52 PM

mbowen get over yourself! You and other Black conservatives are not that important that we would fixate on trying to discredit you. @#&%# Pleeeeese!

Posted by: Wayne Bennett,Esq. at January 4, 2006 10:41 AM

I have over six thousand comments on this website, including yours, which suggest that I am not so easily dismissed. Welcome to the party. Pick a subject and search. Sit back, relax and read a bit.

Posted by: Cobb [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 4, 2006 10:52 AM