Growing up in the early 2000’s, I was fortunate to watch some of the greatest shows ever created. I watched everything from Cartoon Network to Nickelodeon, even PBS had some great shows. However, my favorite shows came on late at night on Adult Swim.
My favorite show was critically acclaimed and thought-provoking, and called The Boondocks. I was 11 years old and I had never seen a show that was funny, culturally accurate, and educational at the same time. My whole family would stay up with me to watch this program and they would be astonish from beginning to end.
The Boondocks was very relatable to me because I was a young black boy growing up in predominantly white suburb, but at the same time, I dealt with black culture and stereotypes.
It was amazing how each episode points out and explain many cultural and social issues in American society from a satirical point of view. I was glued to the TV just absorbing all the valuable information being given out. I learned so much from this show - from BET misrepresentation of black culture to never taking a pimp advice about anything.
Here are the five things The Boondocks taught me about American society:
How To Avoid A Moment
In the episode, "Granddad Fight," a moment was defined as irate black people encouraging other logical and non-confrontational black people to throw their lives away at the chance to square off at the moment’s rage. The solution offered to this was simply to get along and keep peace.
The Game Is Rigged
Throughout the series, they portray the white man one-upping all the other characters, in one way or the other. Don’t believe me? Examine the season finale of the third season where the corrupt realtor Ed Wuncler, Sr., Gin Rummy, and his grandson, Ed Wuncler III, walk away…with no harm, no foul. Even after plotting a terrorist attack.
Colorism Is Still A Hot Button Issue
Look at all of the women that the granddad has eloped with or has taken out on nice candle-lit dinners. They all have one thing is common: they are all racially-ambiguous, slim, light-skinned women with straight hair. Another example is anything that comes out of Uncle Ruckus’ mouth.
The N-Word Problem Will Never Go Away
In the episode, "The S-Word," Riley Freeman’s teacher, Mr. Joe Petto (get it?) decided to use the n-word to discipline him, claiming his reasoning for using the word was that the eight-year-old student used it all the time. Fast forward a few years, and Richie Incognito used that same weak excuse to defend his actions against Jonathan Martin in the Miami Dolphins bullying case. This kind of thing won’t be ending anytime soon. The only way to avoid those kind of awkward moments at parties is to throw on some wholesome acts like Vandross on. Hey, the Luther had hits.
Life Is Too Short To Hold Grudges
It’s better to stay a good friend, even if the other person seems determined to make that an impossibility. Granddad’s (John Witherspoon) ego throttling at the hands of his best friend, Moe ‘Mo Gunz’ Jackson (Mike Epps), was as awful as it was hilarious; Moe’s dying wish was to leave Granddad a jar of nuts, yelling ‘Deez nuts!’ from a taped recording. But in the end, Granddad understood their friendship was worth preserving instead of complete alienation. Many of us have a Moe Jackson in our friend group that get on our nerves, but it’s better to stick it out. Anybody funny enough to pull that kind of joke on you from beyond the grave is worth keeping as a friend.
