Boondocks, the Animated Series…Season 2

Boondockscartoonist Aaron McGruder seems to be pushing the envelope even further this season.  It’s not as edgy as season one, and it is packed to the hilt with profanity, the “n” word and not-so-clever storylines. 

I’ve been a fan of Aaron McGruder ever since his strip appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2001.  I looked forward to what McGruder could do with animation.  Season one wasn’t a walk in the park for me, but season two is much harder to to watch.  I was uncomfortable with his liberal sprinklings of the word “nigger” throughout the first season, but this season, I’m inundated and overwhelmed.

Aaron McGruder gets kudos for being a master of political satire. His frequent and rampant use of the word “nigger” is thought to be calculated and deliberate. Six years after his comic strip debut, I’m really disappointed. I don’t think McGruder is so “smart."--at least not smarter than all the people in the world who find the word “nigger” highly offensive and find its use as a racial epithet cause for a liberal dose of ass kicking.

In the final analysis, I think McGruder is lazy. Why capitalize on a never-ending controversy? Why pander to the immaturity of those who don’t see anything wrong with the word? Why not stretch the imagination to find other ways to entertain and get paid for it?

Here are the ”Official “Nigger” Usage Rules”, excerpted from a 2005 column by Vincent Williams.  Maybe McGruder needs a refresher course in “What Black People Have Had to Overcome.”

• Rule No. 1: White people can not use the word under any circumstances.
• Rule No. 2: The word should never be used as a synonym for black people.
• Rule No. 3: “Nigga” is still the word “nigger,” and all other rules apply to it.
• Rule No. 4: If you must use the term “the N-word,” understand you sound ridiculous.
• Rule No. 5: Use of the word for satirical, ironic, or commentary purposes is acceptable if it doesn’t break one of the previous rules. But you better have a point.

1. I agree this season of Boondocks isn’t as edgy as last season. The use of the “n” word in the 1st 3 episodes this season has got to be in the triple digits by now. By using it so much in every episode and employing actors that use the “n-word” so frequently (Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Katt Williams)I fear the word will lose its significance. To Mr. McGruder the word seems more like a punchline in a skit than the ugliest word imaginable to millions of people. 
   If the n-word in his episodes were used to educate or enlighten folks while maintaining the humor that makes the show great, this wouldn’t be such an issue for me.
   I look forward to future episodes. I just don’t know where he’s going.

   Posted by Craig  on  11/08  at  11:41 AM
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