I want to formally respond to Mr. H. Lewis Smith’s iniquitous article entitled “The Boondocks Obsession with the N-Word.”

As much as I respect Mr. Smith and his organization (United Voice for a Common Cause) for their insistence that the media and African Americans be more mindful of the images and stereotypes they portray, his latest attack on the Boondocks was shortsighted.

Mr. Smith wrote: “With its frequent use of the n-word, the show is a ventriloquist for, and continues to perpetuate, the same old stereotypes of black.”

The Boondocks cartoon is much more nuanced than the saturated use of the word Nigga. Aaron McGruder has used this show as a vehicle to address issues concerning political prisoners, proper nutrition, gentrification and, of course, the infamous “Hunger Strike” episode, which was (essentially) banned in America because of its scathing critique of Black Entertaining Television.

If Mr. Smith could, perhaps, seriously watch an entire episode he would quickly realize that the n-word, stereotypical images and cussing is a ruse to induce young African American youth to think deeply about their actions and their impact on the community. Much like Tyler Perry uses overt stereotypes to make moral arguments, so does McGruder, but in a more raw, political, and unforgiving way.

Anyone who has followed McGruder’s work knows that the brother is a skilled political satirist who challenges not only African Americans to change their behavior but also the U.S. government. He was one of the only voices of dissension against the Iraq invasion during the Bush years, and many newspapers dropped his comic strip because of its satirical portrayal of false patriotism among all Americans post 9/11. The brother has a degree in African American studies and knows all too well about the vestiges of white supremacy and its historical and contemporary impact.

Moreover, I don’t believe I have witnessed another sitcom or cartoon developed by African Americans that challenges both white supremacy and black folks’ internal contradictions, all the while making us laugh (with the exception of Dave Chapelle). We should be celebrating this brother for his boldness and unconventional methods toward making us think and laugh, like the NAACP, which awarded him its Chairman Award in 2002.

In the fall I will be teaching a class called “Political Satire: The Boondocks,” in which my students and I will explore McGruder’s contributions to the tradition of African American political satire and its place in the broader world. Perhaps Mr. Smith can stop by and listen to a few lectures so that he can finally realize that he and McGruder are on the same side.
***
Joseph L. Jones, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of political science at Johnson C. Smith University.
 

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