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>I think that we have a general disagreement on this point. I
>agree that DL Hughley, Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer and
>Steve Harvey are awesome. I chose the word awkward
>specifically because it is not generally viewed as a good
>thing. I was trying to poke fun at our style. I never
>thought anyone would be insulted that I was saying that they
>are NOT awkward.
You did set up a direct contrast between your brand
of comedy and theirs. Just because you didn't do
it intentionally doesn't mean you didn't do it. You
did do it.
>And tto be even more to the point, the idea came from the fact
>that I am a black albino. Everyone else on the show was
>cast. In now way am I trying to exasperate myself from other
>black people, I 'm just saying, "look at this flavor."
And here's what's funny:
Black Albinos are actually rare.
Black awkward people are not rare.
Not to mention you're mixing physical rarities with
personality rarities.
Hell, I don't know you, but you seem like a straight
up, intelligent, ambitious black man. .
None of^^^^ is "awkward" at all.
In fact, I expect that of black men.
>Yes, it is a gimmick, a hook, but not one that is meant to be
>hurtful in any way.
Okay, but to hell with good intentions.
>The homeboys in outer space and soul plane reference confuses
>me because those productions seemed to reinforce stereotypes
>and the one thing we're not doing with this movie is trying to
>reinforce ANY negative stereotype.
You don't actually break down any barriers when you
tell white people that black people are this way,
but "look at us! We're not like that. We're this
other way."
Breaking down barriers is to show white people that
the stereotypical monolith is not so -- that quirkiness
is not confined to a group of comics, but is in fact a
general part of our culture.
It most certainly is.
>The last thing I want to say is that yes, there are quirky
>people all over so why not make a movie that showcases that.
>You have a good grasp on what people are like all over but I
>disagree with you on the point that the entire united states
>does.
Right, and again:
White people think black people are all like X.
You are saying: "White people, look at us, we're
like Y."
That doesn't change anything about how white people
view X.
What it does is make you, the Y, feel special and
gets you attention.
That's why I appreciate Dave Chapelle's approach:
No black comic has more white fans than Chapelle.
They've literally built his career.
But when it came time for his block party, he
HUMANIZED average black people. He had REGULAR
rappers and singers. He went to REGULAR schools
in Bedfrod Stuyvesant. Went to PUBLIC schools
hanging out with kids. Even better, he related to
them, and showed, on camera, that they're just kids.
He even had a black college band in the film.
he didn't focus on how he is quirky relative
to the schoolchildren in Bedstuy.
He showed that he has similar taste and
habits.
That is how you change perspectives. By showing
continuity and forcing white america to see
inside our world, the one that they often
vilify(there was lots of focus on Biggie's
upbringing and surroundings...and the people,
surprisingly were loving, regular people. That's
not a shock to ME but it is meant to rattle
a lot of Chapelle's fanbase..
>I actually think that people who live in cites wouldn't be
>taken off guard by any of the performers in the movie. In
>most cities that I have performed in people may be seeing a
>black albino for the first time but then everybody's cool
>right after that.
Cool and respect
>But there are some places in the YS where things are a lot
>different. Did you know that the Blue Collar Comedy tour DVD
>was the highest selling comedy DVD of all time? It sold more
>than the Chappelle show and the chappelle show sold a LOT. A
>good portion of america just does not have a broad view of
>African Americans as a people.
Exactly!
Notice how it was called the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour"
and NOT the "White and Different" Comedy tour. They
didn't have to out their RACE in order to sell
difference. Of course, its not the same for whites as it
is for us, but you're example proves my point. Race doesn't
come up at all, because they're uniqueness is not relative
to WHITE PEOPLE but relative to EVERYONE.
Hell, I might have approved of the "awkward Kings of
Comedy" title...that was okay... I think the problem
that me and Basaglia had is the use of the "Black and
Weird" selling point. You could have just ended with
"Awkward Kings of Comedy." I think by pushing the
black and weird thing, you went a bit too far.
>I'm not saying my film is going to change the world or
>anything, but I had only positive intentions at its
>conception.
I have no doubts you'll be very successful.
But I do warn you: You are going to attract a
white audience who looks at you guys and says
to each other:
"Look at these weird niggers, Jonny. They are
not like the ones we hate. I like them better."
White America engages in this type of tokenism
all the time. Happens to me daily.
I'd recommend this: When you're at press conferences,
or in press releases, and in interviews make it VERY CLEAR
what your goal is. VERY clear.
>My goal was to make a funny movie with a hook that will get it
>noticed.
That's called a "gimmick" my friend. You have a career
to build. I understand.
And maybe you don't think you have a responsibility.
But WOW....a lot of hurtful stuff has gone on because
of gimmicks that weren't well-thought out.
That's where the 'Homeboys in Outer Space' comparison
came from.
The people who wrote it didn't know they were being
hurtful.
They just needed a gimmick.
>You'll have to see the movie to make your own call
>about funny, but definitely the hook seems to be doing it's
>job.
Well, yeah. You're getting press. Good for you.
>thanks for your comments. I know we disagreed on some thigs,
>but I will always talk to anyone who comes out and states
>their opinon in an intelligent manner.
Best of luck to you. I wish you success.
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O_E: Your Super-Ego's Favorite Poster.
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(C)Keith Murray, "Cosmic Slop"
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