“That Dude” is a series here on Michelle-Huxtable.com. In case you aren’t familiar with what exactly “That Dude” means, Urban Dictionary defines it as, “The person that everyone is trying to be like or looking up to. He influences the crowd and girls love him.”
I started reading The Boondocks in my local newspaper back in like 1999, 2000. What attracted me to it of course was the fact that there was this black kid with an afro in the Washington Post. The Washington Post?! I was used to Doonesbury and Family Circus and Marmaduke. But a comic about a black kid? I had to read it.
I expected some wholesome laughs about his funny family or maybe how school was that day. And instead I got this:
Did you read that? These kids are in elementary school. This is when Bush was in office in case you didn’t get the joke. And that’s not the radical outlier that I found after hours of scouring the web. That’s the norm. On the daily Aaron McGruder was cracking eggs of knowledge like this all over the place.
This a comic strip. A nationally syndicated comic strip. And they are talking about the Klan. No issue was safe. Back in ’99, ’00 people were still supporting BET because it was “our channel” and stuff like that. You know what Aaron McGruder was doing? Not support BET. That’s what.
BET = Butts Every Time (c) The Boondocks
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Personally, I’m more a fan of the comic strip than the TV show because I think he was able to say more about current events when you have a weekly deadline instead of the months it takes to make the TV show. But he also successfully transformed a comic strip about two black kids in the suburbs from a campus newspaper comic to a major network TV show. It’s pretty obvious now that he’s that dude.
What author, cartoonist, blogger, etc has not only the audacity to talk about the Klan, the President, the CIA, numerous former presidents, and the all-evil BET but also has the skill to make it absolutely hilarious and accessible? Aaron McGruder. From discussing how it isn’t that surprising that C-Murder was arrested for murder to talking about the obvious flaws in the decision to go into Iraq, Aaron McGruder talked about everything. Which is why he is That Dude.
McGruder’s politics aside and whether or not you agree with them isn’t important right now. His take on current events and on the current black state in America is unrivaled. He doesn’t only take the pro-black side and he doesn’t always show the negative. He says what everyone thinks and he pays for the consequences. Yeah he’s been banned from the Washington Post and countless other newspapers. But that’s the price you pay for being that dude.
Honey- I am loving that post and co-signing on everything you said. Plus, that comic strip on BET had me near tears.
I absolutely love all his tirades on BET. So heartfelt!
I love the Boondocks and yes I've got to agree that Aaron is "That Dude" and that says a lot cuz I don't like the word "dude" lol. The Boondocks dropped classic material on a regular basis. The only comic strip I ever heard of that got banned on multiple occasions.
I'm eagerly awaiting the 3rd season of the Animated series too.
I only use the word dude when I'm saying "that dude" or "really, dude?" lol I don't know why. But yes! The Boondocks never had a dull strip. It was sometimes too smart for me and I didn't get the punchlines but it was always consistently classic. Yeah I can't wait for the third season, too. I'm glad he goes hard on BET so much because if he didn't they'd probably air his series and I can't bring myself to ever tune in to BET.
Comic strip def much better than the animated show. Gurl, some of his stuff had me thinking "I'm ignorant and need to get informed!" It was lovely.
So so true! He led me to google many a times lol
I love Huey he's so much better in the comic strip. He's said alot of things I've thought…and some that I don't. But I love that Regina King is the voice of the kids and she's perfect. He gavevus Thugnificence- Big Booty Buttcheeks! And Gangstalicious-Homies over Hoes!
Huey in the comic strip said such amazing things. He made me google plenty of things when I didn't get a reference. haha I love the show too but the comic strip will always reign supreme in my heart.
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The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
Between me and my husband we’ve owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I’ve settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
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Depending on yourself to make the decisions can really be upsetting and frustrating. It takes years to build confidence. Frankly it takes more than just happening to happen.
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Again and again and again I like to think about this issue. As a matter of fact it was not even a week ago that I last thought about this very situation. To be honest, what is the answer though?