The Boondocks compiled Greed Greed is generally presented by individuals using others or manipulating the system in order to gain something they want. For example, in episode 8, Riley and Granddad work together in order to get free items and services from television programs. For example, Riley has television programs upgrade Granddad’s home and car. However, generally it seems that people (except for Wuncler) do not get away with greed. In episode 8, Granddad is punished for his actions by ending up with a $35,000 bill for his car, as well as broken walls in his house. In episode 5, we see Ed Wuncler III, a wealthy man, and his friend, Gin Rummy, decide to get into a gunfight to steal the beer rather than pay for it – even though they were supposed to be after a murderer. Additional Observations: Episode 5 – The Boondocks (15:05 – 15:39) Wuncler III and his friend, Gin Rummy, choose to go to the gas station for beer rather than address the priority of tracking down the murderer. While at the gas station, they decide to get into a gunfight to steal the beer rather than just pay for it, though Wuncler III is a wealthy white man. Episode 2 – The Boondocks 9:33-- Ruckus has a flashback to a time he served on a jury years ago. He yells to the judge to hang the black man on trial, saying he does not need to deliberate... He says this moments after praising the legal process Self-Loathing Uncle Ruckus is the most obvious example of self-loathing. In episode 4, Ruckus makes fun of Grandpa while he is training. He says, “Everybody knows niggers climb trees not kick em.” Then he laughs at himself. In this case, he seems to be pleased with himself but is still demeaning his race. In episode 4 we also see that after Granddad is in fight, the family drives home in their damaged car. “Eye of the Tiger” comes on the radio. Grandpa looks angry and says, “I hate this damn song.”--the song is about a fighter winning. Grandpa maybe hates the song in that moment because he hates that he lost. Additional Observations: Episode 2 – The Boondocks 6:00-- Ruckus (idiot) talks to Granddad about R.Kelly. "You can't compare a chocolate monkey like that to Jerry Lee Lewy!" 8:53-- Ruckus, "Thank god for the white man's code of law. It's the only way to keep these crazy niggers under control. Well, that and pepper spray." 15:02-- Ruckus says he doesn’t like black people. he says white people are "the best thing the good lord ever did for the planet earth." He calls his blackness an ailment. He says he has the opposite of vitaleigo. He goes into a monologue about why white people are so pleasing. "Have you ever looked at them? White men are just a joy to be around. They smell like lemon juice and pledge furniture cleaner. And look at them, they gave us jobs, discipline, put structure into our lives, took us out the jungle. And what do we do to show our appreciation? We march up and down the street. We vote. Carry on. Ingrates." Episode 4 – The Boondocks Huey describes the “nigga moment” as self-destructive. Black men become enraptured in nigga moments when they are seemingly defending their own honor, but as Huey points out the act is usually quite violent to the person. Hypocrisy The Boondocks is particularly critical of the hypocrisy in the media. For example, in episode 8 it is discussed that the media present a false reality. Huey states, “Everything we see is a false reality, I mean, it’s like Big Brother, The Matrix, whatever you want to call it.” Even the television camera says, “Cameras are rolling, so everyone should smile!” There are many characters who present their own hypocrisies. For example, episode 5 highlights Tom Dubois, a prosecutor, and his fear of being sent to prison. He also fears the other black men on the show and being raped – highlighting the fact that Tom Dubois is generally perceived as a “white” black man. In episode 4. Huey shows grandpa blind swordsman movie to prepare him for the fight. Huey consistently tries to convince Grandpa not to fight saying, “The only way to win is not to fight.” But then helps Grandpa train and puts added pressure on him to prepare. Episode 2 – The Boondocks Additional Observations: 9:33-- Ruckus has a flashback to a time he served on a jury years ago. He yells to the judge to hang the black man on trial, saying he does not need to deliberate... He says this moments after praising the legal process Ignorance In episode 5, an example of racial ignorance is portrayed in the (black) murderer who is wanted for killing someone simply because of a dispute over a video game. All of episode 4 focuses on the “nigger moment.” Huey describes is as the following: “Webster defines the nigga moment as a moment when ignorance overwhelms the mind of an otherwise logical Negro male, causing him to act an illogical, self-destructive matter (i.e.., like a nigger).” Additional Observations: Episode 2 – The Boondocks 6:25-- R.Kelly supporters party outside the courtroom, eating fried chicken, playing volley ball. Their picket signs are all misspelled. 14:00-- victim says she agreed to be peed on by R.Kelly. "I've been peed on by guys that don't even have record deals." Episode 4 – The Boondocks 20:03 Riley remembers seeing crowds fight after a chair is thrown. To avoid giving people their money back, he throws a chair above the crowd, which is composed of both whites and blacks. The crowd reacts, fighting each other for no reason. Race Portrayals Blacks Blacks are generally portrayed as low class, they call themselves with nicknames. Riley explains how many nicknames he is called. Even granddad’s car has a name: Dorothy. It seems there are two classifications of blacks, those who desire to be seen as ghetto, for example Riley tries to specifically to garner support by using “niggas” or trying to be more ghetto (episode 8). What is interesting is that these characters tend to have a strong Ebonics accent, as well as using vulgar language. When the situations are normal, there are jazz music. When the situations get into dramatism, sounds the Battle Hymn of the Republic (glory, glory, halleluiah…), and when things related to the car and the rapper appear, there is rap. Criminality Blacks are also arrested quite easily, as reflected in episode 5 when Tom Dubois was arrested. The first thing that was mentioned was that a black man is sent to jail for selling bootlegged episodes of Soul Train, a black television show from the 1970s, but then we also see how police profile people: “Tom knew a black man didn’t have to do much to go to prison.” –Huey “They say I fit the description...I think it’s because I’m black!” –Tom “You know what this is...this is racism. You were at the wrong place at the wrong time and you just happened to fit the description.” –policeman Danger In episode 4, it is noted that there are three “main” reasons why black men die, (1) FEMA, referencing Katrina and other disaster relief, (2) Porkchops – they even show us a scenario when we see two black men run into each other, get angry and shoot at each other, but then apologize only to have a white cop shoot them both, (3) Nigga moments, which is when “ignorance overwhelms the mind of an otherwise logical Negro male, causing him to act in an illogical, self- destructive matter.” Community Generally it is seen that the black community forgives each other easily. In episode 4 even though black people (men) get into all kinds of disagreements, they forgive each other quickly. After grandpa kills Stinkmeaner, Huey affirms that he was an old, terrible man who is better off dead, “still he was our brother.” Whites Most of the media workers are white, and in authority figures (episode 8). Generally whites are perceived as either bossy, or far too relaxed. Benevolence In episode 5, Wuncler III and his friend, Gin Rummy, are portrayed as heroes for ousting the “terrorists” who ran the gas station Whites are the most powerful people in the show, as policemen but also as investors. For example, the gas station that Wuncler III robs is actually partially owned by Wuncler III’s grandfather, Edward Wuncler. Benevolence can also be seen as a weakness – in episode 3 we see a white mother struggling to reign in her wild child in the grocery store. Granddad instructs her how to punish her child by beating him with a whip. After she does what he instructs, she suddenly as an Ebonics accent – like a black woman. Guilty but not guilty As mentioned before, Gin Rummy and Wuncler III are both “gangster” types (Gin Rummy is actually voiced by black actor Samuel L. Jackson), and despite starting a gun fight that was unnecessary, they are portrayed as heroes instead of criminals. The Good Life Whites are persistently presented as being happy due to the fact that they are white. In episode 4, a white man begins to get angry and then pauses and says, “wait a minute, I am white!” before chuckling. Middle Eastern In episode 5 we see a Middle Eastern gas station clerk who is accused of being a terrorist by Wuncler III and Gin Rummy when they rob the gas station due to his race.