Updated June 13, 12:42 P.M. - Writer's note: Dave Chappelle has a history of transphobic jokes. I was aware of this while writing the below and watching 8:46 but did not see a way to organically mention it. This was wrong. In a week when J.K. Rowling has been blasted for transphobia and Donald Trump's administration seeks to strip even more rights from transgender individuals, it is imperative that we not further trans erasure. 8:46 criticizes violence against the black community, where trans people continue to suffer immensely, often with minimal reporting.
Dave Chappelle's latest comedy "special" comes with a disclaimer. "Normally I wouldn't show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand," says the YouTube description on 8:46. The only other text is a link to the Equal Justice Initiative website.
"Unrefined" is a reductive description of the half hour. It is not a standup special, by definition; it is a one-man show rooted in pain and frustration, delivered with clarity and occasional humor.
Chappelle pores over the murder of innocent black men in recent history — Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, and of course George Floyd — while underscoring the violent pathology behind it, the endless cycle it perpetuates, and that the United States continuously turns a blind eye.
More than once, Chappelle points to the sentiment that celebrities should speak out. His voice is one of the more useful, but he argues that celebrities are of little use when public outcry is itself deafening. "This is the streets talking for themselves," he says. It's time to listen.
You can watch 8:46 above.
Topics Activism Netflix Celebrities
