What's in a Name?

Dave Chappelle is the voice of this generation. He is smart and funny. Here he speaks to his old arts High School in Washington DC about his experiences there and after, the changes in the city, and artistic expression. It is a maddening look at society that a Fine Arts school would resist allowing a building to be named after this Alumnus because of the false narrative that he is anti-Transgender. His take on the situation and the resolution are worth the watch.

Dave shines the light squarely on group think. Many of us (especially those of us who grew up in an urban environment in the 70's and 80's) think of mob mentality as a fault of autocratic types. Dave's message is that anyone can fall prey to censorship and ignore the art even when they think they're standing up for something.

Some people that I watched with felt Dave was crowing about himself too much. I responded that this is Dave's reply to the critics. When I saw him live at his documentary screening he was in pain at how so many had reacted to his art. He now has his chance to respond and it was done in a way only Dave could do.

If you like Dave you won't need a review to watch this. But if you judged him and his art based on The Closer, you should watch this before you continue to judge.

We're all sick of it and you help us escape it with comedy and glaringly obvious insights that so many people can't see for some reason. Never back down!

The sweet is pretty obvious and abundant. Dave's recounting of his high school try-out and transfer is sweet. And any time a person sticks out for the truly individualistic in general and the arts in particular, well that is just dandy as candy to me. Add in a tasty Loren Michaels' impersonation and anecdote and sweet is covered.

The short might refer to the 39 minutes for this special (which I only stumbled across in some other online mention, it's hard to say anything Dave does is snuck out there, but Netflix has demanded my attention for a lot of other stuff that's for sure).

But I think the short might apply to Dave's temper, as has to deal with pre-assembled opinions on anything he does or says. I'm hoping he doesn't just say the hell with it all (again) and go off on another decade-long walkabout.

I hope not, and I also hope whenever he hits my brittle spirit in the funny bone, I will always laugh.

Dave Chappelle is one of if the best comedian to live in this and last century. This story has touched me as it should touch anyone who has a heart and believes in artistic expression and the freedom to practice it without interference. He tells it like it is and very humble at that. You will not be disappointed.

Enjoy And Thank you Dave Cheppelle from the bottom of my heart.