8:46

Released on YouTube by Netflix Is A Joke - the streamer's comedy and stand-up "brand" - the audience could be misled into thinking this was another installment of Chappelle's latest run of hilarious stand-up specials, like Sticks and Stones.

The name 8:46, inspired by how long the police officer who killed George Floyd's knelt on his neck, should give viewers an indication that this half-hour shouldn't be as filled with laughs as other times Chappelle got up on a stage. The brief description -

"Normally I wouldn't show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand"

• is another clue.

From the pandemic-compliant live audience sitting meters apart of each other and with masks, to the use of a notebook to the keep the comedian on track, 8:46 is definitely raw. That helps to make it much closer to a podcast or a personal essay than to a fully rehearsed stand-up routine.

But 8:46 is a captivating watch.

Chappelle's takes you on a journey by narrating through many events in his life that are tied to violence against or involving the African-American community.

It is true, the laughs are few and far in between. The distance between audience members also makes each joke harder to land. But you still get glimpses of quintessential Chappelle in this 30-minute long "special", including a reference to the famous "Where's Ja Rule?" joke.

In fact, what makes 8:46 bewitching is Chappelle's command of his own tone and enunciation.

8:46 is not a hilarious watch, no.

But if you are at all interested in the current social unrest in the US and the (latest) events that triggered it, watching a personal essay by Dave Chappelle - an African-American comedy legend who always spoke on the issue of race - should be very high up on your list.

In this brief COVID-lockdown era special Dave dials down the jokes and dials up the anger. It's not a comedian on stage foaming at the mouth, but you can see the anger in his face and hear it in his voice. It comes from a good place though because "8:46" is representative of the eight minutes and forty-six seconds Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd's neck (we now know that the time was above nine minutes). A visibly shaken Dave wanted to address the issue while throwing in a joke or two. Was it as funny as other stuff of his? No, and I'm not mad.

I admit, this was more of a rant than a well-executed stand-up special, but it was necessary! Besides, Dave gave the audience a verbal disclaimer at the onset. There are very few political satirists at the top of the black comedy food chain. I imagine, because it can be a career killer or maker in Hollywood, but David has already shown the world that his personal integrity and truth far outweigh the almighty dollar and what's considered "safe" material. He walked away from $50 million, and everyone thought he had lost his mind! Boy, did he prove them wrong.

The only other black stand-up comedians I can think of that push the subject matter envelope and dare to go where others won't are Chris Rock, DL Hughley, Wanda Sykes and Michael Che. These comedians make us all think about hard-truths, and not just hee and haw when we're done watching. Political satire is an art form all its own that not many comedians possess. I feel you Dave on every level!

Dave isn't there to draw cheap laughs or say "the right thing." What he delivers is a half hour of passionate social commentary, a righteous anger filtered through his unique personable, conversational style. He gets through to people as only Dave Chappelle can. To critics, I say: don't ask what Chappelle is missing, ask what society is missing that people are hungry to hear this message from a comedian. Dave is right - it's because he doesn't deal in political spin, virtue signalling, clout-seeking, or wooden ideological agendas. We know he speaks from his soul.

Anyone who doesn't understand his point of view and what is going on in the United States 🇺🇸 right now, should not provide comment. It's a matter of a man seeing another man brutally treated-not for the first time, not for the 1000th time, but as common practice. From the emasculation and beating of slaves, to the group lynching to modern Commonplace violence - all because the person exists has a different skin??? How can you not be upset, how can you not understand, at a minimum how can you not empathize. Thanks Dave for telling the truth.