Dr. King's Visit To The Boondocks

Last Sunday night's "The Return of the King" episode of "The Boondocks" on Cartoon Network kept the episode's writer and the comic strip's creator --- Aaron McGruder --- in the controversy pile. The plot centered on a fantasy scenario created by McGruder that has the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. surviving his 1968 assassination and awakening from a four-decade coma. In response to the Sept. 11 attacks, King goes on "Politically Incorrect" and suggests: "As a Christian, we should turn the other cheek." In the episode, which could be the most inflammatory piece of satire ever aired on Cartoon Network, King's comments land him on the cover of Time with the headline: "Traitor?"

"Boondocks" family Robert "Granddad" Freeman and his grandsons, Huey and Riley, help the beleaguered civil rights leader as he attempts to comprehend a modern age of boneless fast-food rib sandwiches, BET, posterior-shaking hip-hop videos and iPods. The episode builds to a rally organized by Huey and King that disintegrates into a radio station nightclub "partay!" promoted by WFRK-FM, "The Freak." The toon version of King looks out at the disrespectful booty-shaking crowd and says: "Is this it!? Is this what I got all those [posterior]-whoopings for? I had a dream once. It was a dream that little black boys and little black girls would drink from the river of prosperity, freed from the threat of oppression. But ... some four decades later, what have I found, but a bunch of trifling, shiftless, good-for-nothing [deleted]!"

Peach Buzz reports that on Monday night's "Nightline," ABC News co-anchor Cynthia McFadden attempted to grill McGruder on the use of the incendiary word. Asked McFadden, "You have Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. using the n-word on your show. Isn't this going to be highly offensive to many people?" McGruder replied: "Actually, we used the word .. . We don't use 'the n-word' on my show." Of the potential for uproar, McGruder explained, "It comes with the territory of being a satirist. It's our job to be out there on the edge."

Tasty Clips Today asked a number of African-American industry professionals if the show was offensive to them and is it deserving of the NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Comedy. If this can be nominated, why not Flavor Flav? Also isn't it ironic that the show it quite critical of BET, though it's executive producer Reginald Hudlin is now president of the network?

"I didn't see the episode. No, I don't find it ironic at all that Reggie Hudlin is President at BET. I think Debra Lee promises to take BET into a new era, which very well has appealed to Reggie Hudlin. The Question is, will Debra Lee be able to deliver on her promise with BET now being apart of Viacom and with other potentially competitive content diverse black channels snapping at BET's heels. As for the Image nom, why not? At least McGruder is trying something on the road to positive. Giving the Award to Boondocks is a step in the right direction for the NAACP Image Award, considering some of it's past recipients. Flavor Flav should be nominated too. At least he's working and that in itself needs to be commended." - A 30 something NY Director/Producer

"Didn't see it. But Hudlin's past criticisms of BET were accurate, and now he's in a position to act on them." - A 40 something Hollywood comic/actor.

"I love Boondocks, warts and all, because to me, the outrageousness of our less amiable people (i.e.--niggas) that show their ass is tempered by an important message; a counterpoint of civility we lack sometimes. McGruder just overtly says what we all introvertedly think. Yes, it is worthy. It is the only medium that showcases our stupidity and then takes us to task for it. and Hudlin, as I understand from an interview with McGruder, is no longer associated w/ the project. It's just a contractual thing that they have to keep his name on it because he was there when the show first started at Fox." - A 20 something Atlanta writer.

"I haven't watched the show since the thrown chair. If they can bleep out curse words yet say the N-word, I want nothing to do with them. [But I heard so much about this episode I gave it a look]. I was deeply depressed. The show is trying so hard and failing so powerfully. [As for the BET slaps, I don't think it's ironic.] Aaron is critical of the past regimes at BET, and a close personal friend of Reggie. Reggie discussed that very thing at the TCA up fronts. BET has a certain coonishness that is required to keep its core demographic, but they have a plan to do some smart things to off set it. As for the show being NAACP Image worthy, What does it take? To have a Black person on the show?" - A 30 something Hollywood author.

"The Return of the King" episode of "The Boondocks" will encore on Cartoon Network at 11 p.m. Saturday.