Synopsis
From Dave: Normally I wouldn't show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand.
8:46
2020 Directed by Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert
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I've actively avoided engaging with so much of the media around George Floyd's death because I find it exhausting and cyclical in a way I can't handle. There's nothing I could read that would give me hope that we won't be doing this again a year from now, there's nothing I could write or watch that wouldn't just feel so familiar and kick in the sense of hopelessness and cynicism that comes around every few months when the world needs a reminder of the expendability of black lives. I don't feel comforted by the sympathy, because it starts to feel like pity; I feel suffocated and overwhelmed by the well-meaning "just checking in" texts from white friends I rarely talk…
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This isn’t a comedy special. It’s a sermon. It is real, it is raw, and it is powerful.
A long time ago, Dave Chappelle asked why we’d ever want to hear from celebrities (like Ja Rule) in a time of crisis. This special, metaphorically and literally, answers that question.
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I have nothing to add because Dave Chapelle said it best. 8 minutes and 46 seconds feels like a lifetime. Black Lives Matter and if you don’t agree feel free to unfollow. Fair warning don’t go into this ready to laugh.
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Dave isn't here to make you laugh this time. He's not trying to take your mind off of shit, or provide some distracting entertainment during the troubling times we find ourselves currently living in. He's here to drop some uncomfortable truths on you, and you need to listen. Just shut up and listen.
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I mean the main point of a stand up routine is to be funny and this was mostly a rant. I agreed with some stuff and disagreed with other shit but it doesn’t matter. To me, comedians should be able to produce their political message sprinkled under jokes because without the comedy it just becomes a political rant and that’s not the reason why I would listen/watch a stand up routine.
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Admittedly, I had a little trouble adjusting at first to Dave Chappelle as I have not seen him. He makes a few jokes, but do not come into 8:46 expecting Dave Chappelle the comedian. Something much different is going on here.
In 8:46 we see Dave Chappelle the Preacher, a cool as shit preacher that would change my whole outlook on church. I didn't laugh much in this one, but Chappelle was doing something much more important here. He has a way of putting things into perspective that few possess, and if his words helped anyone feel a bit differently or a bit stronger on these matters that are rightfully under the microscope, then this might be his most important special yet.
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Who knew Dave's redemption arc simply needed him talking about how fucking dumb Candace Owens is?
This is incredible work. Going from on the verge of tears to laughing my ass off at this, Dave wrestles with emotion and speculation of motives behind several killings to send a message out to fellow people afraid of the police state and to police themselves, trying to make the latter understand why rioting and protesting is so urgent right now. His ties to the events give him this unique anger and dismay at all the coldness and cruelty, and he answers it with a measured response that feels extremely necessary right now.
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Every institution we trust lies to us.
-Dave ChappellePossibly the first celebrity to have anything meaningful to say during all of this and the only one actually speaking from the heart.
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"We saw ourselves like you see yourself" - DC
At its best this is a moving and personal reflection on black lives in America and at its worst its sexism mitigates the general message of respect for human life. Either way it's important and I recommend people watch Chappelle: 8:46 if for no other reason than that it is imperative to hear different voices on this topic. While I was watching this I started to feel guilty and I started to feel disturbed and I think that's the right reaction but let's not let me dwell on that. There are more than enough people sharing their guilty thoughts and pain right now to fill the grand canyon with compassion capital…
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Made the mistake of starting this and thinking "I'll watch a few minutes and then watch the rest later." Not really an option. Chappelle's style continues to evolve closer to preacher than stand-up and it fits the moment.
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(The "catching up on the Emmy nominees before the 19th" challenge #8)
Dave Chappelle is such a legend. This doesn't feel like comedy, but more like a study of what happened when it was made. Highly recommended. And available to watch on the Netflix is a Joke YouTube channel
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☆"He called for his mother. He called for his dead mother!"☆
I really don't watch comedy specials. I probably haven't seen one in 10 or 15 years -- Mitch Hedberg ride or die.
But this little thing is trending so here I go. And obviously this wasn't in any way a traditional stand-up concert, but kudos to Dave Chappelle for recording this and being quite honest in just throwing it up to see what people thought.
It's pretty powerful, and the kind of visceral reaction that we've all been having the past two-and-a-half weeks, yet you don't hear quite with this kind of anger and anguish in the media. Or I dunno, maybe you kids have seen all that, I…