"Chocolate News": Obama's Not Black (VIDEO)

David Alan Grier, host of Comedy Central's new "Chocolate News," questions whether Barack Obama would really be the "first black president." After all, "he barely passes the brown paper bag test." Watch:

"Chocolate News" premieres Wednesday at 10:30 PM EST on Comedy Central.

Comments

[lefty74]

I believe the correct term is "Mulatto". Half black and half white ancestry. However, we see anyone who has black ancestry in this country as "black". I am not sure about this, but I read somewhere that when you are at least 10% black, you are "black". This goes back to the slavery days when blacks could not own land, if a person was found to be at least 10% black they could lose their land. So, popular belief is that people like Halle Berry and Barack Obama want to be "black" because that's what they identify with - that could be so, but at least according to those old laws, they ARE "black".

[Cooper1608]

Just about every African American that was born and raised here has some white in us. My great grandfather was white, but I'm black. BLACK, BLACK, BLACK.

[pthesmith]

Blacks have more to lose from David Alan Greer's brand of comedy, than do Whites as a result of Colbert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am appalled at how many people (including David Alan Greer) fail to recognize that African Americans have a lot more at stake when it comes to their public image than do Whites. We cannot afford this type of ignorant "humor." In other words, Black is not the inverse of White, White is not the inverse of Black. To give you an historic example, "Black Power" is not the equal opposite of "White Power." They have different circumstances, and therefore different meanings. Please, try to gain some comprehensive understanding of history other than, simply, "Blacks were slaves. Now they're not. Everything is fine."

Further, I cannot understand, for the life of me, why Blacks entertainers who have a national audience make decisions such as this. Dave Chappelle was revolutionary! Why do others think they can do what he did????? And, why try right now???? Unbelievable!!!!

[chrissstopher]

THANK YOU!

[ListenPeople]

Not to mention, Chappelle found himself utterly at odds with himself about his own show partially b/c success meant whiter audiences. He couldn't marry the humor and the audience to where it was safe for him to be artsticially open. I hope Grier understands that.

[robXdion]

EXACTAMONDO!! They do it because it PAYS! And the worst ones are Will Smith, the Wayans Bros., and these lame a** black directors kissing up to white producers and studio execs pushing bullsh!t films like Crash, Monster's Ball, and Lakeview Terrace which tries to flip the racism guilt paradigm around on blacks so their conscience can feel better.

[DyslexicPalindrome]

I've read a lot of posts on this site and I'm AMAZED at the amount of people that are concerned about or 'offended' by this skit.

This is one of the problems with this country.
We've traded in perspective for political correctness and hyper-sensitivity.

Comedy is supposed to push the envelope and enable us to confront (and hopefully eliminate) the very societal ills that are reflected; albeit in an over-the-top manner.

Comedy is a mirror that often shows many people what they already know in their hearts, but would rather not see face-to-face.
The laughs are meant to soften the blow. But we're also challenged to THINK!

So please folks, put your sensitivity aside for a second and remember that change never comes about when people are allowed to remain safely within their comfort zones.

If nothing else...This skit was funny!

I'm a black man and I approve this message :^)

[cincity]

Thanks for saying this I totally agree. I'm a mixed woman and I approve of your message.

[robXdion]

Wait until you see the rest of his embarrassing skits.

[robXdion]

And that's the problem, because while you're laughing at Grier, some racists are laughing AT you. The biggest problem with blacks is they don't understand the power of maintaining the dignity of their image and how that effects the very racism they complain about. Your mentality would be acceptable for a teenager without critical thinking skills.

[jacqand]

And who should care what 'some racists' are laughing at?
Yes, blacks understand the power of maintaining dignity and perhaps choose not to behave the way other people expect them to. That is liberation. It is a very difficult to be yourself and refuse to be influenced by other people's opinions and standards, unless, of course, they are standards you respect and admire. Be careful of being judgemental of others.

[MarkieBee]

Hey, he stole my line that I've been using since Feb. 2007: if you have a problem with Obama's racial makeup, then just "VOTE FOR THE WHITE HALF!" :-)

[pinkypower]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CaptainVideo]

Obama will be the first MULTIRACIAL President of the United States. Therefore he represents the future, because the United States is rapidly becoming a multiracial nation.

Therefore it is high time that the "one drop of blood rule," that if a person has even a tiny amount of black ancestry, the person is black, be abandoned. It is high time that the "passing for white" concept be dropped. If a person looks white, he/she is white.

According to the "one drop of blood rule" Warren G. Harding was probably the first black President of the United State.

[kimbari]

And if a person looks black, he/she is black.

Obama is black.

To put it more graciously: Obama is an African-American.

[apoyo]

In the truest sense of the word, his father was African and his mother was American.

[victoriajubilee]

I agree with you,the United States is the only country in the world like that. In Many other countries a person who is mixed can choose which side of the parent they identify with. ObamaBiden 08

[apoyo]

Obama is multiracial but he represents the present not just the future. He represents the state of things as they are not just the state of things to come.

The irony is that the "silent majority" have been the people of color and it appears that they will remain silent no more.

[mypov123]

LOL David Alan Grier is great! I remember him from the show In Living Color.

Here's a new slogan for the Obama campaign:

Barack Obama for President...

Scared?

Just vote for the White half!

[mentortfc]

Very funny mypov123. We really need our sense of humor right now.

[Jigglypuff]

I'm a teeny, teeny, teeny bit worried about this show premiering before this election is over with. This particular clip is mild but, other clips of the show I've glanced at worry me that the stereotypes depicted can affect voters. Maybe, I'm just suffering racial paranoia or, I've lost my sense of humor because of the preponderance of McCain/Palin signs in my neighborhood.

[Softnsweet]

I agree Jigglypuff!

[305Rider]

If you think about it, he's trying to pick up in the direction where the Chapelle show left off.

[Sparty1]

I hear you on the stereotypes, but you know most of the folks that have a problem with AAs wouldn't watch this show anyway. I don't even think they'd watch Comedy Central period. They're upset with John Stewart and Stephen Colbert, so I'm sure they'd paint every show on there with the same brush.

[ladydriver]

Oh, I got cramps in my cheeks and a pain in my side from laughing at that. Kind of gives us a whole new perspective of how silly some of us can be about for whom we will or not vote. Racism isn't just wrong...it's stupid.

DAG makes a great point with his humor...people, get over your prejudices and vote for the good of the whole country!

OBAMA/BIDEN LANDSLIDE '08!

[Girlforaction]

This is so funny. But the truth is Obama maybe biracial, but in this country 1 drop of black blood means he is black. But personally, he is who he is and everyone can claim him.

[ladydriver]

Claim him and be proud of him...respect him...support him...AND VOTE FOR HIM!

[ladydriver]

P.S. Lots of people in this nation might be quite surprised if they did some ancestry investigation of their own. That "1 drop" you mentioned? Hhhhmmm?

[SOOKOOYAH GURL]

Hybrids... Obama and African Americans are black but basically 85% have some form of Native and or white ancestry.

Obama is black with a white mother. But David Alan Grier also understands this and uses his mixed ancestry to drive home the point of stupidity on the parts of many.

Obama is a beautiful person and hopefully people see that and not his color!!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008

[kimbari]

See his color, too. There's nothing *wrong* with it and it's what makes him who he is.

Enough with this default human = white

[jacqand]

That's the beauty of it - we ALL claim him TOGETHER!

[SheriChardonnay]

that was funny! lol

[adelphi sky]

I saw the previews for that show. It plays on a lot of prejudicial stereotypes. This is played out and should be ignored by this generation. That stuff is NOT funny. We need to be more creative as a people. We can do better than that. That show is not about comedy, it's embarrassing. I'm an African American and voting for Obama. By the way, I'm talking about the whole premise of the show and not the clip here.I refuse to watch it. :-)

[ladydriver]

It's not meant to be offensive, it's meant to get people to look at how stupid their ignorance and prejudices really are. He's making a point, and making it very well.

[Knowitall]

You're exactly right. But I do feel badly about people who are so insecure they feel embarrassed or threatened by humor that's meant to expose ignorant stereotypes.

[aflurry]

Well, i understand your dismissiveness. I haven't seen this show yet, and for comic genius David Allen Grier is no Dave Chappelle, but i did hear people criticizing Chappelle's Show for the same reason's and I just never understood it.

One website called Chappelle's "Racial Draft" skit offensive because of its references to racial stereotypes. But I felt the way he was using them was beautifully inclusive, and demolished those stereotypes through comedy. I actually welled up when the Chinese drafted the Wu-Tang Clan.

Here I am, a white man trying to convince an African American to love racial stereotypes. But i'm saying that if you actually look at what this type of comedy is doing, it is the stereotypes themselves that are being undermined.

[kimbari]

You're a human being trying to convince another human being to see your side of the story. :)

[ListenPeople]

I agree. I think "chocolate" humor needs a change. Change I can believe in.

[Eoin45]

It IS funny. You need to lighten up and learn what satire is all about. You refuse to watch it? Then what business do you have expressing an opinion?

[NJTeacher]

David Alan Grier is annoying and the show is offensive.

[blissiseasy123]

Here's the REAL offensive...

http://www.bankingonheaven.com/

[Eoin45]

I'm glad I don't have children in your class.

[Eoin45]

An educator who doesn't understand satire. Too bad.

[Cooper1608]

All In The Family was funny and wasn't offensive, why does this show have to be. He's not annoying and the show is not offensive. It's called HUMOR.

[GoNitro]

Hilarious. I liked Larry Wilmore's take on this on the Daily Show, too -- McCain is the black candidate.

[aflurry]

I'll also say that David Allen Grier is no Larry Wilmore. Wilmore is the best. His bit with John ... umm whatshisname.. the British guy.. where they interview the politician trying to ban use of the N word... Golden.

[boddhisatva66]

Chapelle is a visionary; he saw the writing on the wall when CC offered him $50 million. They would corrupt his voice because now they "owned him".

This is the predatory nature of humans, whether they be white, black or any other race, creed, etc. The predators seek to own or destroy.

I pray every day that we each find the strength to fight this innate predatory nature.

nam myo renge kyo

[aflurry]

Yeah, Creed sucks. The singer is a dork.

[Agnim]

Speak for YOUR so-called 'predatory nature'.
Just don't try to speak for decent humans. OK?
You need to get out a bit and try to really learn the truth about what constitutes human nature. It sure isn't predatory; but who am I to swear for YOUR nature. lol

[Eoin45]

The predatory part doesn't constitute the whole of human nature but it is certainly a component. To deny that so-called decent humans do not possess it as a part of their genetic heritage is simply wrong. How they deal with that part of their nature is what makes them decent or not.

[rowzeer]

Haven't you heard the old Indian story hopefully I remember it correctly:

There was an old Indian chief sitting around teaching the young braves and squaws. He tells them that he has two wolves living inside him. One is hateful and destructive, the other is kind and compassionate. He goes on to explain that they are constantly warring with each other for his soul. The kids are extremely interested by now and ask the Chief which one will win. The chief answers, "the one I feed, of course".

We all have two wolves inside of us and some feed the wrong one.

[AlligatorShuz]

I like Davil Allen Grier, I think he is very funny. I liked him on In Livin Color and I have truly followed his career. I didn't see him on Chocolate News on Comedy Central last week but I will ddefinately catch his this week. Comedy Central is trying to find somebody who is just as funny as Dave Chappel was.