[johnmilken]

Relax...Boondocks is left-wing but not racist. Check out the Christmas strips with the black Santa picking on the black kids for being lazy and criminal, then on the ones mocking Kwanzaa [sp?].
It's true that as black man the author has more freedom to discuss racial issues than a white cartoonist would, but that's hardly his fault.

[johnmilken]

ooo...clue me in on how to post images and I'll see what I can find...essentially Boondocks has run that imaginary 'malt liquor' strip dozens of times.

[TWohlford]

If that's "racist" then I can say we can all go home and forget about the whole race thing. Pretty harmless stuff.

I think it's even funny.

You'd prefer a cartoon which notes that the only time some people run through the city streets is with a TV in their arms, trying to outrun the police dog?

Jeez.

[DGray]

I don't think Boondocks is racist either - in fact, I think the word "racist" is thrown around way too lightly these days by too many people. It signifies a belief that one race is inherently superior to another, as in believing that black people were by default less intelligent than white people. It was the dominant view by the vast majority of the white intelligentsia of the 19th century and well before. I may be naive, but I truly believe there are very few true racists around these days, in the US anyway.

The correct term, IMO, should be "bigoted," which Boondocks definitely can be at times. Including, I think, now. MacGruder occasionally shows a real level of cluelessness about the very culture in which he lives. This is an unfortunate consequence of seeing every single thing through a prism of racial divide. Yeah, he can be funny, but I usually avoid Boondocks because more often than not, he makes me sad.

[infidel29]

"It's true that as black man the author has more freedom to discuss racial issues than a white cartoonist would..."

And that is a problem society needs to address. Racism is not exclusive to whites, and no one should have 'more freedom' to discuss it than another. Perhaps we can get to a point when we can all laugh at each other and not be "offended" or at least put up the facade of offense.

[Fabozz]

So wait... this cartoon, and the Santa one you mention, basically portray blacks as lazy. That's suddenly okay again? Wow, we have made a lot of progress in race relations in this country.

[World'sGoneInsane]

It's true that as black man the author has more freedom to discuss racial issues than a white cartoonist would, but that's hardly his fault.

That's true. I think of Eddie Murphy. He says some of the most outrageous things about blacks and whites. Think about about the movie Trading Places. On one hand it could be considered racist from both sides. OTOH, it was funny.

Chevy Chase could stand next to Eddie Murphy and make a remark about "black people", Eddie Murphy could make a "white people" joke. It would be funny. In either case, not everyone would laugh, because there's always a little bit of truth in comedy.

There's people of all races that take things much too seriously, or not seriously enough. As a matter of fact, there are racists of all colors. It's only when people can start examining themselves, perhaps laughing a little, will it get better. If it's malicious, then it's not humor. I don't find Boondocks to be malicious. Humor is disarming.

BTW, the only thing I find offensive about Eddie Murphy is that he curses too much. That can be said of many other comedians, as well.