Trying to run from my destruction, you know that I don’t even care….- Prince “1999â€
Dave Chappelle told us what he was about to do at the beginning of his new Netflix comedy special Sticks and Stones when the show opens with him singing the late Prince’s “1999â€. Not that Dave has ever been timid about addressing the current state of affairs or our country’s ugly history, but in today’s politically correct climate, the least little thing can be blown out of proportion. Apparently, Dave doesn’t care, in his Sticks and Stones special, Dave decided to create his own lane, and steer clear of Trump singing the poor white man’s greatest hits ( as Dave calls it). Instead, Dave does the following:
- addresses how it’s open season for celebrities
- paints a visual breakdown of the  lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community
- reveals why he didn’t take part in the Surviving R. Kelly documentary
- points out the errors of the active shooter drills taking place within our children’s schools
- raises awareness for gun control and legal firearms within the black community
- identifies how the opioid crisis is very similar to the crack epidemic that took place in the ’80s and early ’90s
- explains how the black community did, in fact, support Empire’s french actor, Jussie Smollett
Now reading the above sounds like a breeze, but if you hadn’t noticed the thing about this comedian is, while we can clearly see Dave is driving haphazardly and we’re often holding our breath as he is taking turns, Dave continues to put his foot on the gas. Instead of slowing down, Dave only speeds up and makes sharps turns.
The Half Baked star touches on many sensitive topics, and often viewers (or me anyway) are left clutching their pearls, while also silently admitting to themselves that much of what he is saying is true. It’s ugly, but it’s real.
Early on while watching, I took a minute to Google Sticks and Stones, and I saw several negative headlines, which almost tempted me to not share that I had watched the show. I mean these are serious issues, there not really comical, but when Dave talks about them, they somehow are, yet he somehow doesn’t take away the seriousness of them, and he may sway the opinion of some.
Which is why I don’t see how critics can deny the beauty and creativity in what Mr. Chappelle does. When I woke up this morning, I felt depressed and angry, and honestly, that’s how I feel most mornings. Even when my mood is lighter, once I read the news or look on social media, there’s so much that brings me right back to that point. So when I saw the special trending on Netflix as I switched on my TV, dreading getting to work, I knew a good laugh could be useful and Dave didn’t disappoint.
At the end of this special, there are clips of the former Chappelle Show host conducting Q&As with the audience, and normally I don’t bother to watch those, but I am glad I did because it was insightful, especially if anyone was offended by the LGBTQ jokes. So I encourage you to watch it in full.
To many Dave may be running to his destruction with all the controversial issues he tackles and makes light of, but as he says, “You clicked on my face!’
