It seems that that criticism is never ending for Aaron McGruder’s hit TV show, The Boondocks. First, activist Najee Ali took aim at the show for its use of the “N” word and now, Al Sharpton is demanding an apology from McGruder and the Cartoon Network.
The controversy stems from the episode Return of the King which aired January 15, a day before artin Luther King Day. In the show, King angrily addresses a black crowd and used the “N” word (and by that, I mean “nigga”) several times during the short speech.
”Will you ignorant niggas please shut the hell up?!”King stated in the episode.
Sharpton calls it a desecration of the slain civil rights leader.
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“Cartoon Network must apologize and also commit to pulling episodes that desecrate black historic figures,”Sharpton said in a statement Tuesday.
“It’s way over the line to do this to Dr. King,” he also says. “I don’t think they would have let him do that to an icon in another community. Why should we allow people to be so fast and careless with people in our community?”
Sharpton is also threatening to picket the corporate offices of the network if the apology doesn’t come.
Cartoon Network issued a statement defending the show and McGruder.
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“This episode in no way was meant to offend or ‘desecrate’ the name of Dr. King,” the network said in a statement.
“We think Aaron McGruder came up with a thought-provoking way of not only showing Dr. King’s bravery, but also of reminding us of what he stood and fought for, and why, even today, it is important for all of us to remember that and to continue to take action.”
For those of you who have been hiding under a rock, The Boondocks airs every Sunday at 11 p.m. as part of Cartoon Network’sAdult Swim. The comic strip can also be found in various news papers across the country and right here at hiphopdx.com.
Source: yahoo.com, blackamericaweb.com
