In Defense of The Closer: “Empathy is not gay. It's not straight. It's bi - it goes both ways."

Episode 4
Aristotle writes in Poetics that the purpose of comedy is to represent people as their worst.

Dave Chappelle's Netflix special, "The Closer," is a deliciously raw but classic Chappelle standup comedy routine.

It's an artistic embrace of anti-blackness through a comedian's eyes while also telling stories about other marginalized communities - LGBTQ+ and women.

On Wednesday, I opened a Deadline email alert. The headline read that Dave Chappelle was 'lambasted' by GLAAD for ridiculing the Trans and the LGBTQ+ communities in the Netflix special, and NBJC asked Netflix to pull the content.

My initial reaction: I was triggered.

I've been in the communications world long enough to understand that commenting without context is a dangerous business, so I watched the special.

Most of you, by now, should know that my thinking is a bit contrarian. So, what I have to say here may not surprise you, but for those not as familiar with me, this post is what my Grandma would describe as not letting my slip show.

In all honesty, this newsletter post may cause folk to roll their eyes - it may be too spicy for some.

Understanding the Comedic Praxis of Dave Chappelle

Chappelle's standup comedy falls under the comedic genre type of anecdotal comedy. Other examples of this type are The Kings of Comedy, Def Comedy Jam, or Paul Murray. Anectodal comedy is where the comedian uses highly exaggerated personal stories to bring the audience to the punch line.

The no-holds-bar comedy of Dick Gregory or Richard Pryor could perhaps be examples of Chappelle's modern-day style.

In CNN Film's The History of Comedy, there is a line in the episode about Dick Gregory where an expert in his analysis of Gregory's style highlights the late comic's ability to use a fact and add a punchline that was effective and powerful.

Dave Chappelle, the great-grandson of William D. Chappelle, a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. For those who do not understand this context, you'll need to read the essay God is a Negro by Bishop Henry McNeal Turner. Some Black theologians suggest that Bishop Turner would likely have been a national leader if his rhetoric wasn't jarring. He did things on the nose, like make women leaders - Chappelle might even describe him as a feminist. Turner's theology was the precursor to Black liberation theology, and he was a progenitor to Marcus Garvey.  Turner was Chappelle's great-grandfather's peer.  

Chapelle is giving a comedic sermon grounded in his worldview of Black consciousness using the comedic plot to build on a theme and narrative that perhaps may be off-putting or seem even ugly to some, but for those of us who understand the ideas of Black liberation and the ideas of our ancestors, it has the zest of Bishop Turner.

All Shot

Dave Chappelle is known for his use of the n-word and the b-word in his standup sets.  Its use is liberally applied to offend, or some people may describe its linguistic use as a reclaiming of the words.

But, Chappelle's artistry is distinctive because each verse has a theme and plot, built on a foundational narrative where one joke builds on the next.

The irony, though, is that much of the criticism I have seen on social media or press releases are cherry-picked lines. Without full context, these cherry-picked lines mischaracterize the narrative.  It insinuates that Chappelle is trying to trivialize the lives of trans or LGBTQ people.

After watching the special, I would argue, on the contrary, even with the number of times Chappelle uses penis and vagina and all its vulgarity, even I cringe. But, the reality is that when Chappelle reaches his climax, the characters and action recognize the broader ideas outlined by the themes and narrative that are more hard-hitting because of those punchlines.

No Chaser

Chappelle uses his art to rip the bandaid off social issues around race. But, more to the point, Chappelle is an imitator of activism, similar to how some might describe James Luna or Jane Fonda in their activism through art.

The word komazein in the Greek means "to reveal," but in Poetics, Aristotle notes, the "comic mask is ugly and distorted but does not imply pain."

In The Closer, Chappelle both reveals the ugly distorted mask of race in society, and he uses comic lines to tackle the ugly mask of racism within the LGBTQ+ community.

Let me unpack this last part.  In one verse, Chappelle harps on DaBaby allegedly murdering another Black person in a Walmart in my home state of North Carolina, but he does so without consequence.

Nope, murdering another n—a will not get you canceled.

He juxtaposes this to DaBaby's most recent controversy.  DaBaby, a few months ago, during his performance, said something highly offensive about the LGBTQ+ community. What happens? Cancellation.

Here is the rub that Chappelle brilliantly tries to unmask.  

His one question for the audience: Is offending the LGBTQ+ community worth more than allegedly taking the life of a Black person?

Think about that.

Let me close here.

Before you criticize The Closer with cherry-picked excerpts, take a look at the entire special.

I cannot promise it will not be jarring or that you will not cringe. But I will promise you that you will see the genius of Chappelle's artistry.   He pushes the boundaries around the "self versus other" dichotomy, and he will push to ask some serious questions about race.  For those who have failed to grapple with LGBTQ+ issues, he forces you to unmask your preconceived biases too.   There is something in The Closer that will make everyone twist in their seats.

If you're someone like me who believes in the fundamental idea of our humanity's sacredness and allowing people to be their authentic selves. You'll appreciate that Chappelle embraces the totality of his Black consciousness and uses this creative platform to expose us to the ugly parts of our society.

As important, though, I hope it will compel conversations about The Closer's intent of exploring our commonality. While also having the necessary conversation about anti-blackness that continues to divide us.

In my view, The Closer was a brilliant piece of art as activism.  

To bring this back to the classics, if we were grading Chappelle based on a reading of Aristotle's Poetics and exploring storytelling, I'm pretty sure he’d pass with every color of the rainbow.