Sykes

Wanda Sykes is a great stand up comedian. She makes her audience feel her slogan-pretty language. Skykes’ stand up is filled with interesting slogans tackling certain issues. The first place I remember seeing Sykes was on the HBO comedy series “Curb Your Enthusiasm” starring Seinfeld” creator Larry David.



Her character on “Curb” was predominately there to make Larry look bad in all the stereotypically half racist ways that progressive liberals can trap themselves in. She was always pointing out to Larry these little things that he was doing that were inherently racist that he was unaware of. She gave him the “crook-eye” when he faltered in some socio-politically incorrect way. It made for good laughs but it also made for better commentary about mildly racist behavior being called out rightfully. The point was her presence provided a social block for Larry as the audience is supposed to enjoy and cringe when Larry strands up for himself and puts his foot all the down into his mouth until his heel is burned by stomach acid.

Sykes’ character was used to confront minor issues that stuck out to black people as more than a minor deal. Any racism is intolerable but the minor stuff is a less noticeable symptom of larger more obvious racism. “Curb” sought to make light of this while informing people that “just because you agree MLK was a great man doesn’t mean you’re not unconsciously racist or race bias.”   

Not having a black friend isn’t a crime but as Sykes say in her special, “Not Normal”                                                     “You need a black friend.” She says this to get the point across that white people are absent of a prevalent perspective in America. The perspective of a harder and harsher existence based in subconscious distrust and frustration to admit unconscious racial bias. While Sykes doesn’t go after the police, with the exception of one joke, she does go after doctors. Sykes claims that black people are given less powerful drugs than white people on purpose. This was such an interesting commentary to bare witness to. This is the kind of thing I could never be made aware of without Sykes.
Another thing Sykes tackled was racism in America. Such quotes as “when we’re attacked we stop the BS and unite.” This is in reference to the Russian hacking of the 2016 presidential election. Sykes voices her frustration with Trumps inability to respond to such an attack. She wishes he could’ve stood up for America, but then again the whole Mueller investigation is about Trump colluding with Russia. So where is the motivation for trump to go after the Russians? If they hacked the election for him then it doesn’t exist.

Another line that struck a cord in me was “Racism, we’ve got to deal with it, it’s going to be the demise of our country.” It’s stupid to say she’s right but she really really is. Police shooting a black security guard who was after the same criminal the police were is travesty of justice. These things spell major major major malfunction in the way this country seizes on justice. Then again is the harping on one issue really the best way to come into logical contact with socio-political issues? No. But when something terrible goes down the people need to know about it. The trick is not to dwell on it unless that dwelling is motivation to makes positive change. Complaining is one thing but action is another. When is there going to be progressive action taken to rectify the racial injustices plaguing this nation? Hopefully sooner than later.