Race and politics affect on Stereotypes in the Black Community X Boondocks

Race and politics run hand-in hand with one another and affect many decisions in society that impact the whole world. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “Politics are the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.” Race and Ethnicity is best described as an active and social processes rather than fixed biological categories; people treat other people differently because of their differences (Markus). Politics and Race are affected through different governing bodies, like the FDA, Federal Food and Drug Act, and the Affordable Care Act

 In 2005, Aaron McGruder created a show titled the Boondocks that used satire to catch the attention of young adults between the ages of 18 – 34. The show was used to bring light to Political and Race issues that African Americans face in today’s society. McGruder Created characters, such as Huey Freeman the main protagonist to display a mature black male versus that of the stereotypical inner-city youth in the show. By doing so McGruder was able to create a narrative that depicted both sides of the spectrum. Huey Freeman has a positive impact on the black community in the show by being both the voice of reason and the most mature in many controversial situations.

Huey Freeman was a revolutionary pro-black male that lives with his grandfather and brother, Reilly Freeman; following the death of both of their parents because of a tragic accident. Huey made it a point not to do things that are typically expected of black people. Race is such an important social construct because it has the power influence how people judge health and illness. There are several stereotypes that state biologically heart diseases, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases are said to be predominantly found in African Americans rather than whites. The cause of this can be from finances, discrimination from pharmacists and physicians, and minorities not having the ability to afford health care. For example, this construct is shown when Huey and his family came together for dinner. Instead of eating the food like everyone else was he informed them that they should not be eating unhealthy food, because doing so they would end up like the grandmother off Soul Food: having diabetes and having to have their legs amputated. Soul Food is a popular African American movie in which the grandmother dies because of common stereotypical African American diseases.

Even though heart diseases, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases are said to be more predominate in African americans, it has nothing to do with them genetically being of African American descent. A  publish by the Columbia University Press called Race in a Bottle  states at a white house ceremony President Bill Clinton famously declared, "I believe one of the great truths to emerge from this triumphant expedition inside the human genome is that in genetic terms, human beings, regardless of race, are more than 99.9 percent the same", and the 0.1 percent had nothing to do with race.

Huey Freeman shows the audience that they should not follow what the rest of society believes, instead the most important thing is to read and formulate your own beliefs. Many of Huey Freeman’s actions were based off his looks. For instance, he had an afro to show that he relates to the civil rights movement and does not cut, it because if he did it would mean that he is cutting piece of himself. He also wore clothes that resembled that of Malcolm X, Huey Newton, and Martin Luther King Jr wore.

In America, it is hard to talk about the problems that African Americans face on the day to day basis. While producing The Boondocks, Aaron McGruder found a way to talk about these issues by adding a comedic twist to it, so it does not make it too real for the viewers and amplified their enjoyment. The Character Huey Freeman is a major factor in this being possible because he shows that the viewers do not have to act like what people expect them to be. The Show the Boondocks does a great job proving that the stereotypes of African American families are wrong

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