Each semester when I begin to teach my students about the social construction of race, I use several popular culture references to introduce the conversation. My class is not one of those that are separated into discussing each social construction such as “gender week” or “race week.” Instead, I implement an intersectional framework into my syllabus so that students know we are always already talking about race, class, gender, ethnicity, citizenship status, primary language, ability, and sexual orientation (to name a few). If my students are complex, and if I’m complex, how is it ethical to make a “simple” syllabus? I don’t think it is.

Although it’s been over 5 years that Dave Chappelle aired his skit “Racial Draft,” I still use it in my class. I’ve used a lot of his work from season 2 on my syllabus this semester, he is a genius and it is very fun and incredibly effective to talk about the sociological imagination and his skit “Black Bush.” But today, I want to talk about his “Racial Draft” and how media literacy is really at the center of this skit. If you are unfamiliar with the skit take a few minutes to watch it below:

Chappelle's Show
The Racial Draft
www.comedycentral.com
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It’s amazing that this skit is still very much relevant today. That is pretty rare for many forms of media. What I usually do with my students is ask them what just happened in this skit? Why was it called a “Racial Draft”? What language, costumes, and multiple social constructions were discussed and presented? What historical memory was attempting to be evoked and was it successful? Amplify Readers how would you answer some of these questions?

There are a few things that come about when we discuss race as a social construction. First, some people try to dismiss the importance and existence of race in the US because it is socially constructed (society creates it and gives meaning and value to it), yet people can’t so easily ignore or dismiss that race is also a social reality, there are social consequences that still exist in our society today.

In class I start with that as a basis for our discussion. We then, as a group, incorporate our media literacy skills and deconstruct the skit. What stereotypes are invoked by the costumes of the characters? Mos Def portrayed the “Black Delegate” in a red valor/velvet suit, wig, and deep voice. What stereotypes are being perpetuated? My students this week said things such as “pimps,” “gangsters,” and “Steve Harvey suits.” I added that there was a level of connection to Black masculinity as well. What does his deep voice represent? What are stereotypes we have of Black men? How are they being presented in this skit to challenge our stereotypes and us?

We do the same with the other delegates. Are Jewish people a race? Why were they included? How does their inclusion challenge how race is constructed in the US? There was a specific sect of Judaism that was presented as not all Jewish people represent their community, cultural, and religious beliefs through their clothing in the way presented. How does Angie Martinez’s representing all Latinos become problematic, but something that many people do, especially when calling us “Spanish”? The Asian delegate is in the same vain: one person from a specific country that wears certain attire to represent an entire group of people lumped together under the category “Asian.”

Then there is the White delegate. I always find it fascinating that the first thing so many people realize about this character is his speech and use of language. The language becomes part of the costume. His character is the only one that attempts to make a speech prior to announcing the draft pick, and implements language to hush a booing crowd. The terms “silencio” meaning silence in Spanish, and “Ungawa,” what Tarzan said when speaking to the animals in the forest  are used very strategically. This is also the only delegate on stage that Dave Chappelle portrays in the skit. He also portrays Tiger Woods, and one of the announcers, but only the White delegate on stage. I always find it interesting that my students rarely know about the social location of Chappelle; his background, partnering, and parenting. They are often surprised he is partnered and a father raising a multiracial and ethnic child.

If we look at this skit with an intersectional lens we notice how clearly women are rarely presented but often discussed. Angie Martinez as the Latina delegate with a speaking role, other women of Color and White women are presented in the audience holding signs, cheering, dancing, or looking sad. Yet, it is through the announcers who are discussing the draft and mention women that we get to witness a gendered and racialized discussion. Do you remember when women were discussed?

Women were first introduced when Madonna was discussed and she was called a “whore.” Oprah was also discussed as having “thick thighs and no felonies,” followed by a discussion of Lenny Kravitz’s mother. Finally, Condoleezza Rice  is discussed when the Black delegates draft her to the White people. Women, especially women of Color (because simply saying “women” doesn’t always include all of us) are a part of this skit yet rarely do they speak, we are sexualized but silenced, we are discussed using very racialized language based on our identities. I think we see a lot of this in the media in multiple ways, and for this reason I think Dave Chappelle created a classic piece of entertainment and education in this clip. There is so much in this 7-minute skit!

There is also a lot of segregation to examine. How do we talk about segregation based on race? What about self-segregation? How does this self-segregation become exaggerated in people’s attempts to “claim” celebrities as a part of their racial classification and ethnic group membership? Would the same celebrities be selected based on current events? What celebrities and politicians would be drafted today?

I think that today, after endorsing President Barack Obama, that Colin Powell  would not be drafted to White people and the Latinos would do the same thing they did with Elian Gonzalez and keep Sammy Sosa and argue no matter what his skin color he is Latino. Who do you think would be “in the running” to be drafted?

What are your thoughts about the sustainability and remaining importance of the issues this skit presents? Is it always important for us to be able to identify someone? What do you do with that information?