Wanda Sykes is a Civil Rights Hero!

[goclark]

I hope this doesn't get put in the DU Lounge because after viewing her HBO Special it should be, IMO, Discussed in the Discussion Forum.

I am a Senior and have heard many comedians talk about Civil Rights Issues and they have had a major impact on our societies views.

Dick Gregory comes to mind.

Wanda Sykes should be viewed by a vast audience, RUN don't Walk to view it.

Just one example of the issues she discussed ~ Civil Rights for Gay Citizens: I am African American and Wanda said, "In America today, In her opinion, it is harder to be Gay than Black."

She explained why she felt that way so artfully and from the heart it would cause anyone other than a Teabagger to realize that she is a Civil Rights Hero.

She explains the pain of the Prop. in CA that made her so angry and hurt her so deeply she had to tell the world that she was Gay.

My Mom said later that " Mean People should understand that Wanda should be who she is - Gay!"

My Mom is 91 years young and she has asked me to let her see it again and again. She needed clarification on a few issues (For example: she didn't understand what a Bikini Wax was) and asked me to stop the tape and explain what Wanda was saying.

You must see it!

[ChicagoSuz219]

1. I don't have HBO...

...do you know if it's online anywhere?

[goclark]

2. Not sure, I only had HBO for three months

for Free.

I got lucky and taped this the day my HBO ran out.

Maybe someone else can tell us.

[ChicagoSuz219]

3. OK...

...I'm wanting to see the documentary about Pres. Obama, too!

Thanks.

[goclark]

15. Me too ~ How can I see it without ordering HBO again ~ my Mom wants HBO

now.

She thinks money grows on trees. : )

[Voice for Peace]

10. here?

http://www.hbo.com/events/wanda-sykes-imabeme/index.html

[jonnyblitz]

21. wow is that the whole show do you know?

[Voice for Peace]

25. sorry, I just took a quick look and it looked like maybe just clips.. but I bet it's online somewhe

re

[jonnyblitz]

20. i just checked. it's out there for illegal download on torrent sites.

:hide:

[fortyfeetunder]

32. I found I'ma Be Me on You Tube in 9 parts

Here's Part one...get it while it's still there!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF8ldjCJLOU

[lonestarnot]

4. K & R! Wanda! Tells it like it is baby!

[goclark]

23. Thanks for the K because the more people

that see this thread may get to watch her in action.

This is one you don't want to miss.

[Fuzz]

5. Her last special on HBO was right up there with the greats, Carlin, Hicks and Pryor, imho

I watched in amazement as she wove her tales and brought the house down.

A true work of art.

[goclark]

18. That was " I Wanta Be Me" right!~

That's the one ~ it's a classic!

[Fuzz]

19. Yup.

[TommyO]

6. I'ma Be Me was absolutely wonderful

I was watching it, within ten minutes I knew my mother would love it to, so I called her and had her add it to her TiVo. My 70 year old mother loved it just as much as I did, perhaps more.

It is a must see.

[zonkers]

7. Your mom sounds awesome.

[goclark]

11. My Mom is awesome she has a boyfriend

that is 6 months younger than she is ~her take on it, " I like young men."

She never liked to dance or listen to records until MJ died a few months ago. She started snapping her fingers to the songs on television.

I asked her if she would like to learn to dance and she started snapping her fingers and Dancing!

For her birthday I dressed her up in jeans, a jean jacket with gold trim and a MJ like scarf. She danced with all the men in attendance and had people crying Happy Tears. It was the greatest!

Now she is a big Wanda Sykes fan !
She wants me to get HBO again because she doesn't want to miss Wanda Sykes. I explained that Wanda will have her own show on Fox and she gave me a luke warm OK.

The reason ~ she was fascinated that Wanda could say so many interesting curse words and be so truthful on HBO. Now that I've explained what HBO can do -- she said, " Pay the $14 a month, it's only money!"

[grantcart]

8. Yes she was

Also Dick Gregory needs to be lifted up again and again.


Gregory's role in the '60s is really huge. He made it possible for millions of people who were curious about civil rights to learn about it in a humorous way. In many ways I feel I owe my life to Dick Gregory.






"Dear Momma

Everytime you hear that word you know they are advertising my book"

[yorgatron]

9. she's getting her own show soon,

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441222/

[goclark]

12. Yes! Dick Gregory did more for the Struggle than a whole lot of people

He was awesome!

We would sit and listen to his records over and over again.

I would go with my friends to see him whenever he appeared in town.

[Bluenorthwest]

38. Big cheer for Dick Gregory!

He is an American genius of the first order. A constant activist and teacher. Peace to you, Grantcart, just for mentioning Dick Gregory.

[OneBlueSky]

13. Wanda Sykes is also funny as shit . . .

I generally don't like stand-up comedians, but Wanda Sykes cracks me up . . . I recently saw a concert she did in DC on some cable channel or other, and I laughed out loud all the way through it . . . crude as hell in some parts, but the way she presents it makes it somehow less offensive . . . she's just damned funny, imo . . .

[goclark]

16. She is classy and funny and crude at the same time

She is a beautiful lady, and she talks about so many issues - the planet, civil rights, her observations on life in general.

[samsingh]

she's a star

[goclark]

17. She is a real star

I'm in my 60's and we had so many fantastic, really funny comendians that we enjoyed, until now.

I'm sorry but Jay Leno and Letterman don't do it for me, Johnny Carson really made me laugh.

So did Jack Benny and Burns and Allen and Lucille Ball etc.

To me, they were funny!

[samsingh]

14. she's a star

[DailyGrind51]

22. Why is she doing a show on FOX?

Begging the question, why FOX would sign an obvious Progressive?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/wanda-sykes-getting-satur_n_181669.html

[SeattleGirl]

24. She is indeed a Civil Rights Hero.

I love her, and I loved that special. I love it that she can speak such a clear truth, and while she does it with humor, you just know she's dead-on serious about it.

[goclark]

26. Wish it could have a broader audience than HBO

But, her time is now and she is on the March.

[ruggerson]

27. thanks for this goclark

you are a remarkable person with a pretty wise mother. :)

[goclark]

37. I respect you ruggerson, thanks from me and my Mom nt

[Number23]

28. Bit more info, please? Why specifically did she say it was harder to "be gay than black?"

Don't get HBO in this part of the world and I'm EXTRAORDINARILY curious why she said that. :) Thanks! :hi:

[FrenchieCat]

29. She did this whole segment where she tells her parents that she's Black......

In otherwords, she was making the point that it is much more difficult to tell
people you love the most that you are Gay; and that's why it is more difficult to be Gay....
Because even those you love may not accept the fact.

Made sense to me....and it was an hilarious segment that's best be seen rather than described.

[Number23]

31. Ah, I get it. Thanks for the scoop.

[goclark]

34. I agree Frenchie

It's easier also because if your parents are Black, there is a 100% chance that you are Black unless you are adopted or in today's world, the mother carried the sperm of a White donor.

(Edit to clarify: If one of the parents was identified as Black it use to be/ still is by some ~ you would be defined as BLACK. Now more and more those children are called "Mixed" I believe that is going to be a Census option.)

And, people can easily identify you as Black unless you are Mulatto and even then, most Black people know the difference.

For example, in my family, my grandfather had blue eyes and straight hair. He looked more White than most White people that I know. : )

When I was a little girl he would take me downtown to the Market- we lived in Maryland - and people would stop him and say, " What a sweet little girl, is that your Maid's child?"

I have vivid memories of my tall handsome grandfather answering, " I am proud to say I am a Negro and this is my beautiful granddaughter, good day."

He taught me at that age to be proud of who I am.

I am delighted to be living in the world today because now people are becoming so racially mixed up ,it doesn't even matter.at least to most of the people that I know.

Soon, it will not matter (like Michael Jackson predicted) if you're Black or White or Gay or Straight -- what a wonderful world that will be, IMO.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

30. Wanda Is One Of My Favorites

With almost no exceptions, I can't stand female stand-ups because they ALL do the SAME routine (relationship humor, "men are stupid" jokes, "my family annoys me" jokes, you know the rest). But I can tell you that Wanda Sykes is one of my favorite comedians. And not just my favorite FEMALE comedian (which she is, by a mile), but she ranks right up there with the men too. There's just something about her that everything she says is funny. I even loved her short-lived series on Comedy Central a few years back, "Wanda Does It" where she took a different job every week (the one where she was a car repo person had me on the floor).

Oh, and for the people who asked, her routine about coming out to your family that you're black was hilarious. "Well, maybe you've just been hanging around a lot of black people and now you THINK that you're black too."

Although I will say I didn't think her latest special was as funny as some of the previous ones, but it was still worth watching.

[jonnyblitz]

33. ok. I downloaded this torrent and watched it last night and i must

say it was one of the most hysterical shows I have ever seen! she's the best.:thumbsup:

thanks for this thread. i might never have seen the show otherwise.

[goclark]

35. How did you download it ~ please give us the link

:bounce:

[jonnyblitz]

36. it's more complicated than just downloading. you need torrent

software. do you know about bit torrents? i will PM you a link to the torrent but I don't think i can easily explain to you about it over the internet. it's illegal (copyright violation)as well.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. Early Wanda that DU ers would really enjoy

Wanda has been a big favorite of mine for years, since her time on the great Chris Rock Show. Most people missed out on her first half hour comedy show, "Wanda At Large" which ran on Fox in 2003. The show revolves around a political talk show ala 'Crossfire' on which Wanda's character is a regular debater. Great cast, many wonderful episodes. Those who love Wanda and politics should not miss it.
I personally feel that Wanda let herself stew in the closet for too long, but better late than never, and she's one who will more than make up for lost time with her wit and truth and courage.
The HBO special is freaking great. She is just funny and then funny some more. Yesterday at the grocery store, I started laughing in the yogurt row, thinking of Jamie Lee Curtis. One of the best sets of comedy I've ever seen, best I've seen in years.

[goclark]

41. Jamie Lee was a hit on the Show!

Thanks for the info about the early years!

[Starry Messenger]

40. Love Wanda!

I will look for this when it comes out on DVD. Thank you for the heads up goclark. :)

[goclark]

42. It should be a best seller! nt