Boondocks: Because I Know You Don't Read The Newspaper
by Aaron McGruder

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Book Reviews of Boondocks: Because I Know You Don't Read The Newspaper

Book Review: The Boondocks rule --you's better recognize!
Summary: 5 Stars

Anyone who wants to deal with telemarketers, take Riley's cue! I was laughing at how he tore into them. And apparently they rate below the KKK. And Star Wars-The Phantom Menace is rightfully skewered by Huey and the Psycho Star Wars guy. As Huey said, it was racist, as it made unflattering cariacatures not only of African-Americans (Jar Jar) but also of Orientals (the Nimoydians) and Jews (Watto).

In term of which characters have the most laughs or are interesting, top honors go to Riley and Jazmine. I cringe at the street names in Woodcrest and laud Riley for changing them to something more eyecatching, to say the least. What's funnier is how his grandfather remembers all that when giving instructions to some lost white folks. What's even funnier is who Riley gets in trouble with his street sign antics. Now me, I'd probably change my street names so that anyone wanting to get to my house from Main (I mean Sir Paul McCartney Street) has to hook a left on David Bowie Avenue, another right on Kim Wilde Street, and left on Sarah Brightman Street, just before the post office. I have to hook a right on Cradle Of Filth Drive to go to work, and then left on Sir Paul.

Riley also takes pride in rapper Nas Escobar to the point that he wants to be called Riley Escobar or Esco for short, and gives his teacher heck on that. He also puts on the gangsta schtick in front of his class, clearly startling them. What he and Huey have in common when they are forced to attend J. Edgar Hoover Elementary is that they're not thrilled to be there and won't take any nonsense. However, he gets caught listening to Lauryn Hill, and that ruins his rep. Well, somewhat.

Poor Jazmine is conflicted due to her interracial heritage and her hair, which despite all attempts becomes an Afro due to humidity. Huey still has fun at her expense, calling her Mariah one time, as in Mariah Carey, and later sarcastically sympathisizing with her conflict by telling her, "I'm part black, part African, part Negro, and part colored." She's a sweet and tender person, however, and as her white mother says, it's up to her to find her own identity. Huey, being black and proud, clearly wants her to admit she's as black as Richard Roundtree. Oh, FYI, Jazmine, RR was the original Shaft in three movies in the '70s. Just thought you should know.

Other small character but amusing parts include the well-meaning but intimidated white teacher, Mr. Petto, and the old white lady whom Riley has a ball helping with her groceries. And finally, I know what the Santa conspiracy is! The anagram clue, sure, but the addition one, I would never have thought. Good job, Huey!

I know, this first collection set the stage by introducing the main characters, but I later noticed how some of them played smaller roles with the coming of Michael Caesar, such as Jazmine and Cindy. Pity, as Jaz and Cindy are needed for Huey to ridicule or be harassed by, respectively.

This is a funnier collection than Fresh For '01. So don't anybody be talking smack about these homies or I be smacking you fools jus' for livin', knaaawmean? Oh yeah, and free Jolly Jenkins!

Summary of Boondocks: Because I Know You Don't Read The Newspaper

Comic Strips Books

• Books > Subjects > Comics & Graphic Novels
• Humor & Entertainment > Humor