Comments

1. Bronze Trinity wrote:

   Oh my &*%*$! I don’t know what to say…I mean I want the contribution of slaves to civilization to be acknowledged but holy smokes this is not the way. I know this was just a joke though but they knew exactly how to trivialize it.

   Posted 26 Sep 2007 at 2:19 pm ¶

2. Wendi Muse wrote:

   i love this, so thanks for posting it! my friends at work and i crack up about it all the time, due in part to the moon walking and air guitar-ing, but mainly because it’s funny/telling that honoring slaves seems kind of like an absurd idea when it shouldn’t at all. imagine if we did celebrate the hard work of slaves like we saluted our nation’s forefathers or random quasi-mythological figures like paul bunyon? these people actually did work hard and played a huge role in the luxuries we enjoy today (and still do), so why not celebrate their awesomeness?

   given, this is a more comedic example, but if we viewed slaves as major contributors as opposed to merely victims of oppression, i think it would drastically alter our ability to discuss their situation, especially considering that they were both simultaneously.

   Posted 26 Sep 2007 at 3:12 pm ¶

3. New York Diva wrote:

   My mouth is still hanging open as I type this. I don’t even know what to make of it!
   Were they REALLY trying to be FUNNY?
   I’m at a loss for words….

   Posted 26 Sep 2007 at 6:41 pm ¶

4. selina wrote:

   i actually own both seasons of wonder showzen. i agree with wendy. it cracks me up though.

   Posted 26 Sep 2007 at 7:55 pm ¶

5. Anonymous wrote:

   The show is funny precisely because it’s so harsh and uncaring; you should look up other clips posted on YouTube, like “Immigrants Can Do Anything.” Also, a sock puppet touring Harlem, repeatedly pestering residents with the question “Why are you so angry?”

   Posted 26 Sep 2007 at 9:50 pm ¶

6. jen* wrote:

   i actually thought this was funny. and i’ll basically agree with Wendy. the clip is completely ridiculous, but slaves _did_ build the pyramids, etc. and we don’t think about those facts enough. we don’t credit them [almost] ever. so we’re contributing to keeping them invisible…

   good lookin’ out.

   Posted 26 Sep 2007 at 11:15 pm ¶

7. squidfly wrote:

   Anonymous:
   Obvioulsy you don’t get Black people, we aren’t angry “we’re over it”.

   Maybe the sock puppet should take a walk around the Upper West/East Side/Soho/Tribeca/ Williamsbrug, and pester the residents with the question “Why are you so Narcissistic?”

   Posted 26 Sep 2007 at 11:29 pm ¶

8. Janine wrote:

   I’m black, occasionally angry and the parent of two kids who has endured my share of kiddie shows. This parody is hilarious.

   Posted 27 Sep 2007 at 11:41 am ¶

9. Sara wrote:

   I have to admit to being a huge Wondershowzen fan. I’ m sure if you played it backwards, you’d get a wonderfully progressive message. (Well, actually no, there’s an episode (on the subject of patience) that’s played half-backwards and it’s really just annoying gibberish). I always thought this clip was hilarious because you know what, they’re right, some recognition is in order, but no one wants to do it and bring up all those icky issues about race and the legacy of slavery, so we all just whistle by the Pyramids like they just appeared out of nowhere.

   Posted 27 Sep 2007 at 12:31 pm ¶

10. Sara wrote:

    …I should add that it’s “hilarious” in the same way Wondershowzen always is hilarious – in that it points out our societal shortcomings way too well. Sort of a “Ha ha ha ha…now I’m depressed, because I’m a total jerk” kind of thing.

    Posted 27 Sep 2007 at 12:33 pm ¶

11. Handelino wrote:

    I love this show. I’m shocked its on MTV compared to more radical channel, but love it all the same. The clip is funny.

    Posted 27 Sep 2007 at 6:09 pm ¶

12. Tre wrote:

    I love WonderShowzen and own both seasons too. In addition to the really dark and nihilistic life lessons it purports, I love that one of the creators (he plays the puppet Chauncey) is black. It shows that black people can be as fucked up crazy and hilarious as anyone else, and that’s true equality:)

    Posted 27 Sep 2007 at 7:18 pm ¶

13. Gregory A. Butler wrote:

    That clip is off the hook!!!

    And for those who are unfamilliar with the show, “Wonder Showzen” is this subversive parody of lame kids shows.

    The kind of program where they send little kid reporters to Wall Street and ask the stockbrokers “What’s it like being a capitalist bloodsucker?”.

    So this is right up their alley!!

    And Funny As Hell!!

    And all the more funny because it’s TRUE

    “Slaves/Built the Parthenon

    Slaves/Built the Pyramids

    Slaves/Built America

    Slaves/This song is for you

    Thank you Slaves”

    [and actually Slaves DID build all those buildings - as well as the White House, the Capitol and just about all the other major public buildings you see on the Washington Mall]

    Thank you, Wonder Showzen!

    And thank you Wendi Muse and Racialicious for sharing that clip with us!

    Posted 29 Sep 2007 at 9:58 am ¶