Endangered List Biography
D.L. Hughley: The Endangered List is intended to be funny. It sketchily narrates Hughley’s attempt to get black men listed on the EPA’s endangered species list. Hughley uses his obviously fake effort as an opportunity to discuss the inherent racial inequality in the American system. It’s a valuable lesson, even if it’s one you’ve learned already. And Hughley can be funny, splicing in a drop-dead hilarious one-liner into otherwise mundane conversation.
But the comedy special lacks necessary focus. And it’s because Hughley is angry. Why shouldn’t he be? As the statistics shown at the beginning observe, black men are much more likely to die due to gun violence, much more likely to go to prison, and much more likely to be in poverty. These are not just coincidental issues—this is a product of institutional racism. Hughley, though, has chosen to address this by making it jokey and casual, in an attempt to make it approachable. Though the impulse to do so is understandable, considering the difficulty of the subject matter and the desire to spread the message to as many people as possible, it makes for uncomfortable television. The tone is either blithe or patronizing: At times it is unclear whether or not Hughley is preaching to the choir or teaching a social studies class.
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
Endangered List
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