A Gay/campy chronicling of daily life in NYC,with individual kernels of human truth. copyright 2011 by The Raving Queen
Friday, January 3, 2014
Equal Rights For Buckwheat, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know, I know, I will probably have the Reverend Al Sharpton and the NAACP breathing down my neck, but it is time to end this political slight! Black Americans in this country are so sensitive of being politically exploited, even when it was never intended, they become offended by anything suggestive of it!
Which is the case with Buckwheat of The Little Rascals. In this age of what I say is sometimes an overemphasis on political correctness, the comic artistry of Buckwheat, is today, all too often slighted!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, girls, that is right--comic artistry!!!! Who can forget "Little Sinner," where Spanky and the Gang play hooky from Sunday school, witness a Baptism, accompanied by a solar eclipse, and, to an accompanying gospel choir, Buckwheat flees through the forest, his curls flying straight out, in the breeze??????
Or how about "Lucky Corner," (I think that's the one), where Buckwheat is dispatched for what he thinks is a bag of sugar, returning, sliding skillfully on a wooden board???? Followed, soon after, by the classic scene of him sitting atop a block of ice, teeth chattering madly?????
Simply comic brilliance, my loves!!!!!! Hal Roach, and his directors had no intention of racism or political exploitation! If anything, they wanted to highlight each child's comic assets. And, in this overly political climate, Buckwheat's now go too often ignored! This is unfair!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait a minute!!!!!!!!! What about "Pay As You Exit," where the Gang puts on "Romeo And Juliet," and Darla/Juliet quits, because Alfalfa/Romeo cannot stop eating scallion onions???????? So, pressed to find another Juliet, who is chosen? Buckwheat, who makes one of the most fabulous comic entrances. The show has been halted by this disruption. When it resumes, Alfalfa approaches the vacant balcony, calling out "Juliet, my Juliet, wherefore, art thou?" On cue, up pops Buckwheat, with his signature, "Here ah is!!!!!!!," and the crowd goes wild, while Buckwheat clasps his hands and shakes!!!! Like a group of Theater Queens today going wild over Donna Mckechnie dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because, in its own way, Buckwhat's comic artistry was beloved, akin to a way fans today love Donna McKechnie dancing! Why should this artistry be ignored???? "Manchild In The Promised Land," my ass!!!!!!!!! Ralph Ellison, begone! Oh, I know you are important, honey, and you better believe I have read you, but come on!!!!!!! The political alienation of Buckwhat's comic genius is a slap in the face of national culture! I bet if Louis Brandeis were alive, he would argue, on my behalf!!!!!!!!!!!
Hell, I am sure even Angela Davis would approve, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment