Local News/Books
‘How the Audacity of Dopes Is Ruining America’ by D.L. Hughley with Michael Malice
By Kam Williams
Special To The Skanner
News
“The American Dream is in dire
need of a wake-up call… If only
Uncle Sam could see us now. He’d
roll up his sleeves, ball his hands
into fists, and knock some sense
into this nation of ours… But he’s
not around. So some other proud
American has to tell this country
what it needs—not wants—to
hear…
As a stand-up, I’ve traveled this
country for decades, seeing it at its
best and at its worst. And what I’m
seeing [now] is terrifying to me.
When I see something that’s
f#cked up, I can’t remain silent. I
ask why… It may sound funny,
but to me this s#it ain’t no joke.”
— Excerpted from the inside
cover/press release
No stranger to controversy, D.L.
Hughley has a knack for pushing
people’s buttons while keeping his
finger on the pulse of pop culture.
For instance, a few years ago, the
caustic comedian landed in hot
water when he came to the partial
defense of Don Imus after the
shock jock had insensitively
referred to members of the Rut-
gers University’s women’s basket-
ball team as “nappy-headed hos.”
Hughley said Imus had it half-
right in that the girls were indeed
“nappy-headed.”
Now, the irascible troublemaker
is at it again, stirring the pot of
political incorrectness by poking
fun at everyone from President
Obama (“big ears” and “a goofy
smile”) to Tiger Woods (“a buck-
toothed chigger playing a white
man’s game”) to Bill Clinton (for
being blacker than Obama) to Her-
man Cain (“He’s not bright. He’s
not entertaining… Why do we
need to see this clown dance?”) to
Mitt Romney (“shallow… a man
completely out of touch”) to Min-
ister Farrakhan (“White people’s
least favorite black person”).
I Want You to Shut the F#ck Up:
How the Audacity of Dopes Is
Ruining America is a metaphysi-
cal call to arms ostensibly
designed as this election year’s
answer to the 2008 presidential
campaign’s The Audacity of
Hope, as suggested by the book’s
not so subtle subtitle. For, besides
knocking icons off their lofty
pedestals, D.L. raises a number of
issues which he feels need to be
addressed to preserve the union.
For example, as far as the disre-
spect shown the President, he
believes not only that “the opposi-
tion to him is fueled by race” but
that “the deference to him by his
own people is also fueled by race.”
Later, Hughley blames black
females for the disintegration of
the black family, saying “Our sis-
ters have forgotten how to land a
man and how to keep him,” before
he takes a page out of fellow
Kings of Comedy Tour alumnus
Steve Harvey’s love advice primer
to teach the ladies the tricks of the
dating and marrying trade.
Not that D.L. lets brothers off
the hook entirely. By his estima-
tion, about 90 percent of African-
American
men
have
a
“P#ssy-Now” philosophy, mean-
ing they’re more than willing to
play hooky from school or skip
work for a shot at a sexual con-
quest. And there’s a heavy price to
pay long-term for such reckless
behavior.
Meanwhile, Hughley has no
problem with the “N-word,” since
he fervently believes that “Racism
is an attitude, not a vocabulary
test.” In fact, his only regret about
the slur is that nobody has come
up with an epithet “that makes
white people just as uncomfort-
able.” Overall, Hughley proves
himself a master at provocation,
even if his intriguing tome doesn’t
really provide pat answers to
America’s pressing problems.
Disease
continued from page 1
Researchers believe ulcerative colitis or
Crohn’s disease has environmental triggers,
so they are looking at Northport for clues.
About 1.4 million people nationwide have
ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, a simi-
lar inflammatory bowel condition. The ill-
nesses affect about one in every 200 people.
Both diseases are believed to have environ-
mental triggers, but despite extensive
research the causes have never been identi-
fied.
Last year, 119 current and former North-
port residents took part in a health survey
designed by Dr. Josh Korzenik. Seventeen
had confirmed cases of either ulcerative
colitis or Crohn’s disease.
``That’s about 10 to 15 times what we’d
expect to see in a population the size of
Northport,’’ said Korzenik, director of the
Crohn’s and Colitis Center at Brigham and
C
O
M
Women’s Hospital, one of Harvard Medical
School’s teaching hospitals. ``I’m not aware
of any other cluster like it.’’
Researchers have long suspected that
from coal-fired factories and vehicle emis-
sions became a part of many people’s daily
lives.
Northport might help provide some
The border town is located downwind and
downriver of a smelter in Trail, British Columbia,
that’s run by Teck Resources. For years, the
smelter dumped pollutants into the Columbia
River
environmental toxins play a role in Crohn’s
disease and colitis, which have symptoms
including abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Both illnesses emerged after the Industrial
Revolution, when exposure to pollution
M
U
N
I
T
answers.
Korzenik has ruled out a genetic influence
in the town’s cluster: Few of the individuals
were related. Seven of the 17 cases were
people who lived along Mitchell Road,
Y
C
A
L
E
N
where sulfur dioxide emissions from the
smelter killed farmers’ crops in the 1920s
and 1930s, leading to an international law-
suit.
For a century, the smelter now owned by
the Canadian mining company Teck
Resources also dumped millions of tons of
waste laden with heavy metals into the
Columbia River.
David Godlewski, vice president for Teck
American, the U.S. subsidiary of the Cana-
dian company that owns the smelter,
declined to comment to The Spokesman-
Review. In past interviews, however, Teck
Resources officials said that ongoing plant
upgrades have reduced the Trail smelter’s
air and water emissions by 95 percent.
Korzenik plans to expand the health sur-
vey to gather information from other com-
munities near Northport.
D
A
R
S EATTLE 2012
CENTRAL AREA COMMUNITY FESTIVAL. This one day
event will showcase the positive features of the
Central Area Community with the corporations of
local businesses and organizations that will
provide resources and educational services to
the community. All day event. Garfield
Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St.
If you have an event you want to share
with the community, email it two weeks
in advance to The Skanner at
info@theskanner.com
Thursday August 16
COMMUNTIY CELEBRATION FOR RAINIER PLAYFIELD
PLAY AREA AND BASKETBALL COURTS. Seattle Parks
and Recreation, the Brandon Roy Foundation and
the Rainier Community Center Advisory Council
invite the public to come out and play. Enjoy
treats, hoops, play and music. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
3700 S. Alaska St. in Columbia City.
Saturday August 18
Page 2 The Seattle Skanner
August 15, 2012
Sunday August 19
OTHELLO PARK INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AND ARTS
FESTIVAL. Pack up the family and come down to
Othello Park in South Seattle. Lots of music,
vendors, food, entertainment and much more.
4351 S. Othello St. All day long event.
Saturday August 25
FIRST ANNUAL HEALTH & EDUCATION FAIR & RUN AT
JUDKINS PARK. The event is both a fundraiser and
an opportunity to enhance and support a culture
of academic excellence and well-being among
communities of color. 10 a.m.
FREE ARTS IN THE PARK AT THE PUYALLUP FARMERS
MARKET. All supplies are provided, and artist
assistants will be on hand to help out. Stop by,
create art and learn more about upcoming art
creations. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pioneer Park and the
Plaza at City hall, Puyallup, WA
Saturday – Sunday August 25 – 26
Tuesday August 21
GRAND CELEBRATION OF THE COMPLETION OF
RAINIER VISTA. The program will start at 5 p.m. and
will be followed by unit tours, live music and
family activities. appetizers and refreshments will
be served. 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. intersection of 31st
Ave. S. and S. Genesee St.
SAND MANDELA CREATION TRADITIONAL DANCE
AND BBC FILM HIGHLIGHTS TIBET FEST. Seattle
Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion, explores the
cultural roots and contemporary influences of
Tibet through live performances, cultural displays,
hands on activities, food and much more. Noon –
6 p.m. Both days. Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St.