Where do I start…..at first I thought this show was going to be completely about Trump. Her jokes were spot on and I loved her impersonations of each Presentient she went on to talk about!! You could definitely hear the anger in her voice as she “joked” about Trump. It reminded me of Kevin Hart, every other word was F*** this, F*** that. Felt like after she got that off her chest Sykes then went on about Race and Racism in America and how this will be our nation's downfall. How in the past when America was at war, we would put our differences aside and come together as a country. Sykes spoke of another intence in America when we came together as a nation, but my mind immediately to 9/11.
Sykes then went on to talk about her family, her white wife and her white children. She pointed out some differences that again I had never thought of, like how black families refer to “Playin” differently than white families (which I thought was hilarious). Then continued with other black and white differences like drug abuse. I found myself shaking my head YES! When she said, “Black people don’t get Opioids! They get Ibuprofen!”, then went on to say, “No one was kicking down doors at crack houses and asking if we could talk about their feelings”.
Wow! That blew me away. I never thought of that before but yet it was so true. Why weren’t we trying to help crackheads and trying to get them help and into rehab? However, once the opioid crisis (primarily a white person crisis) hit millions of government money went towards helping the stop of opioid addictions. To me that was the most powerful thing she said and it really stuck with me, I guess because my aunt was in a car accident and became addicted to pain meds. I was thankful there were programs available to her to her the help she needed and is better now.
If you yet to watch this special I highly recommend that you do!
Watch the trailer for Wanda Sykes Not Normal here:
This is a really interesting point, Alex. I lost my brother to opioid addiction, so this issue is close to my heart. I think often about how his life as someone who struggled with addiction and mental illness was also shaped by his race. White privilege extends even that far.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading through this post, as I too have a close family member that struggles with an opiod addiction. Just with the few characteristics you pointed out in this act, I already know I would love it. And the trailer confirmed that even more. Thanks for further introducing this to us!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a strong point to make about the double standard that exists with drug addiction and race. I haven’t been personally affected by opioid addiction, but I have strong empathy for those who have. I think it’s important for comedians to address social justice issues like racism and it sounds like Wanda Sykes did that. I didn’t watch her show but after reading this now I want to.
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