December 2, 2006 – Lincoln Theatre

 

 Two of today’s most conscientious comedians, Dick Gregory  and Paul Mooney took to the stage at the Lincoln Theatre to try to help us figure out why America has gone crazy.

 

Through his act of ‘analyzing’ white America, Paul Mooney candidly talked about teachers taking advantage of students, priests taking advantage of alter boys; the apparently more important humanitarian-like drive to save whales and polar bears, while African American men are being gunned down in the streets; high gas prices, the current President; and destructive television programming.

 

“I remember when television had dignity.  At least it would go off, (referring to how television programs would end at a specified hour with an announcer saying to the viewer, “Good night”.) 

 

“Now it’s on 24/7”, the comedian exclaimed. 

 

“Gas prices are so high, there hasn’t been a drive-by in L.A. in four months”.

 

“The cows are mad, and chickens got the flu”, said Paul, referring to the Mad Cow disease plaguing live-stock, and the Asian ‘flu’ thought to have been contaminating chickens.

 

“I’m not making this stuff up”, he told the mostly approving audience.  I ain’t this good.”

 

 “And when have you ever not been able to eat spinach?”, the comedian asked the audience.  “Kids were right all along when they told their parents they didn’t want to eat it.”

 

But perhaps what the audience was most interested in was Paul’s decision to cease from using the ‘N’ word during his comedy routines.

 

It was after hearing Seinfeld’s, Micheal Richards (a.k.a. Kramer) hurl the word excessively at two African American audience members at an L.A. comedy club, that made Paul Mooney decide to never use the word in his comedy routines - ever. 

 

“When I saw the way Michael Richards used it, I saw things in a different light”, the comedian told D.C. Urban LifeStyle Magazine.

 

The comedian, throughout most of his one-man routine, adhered to that principal and didn’t utter the word once. 

 

Almost.

 

And then it happened.  The utterance of the ‘N’ word. 

 

It was while sharing his thoughts about O.J. Simpson’s (non-published) book, ‘If I Did It', where Simpson ‘allegedly’ explains how he ‘allegedly’ killed his wife and her friend, that caused Paul to lose his conviction.  

 

As he quickly caught himself, and the crowd pointed out that he made the faux-pas, Paul seemingly tried to play it off.

 

He would later tell DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine “I’m human. I made a blunder.”

 

When DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine asked if he still thinks comedians should refrain from using the 'N' word, Mr. Mooney says, “Everyone should stop using it”.  “You too, and I’m not talking about the band.” (Referencing the rock band, U2 ).

 

Paul reminded the crowd that as African Americans our history is one of greatness that stems far back to Mother Africa. 

 

“Black people should consider ourselves as tycoons, and not coons", he said.

 

Paul Mooney: Analyzing White America, promoted by John Xereas, of Riot Act Entertainment . 

 

DVD on sale now.