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The immortal John Witherspoon will be forever missed. His comedic genius was paralleled only by the life lessons he imparted to a new generation of men and women both in his TV roles and his voice acting. Robert Jebediah Freemen, affectionately known as Grandad from The Boondocks animated series — brilliantly voiced by the very same John Witherspoon — was the animated embodiment and an inexhaustible fountain of these great life lessons and moments.
Robert’s old-school approach to life, combined with the attempts to navigate the modern world and societal norms while also raising two very spirited grandsons, Huey and Riley, provided the audiences with a treasure trove of life lessons that transcend the boundaries of the fictional suburb in which they lived. So, we’re here to explore five life lessons from Grandad from The Boondocks that taught us about life, love, and Woodcrest.
Appreciating Differences
Grandad really values his friends — as most of them are… well, dead. However, his interactions with the living, like Uncle Ruckus and Tom and Sara DuBois, highlight another important lesson: the value of appreciating differences in those we deem friends. Grandad’s relationship with Uncle Ruckus is perhaps among the most complex in the show because the latter always provides viewpoints that starkly contrast Grandad’s beliefs. Yet again, Grandad tolerates Ruckus and engages with him in a begrudging friendship.
Something similar could be said about his relationship with the DuBois family. Tom and Sara are an interracial couple, which contrasts Grandad’s more traditional views; he never wanted to be friends with them, but his tolerance of them speaks volumes about how Grandad sees friendship — it’s not about agreement on all aspects of life, it’s about understanding and respecting different perspectives.
Remember Where You Come From
Throughout much of the series, Grandad often reminisced about the old days. This portrayed him as a grumpy old man and sometimes relic of the past who more often than not was just trying to find his footing in the present, which provides great entertainment value because he would often fail hilariously in his attempts to adapt to the new ways of a social media fueled era.
However, as often as he might’ve struggled with contemporary societal trends — like modern dating, entrepreneurship, and trying to be “cool” with the new kids — he never allowed anything to shake his core values. From his insistence on discipline to his respect for tradition, Grandad showed the audiences that it’s possible to adapt to change, or at least try to, without losing sight of where you come from.
It’s Never Too Late
Grandad’s love life in the series was a rollercoaster, and his romantic escapades ranged from pursuing a young gold digger to his entanglement with a kung-fu master of the White Lotus style — the deadliest styler there is, according to the Boondocks’ own master martial artist, Huey. So, it’s safe to say that Grandad’s relationships were nothing if not complicated. Through his amorous misadventures, Grandad exposed the multifaceted nature of love and relationships, showing us that love isn’t all that simple.
This actually teaches us a few valuable lessons. It’s never too late to seek love, but one must approach it with a mix of soft heart and discernment because love, as integral as it can be to the human experience, can also be quite messy and challenging. Grandad’s relationships throughout the series taught us about the pitfalls of infatuation, the importance of self-respect, seeing beyond the surface, and having the courage to walk away from toxic situations, especially if you’re dating a White Lotus kung-fu master who has been raised by wolves.
Value Community
To be entirely honest, Grandad often seems very self-centered throughout the whole show, but the truth is that his interactions with other residents of Woodcrest, hilarious as they might be, illustrate the importance of community. His actions in the show, from his attempts to start a business to standing up to local bullies and dealing with neighborly disputes, showed us that being a part of a community means actively contributing to said community, not just living in it.
Humor Is a Survival Tool
Using humor to cope with the seriousness and difficulties in life is perhaps the most important lesson we can learn from Grandad. Amidst all the chaos and the challenges associated with trying to raise his two grandsons, struggling with contemporary trends, finding love, and trying to be an active member of the Woodcrest community, Grandad often employed humor to navigate through life’s complications. Grandad’s witty one-liners and deadpan deliveries are the embodiment of humor that reminds us that laughter can be the best of medicines when it seems like the times are tough.
Final Thoughts
In the end, Grandad’s character was a treasure trove of real-life lessons; he was far from the perfect character, but he was very real. Despite being a fictionalized amalgamation of forgotten civil rights figures and disgruntled AARP members, the lessons he taught us about life remain universal, as they remind us of the values that make us who we are and the humor that keeps us going.
The immortal John Witherspoon will be forever missed. His comedic genius was paralleled only by the life lessons he imparted to a new generation of men and women both in his TV roles and his voice acting. Robert Jebediah Freemen, affectionately known as Grandad from The Boondocks animated series — brilliantly voiced by the very same John Witherspoon — was the animated embodiment and an inexhaustible fountain of these great life lessons and moments.
Robert’s old-school approach to life, combined with the attempts to navigate the modern world and societal norms while also raising two very spirited grandsons, Huey and Riley, provided the audiences with a treasure trove of life lessons that transcend the boundaries of the fictional suburb in which they lived. So, we’re here to explore five life lessons from Grandad from The Boondocks that taught us about life, love, and Woodcrest.
Appreciating Differences
Grandad really values his friends — as most of them are… well, dead. However, his interactions with the living, like Uncle Ruckus and Tom and Sara DuBois, highlight another important lesson: the value of appreciating differences in those we deem friends. Grandad’s relationship with Uncle Ruckus is perhaps among the most complex in the show because the latter always provides viewpoints that starkly contrast Grandad’s beliefs. Yet again, Grandad tolerates Ruckus and engages with him in a begrudging friendship.
Something similar could be said about his relationship with the DuBois family. Tom and Sara are an interracial couple, which contrasts Grandad’s more traditional views; he never wanted to be friends with them, but his tolerance of them speaks volumes about how Grandad sees friendship — it’s not about agreement on all aspects of life, it’s about understanding and respecting different perspectives.
Remember Where You Come From
Throughout much of the series, Grandad often reminisced about the old days. This portrayed him as a grumpy old man and sometimes relic of the past who more often than not was just trying to find his footing in the present, which provides great entertainment value because he would often fail hilariously in his attempts to adapt to the new ways of a social media fueled era.
However, as often as he might’ve struggled with contemporary societal trends — like modern dating, entrepreneurship, and trying to be “cool” with the new kids — he never allowed anything to shake his core values. From his insistence on discipline to his respect for tradition, Grandad showed the audiences that it’s possible to adapt to change, or at least try to, without losing sight of where you come from.
It’s Never Too Late
Grandad’s love life in the series was a rollercoaster, and his romantic escapades ranged from pursuing a young gold digger to his entanglement with a kung-fu master of the White Lotus style — the deadliest styler there is, according to the Boondocks’ own master martial artist, Huey. So, it’s safe to say that Grandad’s relationships were nothing if not complicated. Through his amorous misadventures, Grandad exposed the multifaceted nature of love and relationships, showing us that love isn’t all that simple.
This actually teaches us a few valuable lessons. It’s never too late to seek love, but one must approach it with a mix of soft heart and discernment because love, as integral as it can be to the human experience, can also be quite messy and challenging. Grandad’s relationships throughout the series taught us about the pitfalls of infatuation, the importance of self-respect, seeing beyond the surface, and having the courage to walk away from toxic situations, especially if you’re dating a White Lotus kung-fu master who has been raised by wolves.
Value Community
To be entirely honest, Grandad often seems very self-centered throughout the whole show, but the truth is that his interactions with other residents of Woodcrest, hilarious as they might be, illustrate the importance of community. His actions in the show, from his attempts to start a business to standing up to local bullies and dealing with neighborly disputes, showed us that being a part of a community means actively contributing to said community, not just living in it.
Humor Is a Survival Tool
Using humor to cope with the seriousness and difficulties in life is perhaps the most important lesson we can learn from Grandad. Amidst all the chaos and the challenges associated with trying to raise his two grandsons, struggling with contemporary trends, finding love, and trying to be an active member of the Woodcrest community, Grandad often employed humor to navigate through life’s complications. Grandad’s witty one-liners and deadpan deliveries are the embodiment of humor that reminds us that laughter can be the best of medicines when it seems like the times are tough.
Final Thoughts
In the end, Grandad’s character was a treasure trove of real-life lessons; he was far from the perfect character, but he was very real. Despite being a fictionalized amalgamation of forgotten civil rights figures and disgruntled AARP members, the lessons he taught us about life remain universal, as they remind us of the values that make us who we are and the humor that keeps us going.
Even ghosts need a day job. That’s where we find the pair of British boy spirits at the heart of Netflix’s new series, Dead Boy Detectives. Comic book characters created by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner in the pages of The Sandman, the duo eventually appeared in several DC and Vertigo titles before headlining their own 12-issue series plus a number of other short spurts. As part of Geeked Week, the streaming giant has released the first trailer for Dead Boy Detectives, which finds ghost gumshoes Charles and Edwin up against loads of supernatural problems, and death itself.
Steve Yockey, creator of Max’s The Flight Attendant, developed Dead Boy Detectives for Max originally. Given that streaming service’s rampant offloading, we’re lucky Netflix decided to pick it up. This also means this series can officially exist within Netflix’s Sandman universe. Good news for you, Gaimanites out there. The two dead boys had previously appeared on Doom Patrol, but those were different versions of the characters and won’t related to this show.
The official synopsis for the Dead Boy Detectives series is as follows:
Do you have a pesky ghost haunting you? Has a demon stolen your core memories? You may want to ring the Dead Boy Detectives. Meet Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), “the brains” and “the brawn” behind the Dead Boy Detectives agency. Teenagers born decades apart who find each other only in death, Edwin and Charles are best friends and ghosts… who solve mysteries. They will do anything to stick together – including escaping evil witches, Hell and Death herself. With the help of a clairvoyant named Crystal (Kassius Nelson) and her friend Niko (Yuyu Kitamura), they are able to crack some of the mortal realm’s most mystifying paranormal cases.
No release date as yet for the Dead Boy Detectives, but the trailer looks fun, and we’re hoping that translates to the full series.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.
The post Netflix Unveils First DEAD BOY DETECTIVES Teaser appeared first on Nerdist.
As the holiday season approaches, we take this time to partake in the capitalist tradition of showing our affection and care for others in our lives by the purchasing of digital and physical goods. There is something nice about getting something for that special someone who reads, collects, and enjoys manga. Here’s a quick opportunity to share some of the gift suggestions I think the manga head in your life might appreciate this holiday season. It’s not a comprehensive list by any means but consider it a jumping off point for you and anyone else who needs some recommendations as we head into December!
A Gift for Them that’s Really a Gift for Everyone (Because Sharing is Caring)
I’m talking about manga box sets. While box sets *can* be pricey, they are a terrific gift for the manga reader in your life who wants a complete series to pour over and immerse themselves in. A box set for manga readers is ideal for someone who just started a series and knows that they want to read more, a lot more of it. It is also an ideal gift for someone who always wanted to read so-and-so and now–they can when they open up your gift! The fun thing about these is that you can read them and share them around–if that’s your thing. Sure, it’s a gift for them that they also can share with you!
Additionally, manga box sets usually come with extra goodies like double-sided posters and other exclusives that aren’t usually found just anywhere. It used to be that manga box sets were a little hard to find but now, you can find them in multiple places like big chain stores like Walmart to Bookshop, BooksAMillion and more! One tip with Black Friday and other sales coming up is that you shop around and price check if there is a certain box set that you’re thinking of buying and gifting!
For the Folks who have (Almost) Everything
We all have *that* person in our lives who loves manga and has nearly everything–so what to give them? Can I suggest an official guidebook to a series that they may adore, artbook, or better yet, a spin-off manga that focuses on food? From the more popular Spy x Family: The Official Guide-Eyes Only for those who love the anime, have all the manga volumes and would devour anything related to the series, this guide book Includes behind-the-scenes details covering the first nine volumes of the hit manga, as well as tribute illustrations from 16 artists, including Hajime Isayama (Attack on Titan), Yuji Kaku (Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku), and Kazue Kato (Blue Exorcist)!
For a more unique gift idea not tied to a hugely popular IP, I’d suggest the Steam Reverie in Amber artbook by Kuroimori. Seven Seas Entertainment published the full-color steampunk artbook & manga collection hardcover–includes all 22 Major Arcana as removable tarot cards! This is such a beautiful release from an award-winning Japanese artist who contributed to Final Fantasy art that some creative in your life who enjoys artbook might adore. Here’s a quick flip through of the gorgeous book if you want a look!
Lastly, what about a cookbook…or manga that can function as one? The wildly popular Witch Hat Atelier manga series is still going strong, and the spinoff manga series focusing on the magic in the kitchen is now available with an English translation. We’re told that this “culinary spinoff that lets readers try their hand at recreating a variety of sumptuous recipes. This time, the magic is in the kitchen as Qifrey and the gang whip up everything from sizzling stews to crackling croquettes”. The manga Includes a variety of real sweet and savory recipes with step-by-step instructions.
For the Anime Watchers in the Chat:
Here’s an overlapping category for this gift guide–manga series for the more recent anime series that finished seasons–are that overlooked and overrated! Like, sure you could pick up One Piece or anything else edging towards that longevity and popularity and that’s fine. Here are some series that may have gone under your radar: Bocchi The Rock! follows a shy, awkward, and lonely high school student who dreams of being in a band. Both the source material–the manga and the anime adaptation have wowed folks with its tackling of social anxiety and a heartfelt exploration of the struggle and joys of one girl’s teenage years. I would label it slice of life for teen readers.
Heavenly Delusion aka Tengoku Daimakyou certainly pushed the envelope on adapting a manga with an incredible story about dreams, adolescents, and reality. So much so that I considered the anime (my review here) a hidden gem of sorts, earlier this year. The manga’s story takes place after some calamity has befallen Japan, and the place is mostly a wasteland with survivors here and there. (I wrote a bit about my first impressions here.) Some children are hidden away sheltered in a sort of paradise, and others eking out a living. I found myself immediately invested in this engaging dark story of survival, growing up, and living a life–manufactured or not. It is without a doubt for older readers 16+ and up!
Kids Just Want to Have Fun
Kids check out manga from the library. Kids read manga. Kids buy manga. Kids love manga. Kids are certainly recommending manga to each other and telling their peers which series are mid and which series are must reads. If we know all this to be true, why wouldn’t you consider buying the kids who are manga lovers in your life, a volume or two–or three? If the question on your brain is: what to buy? I’ve bought Witch Hat Atelier and Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun for a friend’s middle schooler who loves female protagonists and also spooky things.
I’ve also recommended Haikyu!! for a teenager who loved Edward Elric of Fullmetal Alchemist and hilariously requested another short king. I gladly offered up to volleyball loving Shoyo Hinata. I personally follow updates from Ashley Hawkins’s blog, the Manga Librarian and would also recommend Sara Smith’s blog, The Graphic Library. Barnes & Nobles has a kid-friendly guide for manga and graphic novels for the younger ones. I like this list of titles of Manga & Light Novels for Middle School. Other faves of mine that I always recommend are My Neighbor Seki and Yotsuba&! which are series read and loved by kids and adults alike.
For the Digital Only Folks
Consider purchasing access to a manga app like my favorites: Azuki! and buying them a Premium membership! Gift memberships cost $4.99 for one month of Premium and codes never expire. I have covered a number of titles from the app like My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files, SUZUKI JUST WANTS A QUIET LIFE, Tsukiko and the Satellite and Other Stories and Wakakozake. There are a number of manga apps out there but in my research I couldn’t find many gift options or gift subscriptions.
I found that you also can gift folks manga and related items like light novels on the Bookwalker website. The one catch is that I believe that they must have an account to read said manga, gift codes are valid for 180 days from its purchase, and can be only used once. I do like Bookwalker for its web-based reading format as well as its mobile one.
Fancy Disclaimer: I have not received any of these items in consideration of making this gift guide. This is just a short and sweet fun little guide that I wanted to put together! If you find it helpful in your holiday shopping, please let me know in the comments or on social media!
See our gift guides from previous years here.
Love manga? So do we! Check out more manga reviews and related content here!
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The post The Gift Guide for the Manga Lovers in Your Life appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
One of Brazil’s most colorful and vibrant cities, Salvador Bahia, is a culturally rich location known as the Black capital of Latin America. The city has become a well-known hub for Afro-Brazilian culture. With nearly 3 million inhabitants, 80% of whom are of African descent, Salvador Bahia has one of the largest concentrations of Afro-descendants outside of Africa.
Source: Getty Images
Labeled the Black Rome, the city has transformed from its dark past to create a unique blend of cultures unlike any other place.
Brief History of Salvador Bahia
Salvador Bahia was the first capital of Brazil between 1549 and 1763; now, it is the capital of the Bahia region, located in the northeast part of Brazil.
As a major port city, it became the first slave market in the New World in 1558. Enslaved Africans were brutally brought over from all parts of Africa to work primarily on sugarcane plantations. Established by the Portuguese, the slave trade continued until 1888. During slavery, many enslaved Africans lived without any connection to their homeland. Stripped of their culture and identity, they were forced to assimilate into Portuguese customs and speak a new language. Enslaved people had to create a new culture to survive.
But slavery isn’t the complete story for the people of Salvador Bahia. Over the years, people of African descent have been actively writing a new story.
How Drums Strengthen the Ties to Africa
Salvador Bahia is consistently weaving African traditions into its culture. The customs and practices in Salvador Bahia are not a direct replication of African culture. However, the connection to Africa and honoring that ancestry is undeniable.
One of the most notable connections to Africa is the drums. In many African traditions, drums serve a specific purpose. Hand drums are played throughout the year during birth, death, peace, war, planting, and harvesting. It is a way for African people to celebrate, mourn, and communicate. In Salvador Bahia, the drums hold similar significance. At any given moment, you can find people of all ages playing a variety of drum rhythms, many of which are from pre-colonial times.
Source: Getty Images
While drumming is an integral part of the culture, two groups of musicians have utilized drumming to create a social movement. The first group is Oldum, which came into existence in 1979. They became well known because they collaborated with Michael Jackson in his music video for the song “They Don’t Really Care about Us.”
Beyond making music, this group is a vital part of the community. As a non-profit organization, they teach music and dance classes to underprivileged children. They also actively work against racial discrimination by uplifting the voices of Afro-Brazilians.
Alongside this group, another band of drummers is impacting the Afro-Brazilian scene. Banda Didá is a drumming group of Black women who are breaking stereotypes and empowering women across the region.
Banda Didá is known to be the first all-women group, emerging in an era where drumming was exclusively for men. With every drum beat and note played by these women, they are beating against the old beliefs that drumming was too dangerous for women. Many people believed that the physical demands of drumming, which include carrying a large drum and repetitive movement, would weaken women’s ability to give birth. Additionally, playing in the streets late at night at festivals and events was considered unsafe for women.
However, whenever a Banda Didá member straps on their surdos or bass drum to their shoulders or waist, they make a statement. Their fierce and intentional drumbeats dismiss the former gender roles while paying tribute to their African ancestry.
Along with music, Samba and Capoeira are other ways the people of Salvador Bahia celebrate African culture.
Preserving Heritage through Religion
Since enslaved Africans were not allowed to practice their religions when brought to Brazil, they had to create their method of praise. Thus, Candomblé, a religion based on African gods, was formed.
Several festivals and rituals occur yearly to praise Orishas, or orixas in Portuguese, the various spirits of Candomblé. Yoruba, the West African language, is used during rituals, along with drums and spiritual dances.
Ceremonies often occur by the sea or in churches, where women dress in all white and seek to commune with various spirits and deities. These rituals are spiritual endeavors that transcend the conscious and the subconscious mind.
Visiting Salvador Bahia
Over the years, Afro-tourism, tourism focused on African culture, has risen in Salvador Bahia. Visitors can immerse themselves in Brazil’s inviting Afro-Brazilian culture through these tours.
Source: Getty Images
Another way to experience Afro-Brazilian culture is through the yearly festivals. The most well-known event is Carnival, where the streets are flooded with women and men dressed in colorful clothing and the days consist of non-stop dancing and partying.
In addition to the music and dance, another impressive aspect of Salvador Bahia is its Renaissance architecture, carefully preserved in the Pelourinho district, where enslaved people were brought and sold. Pelourinho is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The best time to visit is between December and March, after the rainy season.