A celebration of "The Brooklyn Barber" from Chappelle's Show, and a look back at his controversial loss.

A thread.

On March 10, 2004, Chappelle's Show ran a two-part sketch / game show called "I Know Black People." It featured 8 contestants, including a barber from Brooklyn who stole the show, yet somehow, did not win.

This has bothered me for 14 years.

The episode showed nine of the Brooklyn Barber's answers, which were all correct per Dave and nearly all creative, hilarious and linguistically artistic. Here is his intro:

The following are my favorite answers from The Brooklyn Barber, whose name is Dionicio Chambers. He's not on Twitter or Instagram as far as I can tell, but here is his Myspace: https://myspace.com/dabarberfrombrooklyn

The Brooklyn Barber on Chappelle's Show, a celebration

Highlight #1: "What is a 'Badonkadonk'?"

Look how much fun Dave has repeating his answer. How did he not win??

The Brooklyn Barber on Chappelle's Show, a celebration

Highlight #2: "What is a loosey?"

The Barber's response is both inappropriate AND the funniest of the group — Dave knows this, hence his reaction.

The Brooklyn Barber on Chappelle's Show, a celebration

Highlight #3: "Why did black people distrust Ronald Reagan?"

I like how confident the Brooklyn Barber is in his answer. This is clearly not speculation on his part.

The Brooklyn Barber on Chappelle's Show, a celebration

Highlight #4: Two questions about Mr. Bookman on "Good Times"

Look at how even when The Barber gives the same answers as the others, his are just naturally more entertaining.

(Also, check out Dave's annoyance at the end.)

The Brooklyn Barber on Chappelle's Show, a celebration

Highlight #5: "What is a 'chickenhead'?"

Again, look at Dave's reaction. He had a few of these small, gleeful validation recaps with The Barber's answers.

The Brooklyn Barber on Chappelle's Show, a celebration

Highlight #6: "Is pimping easy?"

Ah yes, the coup de grâce. This should have sealed the W. Everyone answered "no" in some form. And then came The Barber with this iconic gem:

In the end, somehow, Rob the DJ was declared the winner. I was incredulous! It is not hyperbole to say that this announcement is as stunned as I've ever been watching TV, right there with Crash winning best picture, 45 winning the election and the Falcons blowing SB 51.

Three final notes on "I Know Black People."

First, Dionicio Chambers aka The Brooklyn Barber is now an actor, and Chappelle's Show was his first credit. Here is his reel:

https://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi4147295769

Second, DJ Rob is still a DJ and in 2012 had offered some great perspective on Chappelle prior to his comeback. This is great:

https://theurbandaily.cassiuslife.com/1756715/pop-culture-moment-1-chappelles-show-premieres/

Third, some people have pointed out the similarities between Chappelle's Show's "I Know Black People" and SNL's "Black Jeopardy." It's no coincidence. The co-creator of the latter is @BTuckertime, a writer on Chappelle's Show and this guy:

You'll note that the debut sketch of "Black Jeopardy" featured Louis C.K. as "Mark, a professor of African-American studies at Brigham Young University."

Here is IKBP's Mark D. Naison of Fordham University, and author of the 2002 memoir "White Boy."

Look familiar?

That's a wrap on our look back at The Brooklyn Barber on "I Know Black People" from Chappelle's Show.

Watch the full sketch here:




And maybe @BTuckertime and/or @nealbrennan can shed some light on this historic upset.

Chappelle’s Show was a movement and full moment in time.

https://twitter.com/fakeshoredrive/status/1264585906868060160?s=21 https://twitter.com/fakeshoredrive/status/1264585906868060160

8:46.

Definitive. Excellent work here by @murphdogg29, even in spots where I disagree. Fun look back! https://level.medium.com/every-single-chappelles-show-sketch-except-one-ranked-b7dca60a6369

The world feels grim. So if you need a pick-me-up, do what I do: watch Mos Def /
Yasiin Bey perform "Close Edge" on the 2nd episode of "Chappelle's Show," Jan. 29, 2003.