The Collegian

Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: News

Aaron McGruder, creator of the hugely popular comic strip and television show, "The Boondocks," paid a visit to University of the Pacific last Thursday in honor of Black History Month.

The 31 year old cartoonist, who has inspired countless discussions centering on politics and race relations, took the stage ready to speak to the public. Instead of using the "podium method", where he would stand before the audience and give a prepared lecture, at the last minute he decided to use a more informal setting. There were two chairs on stage and he sat and faced a moderator, a professor from Pacific. Using the same method as the Bravo Network's "Inside the Actor's Studio," McGruder opened up about his life growing up in Maryland, the inspiration for Huey, and how young adults in America are being misled and misinformed.

Expectedly, one of the first questions for McGruder was about the comic strip itself. Where did it come from, and who inspired him to create the characters. He laughs, noting that people rarely ask about his life anymore, just about the cast he has created to speak for him. He notes "The Boondocks" is a "satire… a definite reflection on racial diversity… and American politics" and that in order to understand Huey, the main character, (who is, in his words, "an ideal… the voice of reason in the strip and on the show… an angry but very intelligent, politically thinking individual") you must understand satire in the simplest sense.

Growing up in Columbia, Maryland, a small suburban community situated between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, he lived a normal middle class life in what he calls a "civil rights utopia". He was encouraged from an early age to draw and write and express himself as he saw fit. It's obvious that McGruder is extremely intelligent and he planned on going into the Air force as a fighter pilot, but a political awakening and poor eye-sight prevented him from doing so.

After attending University of Maryland and declaring a major in Afro-American Studies, he debuted "The Boondocks" cartoon on Dec. 3, 1996. It was well received by many and hated by some because of the controversial racial and socio-political themes, but it quickly began to gain popularity. He takes the moment however, to say that "…controversy is an interesting thing and difficult to predict. I didn't set out to create something that would create controversy. I needed a job, so I set out to create something that I wanted to write…I was into political humor, but there was none aimed at our community…" Not wanting to become a proverbial "talking head" spouting political propaganda, he let his comic strip do the talking. Thus, the "controversy stems from people expecting the comic page as a whole to be conservative and clean…" (McGruder then takes a dig at a well known Democratic Party candidate) as he take moves on into advice he has for college students today.

Continued...

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