David Sedaris - Six to Eight Black Men

Sinterklaas

[@anghusmorgenholz1060]

When my wife died a number of years ago. I was just lost and blank. I grabbed some stuff from our house and Me talk pretty one day was on the table by the door with a couple of other books. After two days of nothing I went out for a smoke and true to my habit I took a book to read. His, I stood outside and smoked half a pack and read the entire book. I read fast. It was like the sun rose for the first time. I laughed, and smoked and laughed. The next time I went out to smoke, repeat. I have such love in my soul for this funny, funny man. Thank you.

[@rosequartz4102]

My husband took his life a year and a half ago. You described the good parts of my day to a tee! I set up a chair and table in the fire escape of our apartment and smoke and read and have tea. And even though I've read David Sedaris for 20 years, I never tire of rereading them over and over (or listening to him read his own work; I was left with a toddler so I can't always stop and go sit in my chair). He's among the top reasons I can wake up and go on day after interminable day.

[@anghusmorgenholz1060]

@@rosequartz4102 Damn. That is how my days were. My son was 6. I had to go on. You are doing this. One day you will wake up and it won't be the first thought in your head. You will go to sleep on night and not notice the empty space next to you. When you get to the day when you feel like you are betraying him by being happy, don't fall for that. You aren't. I don't buy the time heals all wounds crap. With time you learn to live with the loss, to have an armistice with your pain. Even sadness gets tired. My son was such a big help with my day to day grief. You have to help them with their pain and in doing that you learn to heal yourself. There is a German saying. Das tut mir leid. It means that brings me pain. And I can feel yours. But this is good for me. You have done this for a year. The hardest is past. You will beat it. Stay the same strong mother there is a person who is depending on you. I wish you the best.

[@lauracohen4914]

I'm so glad you found some joy in reading Sedaris work, I feel the same way about him.

[@rosequartz4102]

@@anghusmorgenholz1060 thank you so much for your kind response. I can't tell you how much it warmed my heart when I read it, I actually screencapped it for where when I'm feeling low ❤️

[@paulah.9415]

Sedaris first hooked me with his humor. The more I got to know him, I realized there was more depth. He is a kind, loving and generous human being. I dearly love him. I've read all his books, and reread them every few years. In actuality they are audiobooks, preferring to hear him with his own voice. What a gift he is to humankind. I wish him all the best in the world. Most noted is his humility. You just don't run across people like that. I see no motivation based on ego. He is so authentic, and wants to make people happy. A treasure. I wish him all the happiness in the world, because he certainly has gifted the world with that, and deserves it back in spades.

[@Kur10usity]

"We don't know for sure" - - 😂 This man is a legend, and i am privileged to have once had an opportunity to compliment him on his tie. 😊

[@realpirate]

Cheers from the Netherlands - thank you for the laughter !

[@shetierrr]

My family listens to this every single Christmas Eve

[@ThatOpalGuy]

it is worth listening to, along with his story about being an elf, for santa, at macy's.

[@dtucker4463]

He is the bomb... first time I read one of his books I nearly died screaming ...

[@catenystrom6506]

Sedaris is a fucking genius, I have NEVER laughed so hard reading a book as I did Me Talk Pretty One Day, I've given it away as gifts because everyone should have laughter in their lives!! Thanks for posting this.

[@victorialee3953]

I'm not allowed to read my David Sedaris books in bed at night because I laugh so hard that the bed shakes, keeping my husband from going to sleep.

[@sonnyroy497]

😂😂😂ikr

[@veecee3669]

@Victoria Lee. I like to read while I'm out having lunch alone, but I don't dare read David Sedaris, because I laugh like a loon, and someone might call the men in the white coats to take me away! 😁

[@rosequartz4102]

This was my FIRST David Sedaris story I ever read. This made my day and brought back years of memories! Thank you for posting!

[@julianwilkins1669]

We love you David. Blessings to all

[@ammaleslie509]

THANK YOU for posting this. You brought hearty laughter to a day that desperately needed it. May you and David Sedaris be blessed as you have been a blessing!!!

[@jacejohnson2]

Marvelous, it doesn't matter how many times I hear it. Thank you!

[@jasonsmith7416]

I have almost all of David’s books on audible and used to listen to them at night until it was outlawed by my husband who said - the bed isn’t big enough for the three of us..

[@merrywalsh2809]

I have all David’s books, and reread them from time to time…mostly when the power goes out. 😜

[@SoItGoesCAL34]

That was a great story to listen to today on Christmas Eve, /thanks for sharig

[@kurtcurtis2730]

Oh Mr Sedalis! What a perfect find after a bummer day. Thanks for posting

[@judeirwin2222]

SEDARIS.

[@mikeycav]

We have a tradition to listen to this every year after Christmas when visiting family. Thank you for posting!!

[@joachimnijs1967]

Same, but on the 6th of December. As you're supposed to do 😂

[@nbenefiel]

We listen on Christmas Eve.

[@suzannefarrington4143]

I almost passed this by. Having read all his books and having seen him in person, mercifully I thought better of that. His observations, editing, and deadpan delivery are just what I needed. 😂🤣

[@13terapyn]

OMG I've been looking for this version for several years. Have NOT been able to find it. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

[@lauratas9609]

Absolute genius and a truly lovely person.

[@cent178]

Got to meet him and get books signed. Was wonderful experience 👍🏾☮️

[@MrWeezer55]

What a great Christmas story! Daid is a gem. I worked with one of his sisters for a year; that whole family is nuts.

[@TommyChardonneret]

@cory How lucky you have been to work a member of the Sedaris clan! Then again, you must have had quite a bit to bring to the table in your own right because they don't seem like they suffer fools at all! Also, I voted your comment a "thumb up" because I assumed that you used "nuts" in its best possible meaning, as in crazy inspired and inspirational in the most multiply talented of ways, right? I thought so!

[@MrWeezer55]

@@TommyChardonneret Absolutely right in the meaning of nuts... I really was good friends with her and sorry I haven't kept up

[@BluetheRaccoon]

The Dutch: "Accompanied by elves? That's grotesque, that's silly!" Also The Dutch: "Father Christmas has 6-8 black men to accompany him." It's easy to forget just how firm a hand Dutch folks had in perpetuating slavery.

[@Bunnyfrogawesomenes]

You are a blessing!!!! My family has a tradition of listening to this recording every christmas eve and we have been using a set of 3 part videos for the last 2 years. Thank you for making this full clip!!!!!!!!

[@owlowl1884]

And his sister Amy Sedaris is also amazing.

[@bobmarkotay7565]

I'm called bob. I've been separated for over 2 and a half years. Living on my own. I wish all of you happy holidays.

[@briano672]

We love you Bob!

[@immortaljellyfish0000]

If you don't get a good laugh from David Sedaris you're probably that hunter still looking for his way out of the woods....:)

[@amelias.2509]

Thanks. He is one of the funniest people on earth.

[@veecee3669]

No one does it like David Sedaris. So sardonically hilarious.

[@carahowell4260]

One of my favorite stories.

[@Dutch2go]

Heard this many times but keeps being super funny. 😂😂😂

[@dennisnolan5095]

My favorite Christmas story!

[@annabellelenderink3917]

Sure made this Dutch girl laugh!

[@DianeAlbanese]

Just the Best! If you’re good and live in America!

[@TheTishy44]

OMG the Christmas bit, was EXACTLY my childhood.

[@pakde8002]

Just realized I have missed David so much. Can't remember why we fell out of touch. It's been ages. Time flies.

[@JaniceinUtah]

Thanks for posting I am sharing it to my husband who was born in the Netherlands. Very funny.

[@samanthab1923]

Thank you. Caught me off guard. Was folding laundry & starting laughing so hard I cried 🤣

[@judysocal8682]

If you ever get the chance, see him do a reading. It will be a great evening. To me the only way to experience his writing is to hear him reading it.

[@owlowl1884]

I prefer audio books with him. I like his voice and delivery.

[@nbenefiel]

My daughter read this to us years ago. We were rolling on the floor.

[@dillardparker7546]

That was the funniest thing I have heard in awhile--I have to save this.

[@maryrowe506]

I’d heard this years ago, but listened again twice. 😅😂😅

[@pysq8]

Enjoyed his books so much!

[@user-sf8db5jn6u]

After seeing DS deliver this live a million (okay, 20+) years ago in Philadelphia I’ve sought this out under “six to ten black men”. Numbers were never my strong point. This is a delight. And now as a resident of Europe, it’s all the more poignant. Thank you.

[@rosequartz4102]

Jealous! I keep watching for him to come to Philly🙂

[@madarab37]

First heard this on Christmas. The youtube algorithm is strong this year.

[@raenahonan2003]

Sharing with EVERYONE...a true gift!

[@Annagramma-u7x]

Such a great and funny telling of a rather macabre tale Went to see him in Sussex some years ago. Very funny man

[@ThatOpalGuy]

David is hilarious. His sister is also great.

[@amppma7302]

thanks for posting this. david sedaris is always reliably hilarious.

[@johncordes7885]

THIS!!! Totally explains, Grand Rapids area Holland Michigan!!! O' the faces I've seen

[@nbenefiel]

I live near both.

[@Sherrell_S]

Ive never heard this before. I really enjoyed this. The humor is genius. Ive just open a new door of discovery. 🙂

[@FesterWerks]

Great Christmas Eve story!

[@PleaseDontEatAnimals]

Love it! This is just what I needed today. 😂

[@AC-ih7jc]

Just when you thought he couldn't top the Santa Land Diaries...

[@1Kent]

After staring at that picture for 15 minutes I want a cigarette.

[@AbbySmithVSVEVG]

Thank you! ❤ made my Christmas 🎄 eve.

[@ashleysword7908]

Thanks so much for uploading! This is my favorite reading of this

[@elizabethharper1774]

Agreed! And once you know his voice you can read all his books through that voice and make the reading so much better.

[@wayne00k]

@@elizabethharper1774 i do that with several authors... and it takes me twice as long to finish. It's a blessing and a blessed curse :)

[@elizabethharper1774]

@@wayne00k I know! They set the pace.

[@ssenssel]

@@elizabethharper1774 The same goes for Bill Bryson

[@julianwaugh8221]

I love this little elf!

[@markdaniels7174]

“Listen… you might want to pack a few of your things together before going to bed. The former Bishop of Turkey will be coming tonight, along with six-to-eight black men. They might put some candy in your shoes, they might stuff you into a sack and take you to Spain, or they might just pretend to kick you. We don’t know for sure, but we want you to be prepared.” 😂

[@LolaMarigold]

I cried with laughter at this. Thanks

[@markbraunstein58]

Mariah may be queen of Christmas but David is king

[@MrDruism]

He left out the best part! Since there are relatively few black people in the Netherlands, during their Christmas parades and celebrations the 6-8 black guys are played by white people (adults and children) by smearing black shit all over their faces! I think the practice is called ‘blackface’ ? It must be seen to be believed! I think it’s pretty ironic how progressive the Dutch are in just about every way EXCEPT this time honored tradition that refuses to die, and how the majority still see this as not a big deal when confronted by outside countries. Also they call him Sinterklaus and his outfit is green, not red. The black guy is named Pete I think.

[@fridajaspers6066]

I'm Dutch and grew up with this tradition in the 1970s. Been living in the UK for about 30 years now, so when I came across this story it brought back a lot of childhood memories. It's absolutely true that these 'helpers' were white folk in blackface. I never questioned it: as a child I had no idea how offensive this was to people of colour. And, although a minority, there were thousands of people of colour from places such as Surinam and the Dutch Antilles who settled in NL during the 1970s and 80s. History of the Dutch slave trade was not widely taught in schools, I knew very little about Dutch settlers in South-Africa or about colonial atrocities committed in Indonesia. All of this I learnt a lot later. And any acknowledgment of this past in any real terms has come about in the last 15 years or so. In fact, the Dutch PM apologised as recently as last month. Pretty sure this facing of some gruesome facts applies to other European countries as well (Portugal, France, Spain, Belgium). Here in the UK, what's always been highlighted is that proud legislative moment when slavery was abolished, but what is not widely known is that that happened through compensating slave owners, not the enslaved, for the loss of 'property'. Emancipation didn't happen until years later. I live in Bristol, a city effectively built on trade and the slave trade, where protestors in solidarity with the BLM movement pulled down a statue of one Edward Colston in June 2020 (it was put up in 1895) and chucked it into the harbour. This man's wealth and subsequent endowments to the city stemmed from his trade in slaves in the 17th and early 18th centuries. This wasn't mentioned on his pedestal though, just that he was 'one of the most virtuous and wise sons of [the] city'. And the US of course has its own past to come to terms with. This is why Sedaris mentioning the notion of 'six to eight black men' coming to an American's house is so telling. Some tidbits: St Nicolaas was an actual bishop in Myra, Turkey, and so he wears the traditional red garb of a Catholic bishop. He's the patron saint of children. The giving of gifts happens on 5 December, St Nicholas' Eve (name day is December 6). The Dutch call him Sinterklaas, his helpers are called 'Zwarte Piet' (black Pete) and, as far as I know, it all has very little, if anything, to do with the celebration of the birth of Christ on Dec 25. How Sinterklaas morphed into Santa Claus from the North Pole with a sleigh and reindeer is murky to me at best, but then, so is how a bishop from Turkey ended up in Spain, to get on a boat every year with his horse and helpers ...

[@cent178]

It’s that time of year to read Holidays On Ice!!

[@cmauro6827]

Italian roosters say Key Kah Rahh Keeeee...

[@feefiefofanna]

I have yet to actually read one of his books!???? I read some short stories but that's it. Love him. I'm going to go crazy retro and check out a library book. I don't have space for books and I'm not allowed to have tech gadgets like my Kindle at work. (Where's the library in Sacramento?)

[@T.E.P..]

love this sooo much

[@davidshargel4865]

Heard him hear in Port Angeles and laughed silly. Thanks for posting this!

[@Brian-nt1hh]

A very merry fantastical story for happier holidays. We humans can really spin a yarn

[@rdean150]

I was impressed how skillfully he thread the needle for broad American appeal here. Then I saw in the comments that this story was from a book he wrote years ago and it both made more sense and made me miss how easy it was for us to laugh together in the before times. "Other cultures are weird because they are not like ours." They sure are, David. They sure are.

[@julietwilliams7326]

A lot of formerly Dutch people live in Michigan.

[@Mimi-tu2ih]

Love this guy. Wish he were my brother.

[@user-gl2ps6ui8p]

Thank you!

[@natalieinger2309]

Just the best 👌

[@cremebrulee4759]

Genius!!

[@gideonteemsma1991]

this is comedy gold i love this so much

[@MammaKush88]

This is fantastic 🤣

[@Arcterion]

For those interested in Sinterklaas (and, in turn, Santa) should look up "Saint Nicholas of Myra", who is the guy both are based on.

[@carolchristof1336]

BRAVO!

[@janicedowson7793]

Classic!

[@kirpdeb]

Santa might leave you candy or shove you in a sack.

[@admuckel]

His style of humor reminds me very much of my best friend Flash. His books are very similar in style and type of humor to the book Welcome To The Crumple Zone by Flash qFiasco.

[@Mephistopholies]

WOW DUDE!

[@rajalwa]

great

[@silkroadcaravan]

What, no Krampus?!

[@Volkers1966]

Does anybody know WHERE this was recorded?

[@slayerinthedark]

It's from the album Live at Carnegie Hall.

[@louisea.7736]

❤️❤️❤️

[@elizabethhurtado2829]

❤🎄🎁

[@michelleguymon7130]

Sidaris my daughter was married to an sidaris

[@Tmanaz480]

Lol... Glock 7.

[@cherylrobbins715]

LOL

[@chrisbudesa]

Tommy-guns are illegal.

[@lindamon5101]

Jesus Christ! SANTA DOESNT SPEAK SPANISH? BAHAHAHA

[@JeffaHensley]

I wish I could understand the appeal,…. I just can’t.

[@starmessenger]

That is really sad.

[@superperson978]

On the edge of RASCIST

[@starmessenger]

People always gotta be looking for a slur.. and if there isn't any.. just make one up!

[@markbraunstein58]

Mariah may be queen of Christmas but David is king

[@bobmarkotay7565]

I agree

[@bobmarkotay7565]

Have a good holiday