How Aaron McGruder Created The Boondocks | Behind The Boondocks

[@TheHighwayman5674]

it's so cool how much passion you have for the boondocks. like this is so cool. i can't imagine making art and some fan making an entire video series on my work. that's crazy

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

Thank you so much - The Boondocks, in more ways than one, set me on the path to making me who I am. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before growing up. Through all my critiques and complicated feelings to it, there's an earnest love for it and how it inspired me when I was 13-14 years old. I'm glad I'm able to share that and it's felt in the videos.

[@The_Real_Black_Jesus]

​@TheStorytellerAJ that's exactly how I felt as a child when I stumbled upon it. I used to cut out and save the comic strips in a binder. 😅

[@justjoshua5759]

@@TheStorytellerAJit started my journey toward learning about the true nature of black issues, progressivism and nationalism also shapes how my life in part is affected or related to it. So I understand the connection and really respect it and your takes that have come from it on this channel

[@SonGojit456]

​@@TheStorytellerAJ I have been watching it Since I was 15 and read the comic strip and I'm still am reading it to due this day

[@rasun9169]

Mr needly who got the hop hip cartoon channel is where the boondocks got Riley and Huey from ​@@TheStorytellerAJ

[@MailMayne]

while growing up in MD, i couldnt wait for sunday's paper just so i could read the og boondocks comic. i read them over and over.

[@aldali724]

I remember my first time reading one coming back from vacation. Was waiting for luggage in BWI and sat down with my dad and the paper was sitting in the next seat. First time I’d ever seen something like that in a newspaper comic strip. Made me feel cool as hell at the time

[@CIavis]

I’m 30 minutes in, and I’d like to thank you for such an elaborate analysis of Aaron’s mental state before the creation of one of the most prominent pieces of semi-modern black media.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

If you wanna hear about Aaron's mental state making Boondocks the next video will interest you lol

[@CIavis]

@@TheStorytellerAJWOAHHH I NEVER EXPECTED YOU TO ACTUALLY RESPOND AND I CANT WAIT

[@ajstudios9210]

I have done so much research on The Boondocks back when I was binging the whole series. The story behind the work is just so fascinating.

[@lejoserex]

You are one of the first black anime historians, low key, doing this. Grew up reading the strips in the newspaper in the carribean, thanks bro! Great work my dude

[@RoseCalyx]

First the pilot, now this?! you are feeding us well. Really appreciate all the time and effort you are putting in for this!

[@sammEsosa]

Where was this video 10 years ago when I was a kid I needed this channel 🥲 keep going crazy man

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

I needed this info when I was a kid, so I feel you lol. Hopefully in telling the story of The Boondocks, it can inspire some kids to make something greater.

[@magnetoonproductions9541]

I’m kinda glad the reboot got scrapped. We don’t need to bring back everything. I would really like to see the original Diamondback strips, though.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

Check the description.

[@TheBlackScholar]

I never related to Jasemine so much than reading this comic. As a biracial person, I felt the exact same way Jasemine felt. Equating being forced to choose race like being forced to choose parents hits so hard for me.

[@kharjoIII]

I know you stated you dislike making long content (or its not your style at least) but i was so interested in what you were saying it felt short, cant wait for the next videos

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

I appreciate that and we'll see if I make another long one depending on how the video does lol. I wanna cover up to the 2000s next time but I recognise it'll be hard

[@CarpettinginMotel.townson]

This gives me time to read up on the Boondocks collection I purchased off Amazon recently

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

Time to chat up.

[@Valorant-is-Trash]

Woah that first strip you showed was dated to the day after I was born. Crazy to think the Boondocks goes that far back.

[@Shewhospeakesinverse]

Its sad that this couldnt be a full blown doc but at im glad you decided to still work on and release it

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

There were a bunch of reasons it couldn't be. Ranging from personal to logistical, but I think making the video essay docuseries is the closest thing I can do. That way, I still get to share the info without the troubles that come with making a documentary project good lol

[@onlyoneshere]

I love the amount of work and dedication you put into all of your videos, but it especially shows during this one. Your love of the boondocks led me to rewatching it a few years back and it’s had a huge impact on the way i create art.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

Glad I got you to rethink it. These days I'm more focused on my own personal projects and The Boondocks stuff is stuff I engage with on the side.

[@nicholasfaulkner7185]

Instantly subscribed, man: Goddamn I love the Boondocks, it’s so damn smart; interesting side note, was interviewing a young black girl for Uni and (I keep them super casual, she had just finished talking about why she loved the game Fallout), and I mused about the interesting, seemingly mutual fascination and respect between Afro-American and Japanese cultures (citing some anime that hold up Afro-American culture & music as epitomizing American culture as a whole such as Cowboy Bebop/Samurai Champloo/Afro-Samurai/Yasuke/Piccolo) as this was something I studied at great length at said university (well, all my electives at least). She responded to something I had thought about for over a decade almost instantly with “like the Boondocks” and I was floored. I was so impressed this young woman had just looked at what I said, in no way misconstrued my intentions or meaning, parsed it completely, and then served up a perfect example of this very idea coming from the American side, in microcosm. I mean hell, Huey and the “Blind Nigga Samurai” is straight up a Zatoichi reference…and the Riley/Huey dichotomy is such a perfect study of the duality of the young black male in America. In 15 years of doing those interviews, never been more impressed by a candidate. She fucking cracked that one out of the park. (Now I come to find it’s even more accurate than I had even known!) Love the video man, too young to have read the comics, so it’s super interesting to see all the history here. The context is staggering. Keep cranking these out man. Also, I love that in one of your videos Aaron is basically epitomizing the running joke in every anime that ever depicts a Mangaka as perpetually behind on their deadline, relates his youth interests as “…Kung-Fu…the usual”, and seeing Caesar as Akira (!), Hiro and his “turntable Bushido” (!)…had no idea Aaron completely pegged the notion so well… Thank you.

[@darneldegand]

Great job. I remember how excited I was when I first came across the Boondocks website in the late 90s when I was in college. I remember everything you just shared about that website and it’s been great seeing it evolve since then. Thanks for making this video.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

I remember when I first found it on the web archive, and how excited I was to read all the bios and see how hands on Aaron was with everything and the things he had to say about the world he created. It's really a must see for any Boondocks head.

[@darneldegand]

I wish I had known to save those pages. @@TheStorytellerAJ

[@melissasmith4254]

You're about to cook with this one, thanks for sharing & putting alot of work into it. Fun fact not really lol, but my uncles went to college with him.

[@ericdraven4626]

Do you have a list of the music you used? Because that truly is the cherry on top the sundae that is this video. Your in depth look at this legendary series takes a lot of dedication and shows how truly die hard a fan you are; like let's be honest most of us knew The Boondocks (both the strip and the show) were satire, but for you to go beyond that, to explain why it works, the inspirations, and the man himself, again takes a lot of dedication. I realize as I am writing this that you are not just a die hard fan, you are a man who cares about his channel and his viewers for you to go through all this hard work and research for US, to say you have my respect is an understatement.

[@rhonnichan]

I been following your channel for awhile and never really commented but as a fellow Boondocks fan myself, from the comic strips to the show, im thankful for all the research and time you put into these videos. I usually just have you playing on my tv while I type up a school paper or cleaning my room, but i wanted to commented to let you know you are appreciated ❤

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

Thank you so much! And, I deffo get it - I'm a big lurker on channels I really like, which I know isn't helpful for the channel's growing, but I can't help myself lol. It's nice to know that the work is appreciated and people like the stuff. I'll keep going strong.

[@Syte425]

I honestly feel like if Aaron really wanted to he could revamp the Boondocks. There’s alot of celebrities who could carry the torch. Of course Regina King would have to be on board as well as the remaining cast members like Ruckus and Tom. New characters could come about and mix with the old ones. I know it’s a long shot but man it would be heaven to have it back on air

[@Trixiethegoldenwitch]

This rules, thanks for this. Seminal comic, impossibly formative in ways only now being totally understood. Reading the comic is my teens was like a huge maturity boost.

[@ArtsyAlbert]

I really liked this video, I still remember reading a Right To Be Hostile in 2020. It really impacted me in 6th grade.

[@fire.smok3]

Man i love deep dives and information rabbitholes like this, especially with topics i love like The Boondocks. And im pleasantly surprised Akira has some connection here, because damn i love Akira

[@fire.smok3]

Btw, the name isis is now associated with the militant group, but its also the name of an ancient egyptian goddess, thats probably what the character was named after

[@LeBeautiful]

Love this. Thank you Aaron and the storyteller.

[@KingJupiter]

Funny I'm seeing this just as I'm reading through the comics for the first time

[@babybee576]

I’m just now starting to learn about the comics. I’ve been listening to videos on people reading them.

[@F_POV]

the tekken music at @5:31 🔥, great video :)

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

You should know me by now

[@F_POV]

@@TheStorytellerAJ just found your stuff a couple weeks ago, been working through it all. love the vids ♥keep it up! see you on ranked 😈🤔

[@MaryamofShomal]

36:35 😆😆😆 Ohhh how I am so grateful I grew up a hip hop head in the 90s, I can appreciate this on so many levels

[@famicomdemon]

man this is such a detailed video i cant wait to see more of this series!

[@leroypreston2973]

I'd love to see Jasmine grow and develop, just to represent mixed race kids who are unsure in their blackness. They're too white for black people, too black for white people and who can be disconnected from their black heritage. They would lack knowledge on Black Celebrities, media and historical figures. Trying to figure out where they stand on issues related to blackness. If they did revive the Boondocks, giving Jasmine this arc would be interesting

[@leroypreston2973]

I do wonder if someone like this is tye inverse to Uncle Ruckus in a way. That they wish they could be more black, they wish they could know other black people. Each having what the other wants. If Jasmine did have a character arc, unlike ruckus to learn how the system screws over black people versus Ruckus who refuses to learn and self reflect.

[@nueshb4797]

Jasmine and Caesar are my favorite characters in the strip. Like, when I read the comics and learned who Michael Caesar was, I was so confused with why he didn't make it to the tv series.

[@Chubbz503]

The term Boondocks usually means “far out/out the way” like you stay out from the city in the “sticks”

[@sub-negrodacryomancer7372]

Wearing a Boondocks hoodie, now. I was just gifted a Boondocks jacket. Aaron McGruder is the reason I draw, now! 🔥 Thank you for this!

[@jerrygraves6531]

Keep it up never stop drawing

[@Nkanyiso_K]

😂 what's your nuggets is a crazy title

[@Nkanyiso_K]

20:47 I know you mentioned this in a video long ago but I would have loved to see more of Caesar

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

@@Nkanyiso_K Caesar will have his own dedicated part.

[@PrimeChigga]

This is really cool man. I hope you do well with this series and I hope you diverge into other things once you’re done. I’ll be waiting 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@snazzydrew]

When I was younger, Huey was my favorite because he reminded me of myself. Now that I'm an adult, Riley is my favorite because he remind me of my brother and just how no matter how different we were, he still rocked with me despite how goofy I was in my 'self-awareness'.

[@MaryamofShomal]

That is the cutest thing I ever heard 🫶🏽

[@isaacdasilva7515]

i started recently to watch the boondocks tv show and now you gave me interess to read the comics too, thanks.

[@LeopoldoRamirez]

I really like the boondocks and really do appreciate your analysis, it's very thorough. subbed and can't wait for the next video on this

[@bbrbbr-on2gd]

Really long day, thank god TheStoryteller has a new video!

[@12380738]

Once i read the comics, my head canon was the show takes place before cesar movies there.

[@sammyngwili]

I been looking 4 sth new 2 get in2 4 a while. Thx. 🌷

[@jayymaadniss]

Cindy McPherson lol, I need a copy of the comics now

[@theeternalgus9119]

This is a great video. Rekindling my interest in The Boondocks.

[@cecilhester]

This was a very thorough video, Storyteller. Keep up the great work. Oh and take care.

[@ilyas8343]

We want another season

[@joshuaingram6732]

Great content as always. But are we gonna talk about the text in that "Beware the Honeys" article? Aaron's never beating the misogynoir allegations. That shit was light inceldom.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

Oh it'll come up looool - but I'm glad someone caught that

[@El_Bukis]

Great video. Excited to see the rest of the series.

[@Noonien96-nx6yj]

Huey's middle name is Robert just like Captain Kirk in the second Star Trek pilot when Gary Mitchel made a gravestone for him labeled "James R Kirk".

[@sw0rdf1sh2326]

I can relate to his observation that about people believing that the only real black people are from the urban street. I grew up in a nearly all-black, middle-class suburb but there was this pull towards authenticity through hip-hop culture. But by the time I was growing up (2000s), hip-hop had largely been stripped of its political character, so...

[@DDarkestKnight]

Crazy how a little white girl with Cammy White's hairstyle is more well known to the Boondocks than the second female character in the franchise.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

To be very fair, she never appears in anything.

[@DDarkestKnight]

@@TheStorytellerAJ Yeah that's fair

[@irenelvr3149]

The best boondocks youtuber❤

[@romanStillmatic]

I love everything you do my guy

[@pamhd7440]

Best KZbinr ever

[@jonathanmcknight2453]

Hiro had a little Cameo in the Christmas episode. He was the Dj when he was on the turn tables.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

That wasn't him. Hiro was a Japanese kid. He's even named after the creator of Akira. That kid was white.

[@AntCension9]

I just finished watching you at a leadership summit back in 2003 with Tavis Smiley and Cornell West. I would love to hear your thoughts concerning these times we are in now. You innerstand me.

[@cadillacdeville5828]

Thanks so much for this ❤

[@Younglink225tpb]

Looking forward to part 2, this was awesome! ❤

[@NitwitsWorld]

Really makes you think about what happened to their parents. 😢

[@garfieldfan452]

great video! i really like the background music does anyone know any of the names for the songs in the background

[@nazzynaz97]

Storyteller, the only anime that usual got referenced by many black men (specifically among the gen x) is Akira. If you ever seen that anime, it has those heavy hyper masculine and revolutionary urban undertones that captures the 80s and 90s just like how Dragonball Z does for black youth in the early 2000s and on. Plus, Hiro's concept may not only be just an ode to Otomo himself but also Nujabes considering that he's a DJ. Such a bare bones breakdown 🌟

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

I was going to go into Akira more into the next episode, but I'll bite. This isn't a barebones breakdown just because I didn't bring up your nujabes interpretation. You didn't know half this shit going in, give it a rest. Hiro Otomo being a reference to Akira's creator is obvious. As was the influence on Aaron's work as a whole. Reducing the discussion to YOUR interpretation of Aaron's work as a means of discrediting my own is really stupid. Finally, this is a series that tackles radical socialism, black nationalism, various black pop culture references from music, to shows, to film. It's a dense franchise, as I'm sure you'll find out. I'm literally going strip by strip. Miss me with the "bare bones breakdown" noise.

[@nazzynaz97]

@@TheStorytellerAJ Ooh damn lmao my bad bro 😂. Just looked up what "bare bones" meant. I really meant that your break downs go to the root of its meaning. But I can see how that word can be conflated to mean "bare minimum" work. Big fan of your work fam. Just shooting out ideas.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

@@nazzynaz97 looool, my bad tbh. I was moving mad hostile cause' I thought you were sending for me. Honestly, that's partially on me too. I'm due to rewatch Akira, so tbh I need to take a look at that anyway before the next episode.

[@nazzynaz97]

@@TheStorytellerAJ All good fam! I prolly would have responded the same way if someone said a piece of such high caliber was bare bones lol. I technically misused the word.

[@emperortrevornorton3119]

From voice cast, art design, and directing even though I am the complete opposite of leftist from the suburbs I always found relatable things or just shit that broke my funny bone this show had the perfect voice cast I mean Ed Asner as a rich ass jerk, Charlie Murphy playing his grandson, Samuel L Jackson as his best friend the list goes on and on

[@norancha2968]

I was waiting for this one

[@cookee3000]

started hyperventilating seeing the notif

[@cookee3000]

i love your videos so much man. like so much

[@Jay-ky8vy]

I think Hiro’s name is a reference to Katsuhiro Otomo, who is the creator of the manga Akira.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

It is - I think I accidentally cut that part out. But, it just pushes this idea that Akira was a heavy influence on Aaron and the style he chose. Man gave Caesar the same bike, and named a different character after the creator.

[@monkeystuff661]

That's the Boondocks man 👍

[@Krakdawg]

Legit. Can't wait for he next. Subbed.

[@wtfsamusidk7574]

His life helped him make the boondocks

[@mjkclem]

One thing I regret about the series is Huey was never mentally challenged. Yea, he had to solve problems, experience loss and growth, but there was never a time where he was flat out wrong and no one could check him. The closest time may be when his old friend punched him back in Chicago, but even still he had to feel sorry for something out of his control. It would’ve really shown his childish side if he was humbled. Especially when some black radicals take it another level. I would’ve liked to see Huey interact with a black Israelite or a hotep. PS I haven’t read the comics yet.

[@Soporiflc]

A moment I recall of Huey being flat-out wrong was the first Stinkmeaner episode "Granddad's Fight". Huey thinks Stinkmeaner is some great super-hearing, blind swordsman. But in reality, he's just a blind dude who got lucky. The whole point of that episode was how nobody was right.

[@fire.smok3]

Perhaps you should read the comics then, Huey is less mature and wise in the comics and he's challenged and ridiculed more often, even by Riley, who's somewhat smarter in the comics than in the show. There's a part in the comics where Huey becomes convinced that Santa Claus is behind the crack epidemic (unironically), and he gets obsessed with the idea and writes a whole paper about it, then basically the whole cast roasts him lol

[@MaryamofShomal]

@@fire.smok3my love started with the comic strip, back when I was a teen in the 90s. Aaron really is a talented SOB and he’s still so young, there’s still plenty of time for him to bless us with his art. Black Jesus is one of my favorite shows of all time.

[@mjkclem]

@@Soporiflc true

[@KORANHORACIO]

Very well done video

[@willaroberts134]

it's so funny how if a black piece of media goes just a little too hard in the paint, you'll see it getting blasted as so so angry . Not like the Boondocks isn't but for that to be the only thing some of those yt folks even noticed is just funny to me. Some things never change I guess

[@ryanturner8367]

Can you please list the songs you used in the video? They are all really good.

[@SGR403]

Yk after learning all of this, it seems weird to me why a lot of the focus on the show was put on Grandad and Riley's exploits, and even having a lot of episodes focused on the other adult cast that were never on the comic strip. Focus on characters like Caesar, or Isis or Hiro would make the show a very different thing. What could've been.

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

A big part of this series is going to be tracking how The Boondocks changed throughout the years. And one of the biggest changes this series had was shifting its focus from the kids to the adults.

[@dazzawesome]

Awesome

[@Brilchan]

Thanks for making this video, it's very interesting (feeding the alghmythy eldritch algorithm )

[@poundlanddodge3175]

*Watches Black Panther once*

[@ianh.f3354]

Does anyone know where the clip from 18:03 comes from? Ts look like the pilot animation but ion remember seeing it there

[@laurabw33]

Commenting for the algorithm

[@richatdastkey3555]

this means a lot to me as a black maryland resident who's experienced some similar experiences. this place is just meh for us. mr. beat just posted a video on the masin/dixon line here between MD and PA and he quotes some people, one of which claimed: "I would never want to raise a child south of the... line" if that says anything

[@Phantom21Productions]

At 29:06 What's the name of the music?

[@SkipsFromThePark]

I'm tryna figure that out too

[@Phantom21Productions]

Can you send me the link of the video?

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

Black Lincolns - The Hustle

[@SkipsFromThePark]

@@TheStorytellerAJ good looks! I was searching on genius and everything lmao

[@RogerThat_]

Yo!!!!!! At 29:02 in the video, who is that song by?

[@shawnz12ss]

Song at 13:01 ?

[@mrfunatparties6763]

There was a movie?

[@Luis-jl6oh]

Why Sony 😢, We lost the possible episode making fun of disney wars.

[@DjRex28]

41:18 -41:22 is a weird blank pause. Was that on purpose?

[@Cory-zn5mq]

I am the storm that the building refuse

[@Dork_000]

???

[@MaryamofShomal]

*I am the stone that the builder refused 🫶🏽

[@CamXantana]

So really mcgruder made the show based off being from the burbs n getting some political jist from hiphop. Also I Hurd in here that he said if u didn’t grow up n the city n poor u weren’t black enough truly. I like how he came about it but from his pov it’s people who grew up in the city not too poor or didn’t have it da ruffest so I just don’t get how his sword edge wasn’t as sharp to that then n how the show woulda been effected if he also had that in his head cuz it seems some of this comes from a place he doesn’t know about the most cuz I had grandparents inna burbs and fam inna hood too so it’s like idk

[@josephwright1966]

Music 21:27 what's the name

[@caramelldansen2204]

❤

[@NicoRaimont]

Song at 29:05 ???

[@TheStorytellerAJ]

Black Lincolns - The Hustle

[@nathanieljones8043]

This is the first really wordy comic strip is the nicest way to say leftist meme ever.

[@tertiaritus]

YESSSSSS

[@doubleflores8350]

Maybe it’s for the best the Boondocks doesn’t come back. Mostly because media literacy is dead.

[@jonathanmcknight2453]

Huey Freeman Riley Freeman Michael Caesar Jasmine D Cindy McPherson Hiro Isis Grits I need all of them to be in a new show

[@kiddvandal91]

Fr. A complete reboot with the whole squad would be amazing

[@_CE53]

How your lifepoints created the 0.

[@Ldarkkratos]

Random but tell me how much are you enjoying tekken 8

[@CIavis]

LETS GOOOOO

[@mdtisthebest6249]

I went to an all black school so I can’t relate to Aaron at all

[@zzay3345]

Algorithm

[@lucassupports3234]

That man was very bad and racist!