This is one of the most brilliant stand-up routines I have seen in a long time. After all these years Chappelle had the same relaxed tone, the same flawless timing, the same sly subversiveness, the ability to nail the truth and mine humor out of the most controversial material.
Chappelle’s bit on the Pulse nightclub massacre leaves me in awe (please watch before reacting). His passing reminiscence of his school days in Washington “dreaming of nights like this” was quite touching, and his final message to Trump was devastating. He conveys a similar combination of vulnerability and authenticity as Richard Pryor, whose ability to connect using personal material verged on the miraculous.
This is important beyond entertainment because we need sharp voices who can cut through the mountains of cynical crap that have been fed to us by the likes of Kellyanne Conway. Dave nailed this the way Kate McKinnon did with her cold open by singing Leonard Cohen. Both provided spiritual nourishment that we will need for what is coming. (PS: Dave’s Roosevelt reference was to Teddy Roosevelt inviting Booker T. Washington to dinner, which provoked a huge backlash.)