| The Boondocks | |
| Season 3, Episode 31 | |
 | |
| Air date | May 2, 2010 |
| Written by | Aaron McGruder |
| Directed by | Sung Dae Kang |
| Production # | 304 |
| Episode Guide | |
| previous The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show |
next Bitches to Rags |
"It's a Black President, Huey Freeman" is the 3rd season premiere of the Adult Swim original series The Boondocks.
Watch this episode [1]
Episode[]
A German documentary, narrated by Werner Herzog (as himself), follows the Freeman family during the election of Barack Obama, the country's first black president. The episode takes place in three time periods: the months leading up to the 2008 Presidential Election, the months before Obama's inauguration, and the present day, with Obama currently serving as President of the United States.
In the days leading up to the 2008 election, each of the main characters of the show express their opinions of Obama's campaign.
- Huey Freeman is indifferent towards Obama, expressing that he is now "retired" in his role as a "domestic terrorist", being labeled such by Republicans as a last ditch effort to link Obama to any negative figure they could find, such as Jeremiah Wright.
- Riley Freeman supports Obama because "he black" and that he will give Riley the right to act any way he wants; he believes a black president isn't going to come down hard on a fellow black person.
- Robert Freeman is, like Riley, fast to place Obama on a pedestal. He also sees it as a sign that all of his "hard work" as a "civil rights activist" has finally paid off. He places a picture of Obama on his wall in the place where a picture of Huey and Riley once resided.
- Thugnificent has no idea who Barack Obama is or what his political ambitions are. However, he sees that it may be time for him to become an activist standing up for African American rights. He changes his wardrobe to a more "grown-up" suit and tie look, begins wearing glasses to appear intellectual, and records a song with will.i.am called Dick Riding Obama"", as a message that he is an ardent follower of Obama. The narrator notes that Thugnificent is probably making this change to increase exposure for his rap career.
- Tom and Sarah Dubois are both campaigners for Obama, wearing "Obama Guy" and "Obama Girl" sweatshirts. While they are both fans of Obama, Sarah shows that she is a supporter of Obama for his perceived good looks as well as his platforms.
- Uncle Ruckus shows extreme disdain for an African-American presidential candidate. He is seen throwing bricks at a cardboard cutout of Obama and states that "they" will only take his bricks from his cold, dead, hands.
An election night party is held at the Freeman's home, where everyone, except for Huey and Ruckus, are celebrating Obama's
election as the first African-American President of the United States.
In the months leading up to the inauguration, each character and their opinions are revisited.
- Huey is still very indifferent towards Obama. His response of "Eh?" to the idea of Obama being elected President leads to him drawing the ire of a large crowd of black people. His "remark" leads to national protests against Huey, with protesters seen burning an effigy of him. Huey feels there is no room for himself in Obama's America and decides that it's time for him to leave America, in an operation he dubs "Exodus".
- Ruckus, in no way, wants to attend the inauguration. He'd love to go just to hurl a brick at Obama, but his arm isn't what it used to be. Ruckus agrees to be a part of Operation "Exodus", since "Ruckus's got the License" and "Huey has the gas money." The two will leave America and go their separate ways at the Canadian border.
- Granddad and Riley both are overjoyed with the new President-Elect. Granddad says that Obama is going to lower his taxes , that he will be against corporate bailouts , and that he will withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. Granddad writes a letter to Obama, asking for a VIP invite to the Inauguration and following Inaugural Ball, where he requests to be seated near Beyonce. Obama agrees, giving Granddad two VIP tickets for all of his years of civil rights work. He gives Riley his second ticket.
- Thugnificent, in his new "political activist" role, appears on a political debate television show hosted by Bill Maher. Thugnificent's intelligence in the Federal Government is challenged, to show that his activist role is just a front. He is humiliated when he cannot name the three branches of the Federal Government.
- The Dubois' are both planning to attend the inauguration, but only one ticket is secured for Sarah. A starstruck Sarah prepares to go to Washington DC, hoping to see Obama, who is obviously more of a sex symbol in her eyes. It is stated that Obama represents, in Sarah's eyes, a superior version of Tom.
On the day of the inauguration, Granddad and Riley never make it to their "VIP" section, as they find out that a great many other attendees also received "VIP" tickets. Granddad is shot with a taser. Riley screams in vain for Obama to save them. Ruckus is arrested under suspicion of terrorism, as a closet full of bricks and cardboard cutouts of Obama are found at his home. Huey never completes Operation Exodus because he couldn't get a ride.
The characters are revisited in the Present Day.
- Huey remains indifferent towards Obama, again remarking that he is "retired".
- Granddad now hates Obama, removing his picture from the wall and returning the picture of Huey and Riley. He complains that Obama is raising his taxes and says that he never voted for his "lying ass."
- Riley dislikes Obama for not being "a real n***a".
- Sarah, still starstruck, talks about seeing the handsome Obama, while Tom shows that he's ready to move on.
- Thugnificent returns to his old habits of dress and speech, a sign that his "activist" days are over. He takes credit for getting Obama in office, but says it's time to go back to normal.
- Ruckus is unable to leave the country, but is able to state his displeasure toward Obama nonviolently, since he is on parole.