The comedian was interviewed by Frank Rich prior to the release of his new film Top Five. The interview has been widely commented on because Rock says many things that are likely to make people uncomfortable and that is unusual for celebrities who typically do not talk politics for fear of offending anyone. Here’s a sample:
On class: “If poor people knew how rich rich people are, there would be riots in the streets.”
On George W. Bush: “And the thing about George Bush is that the kid revolutionized the presidency. How? He was the first president who only served the people who voted for him. He literally operated like a cable network.”
On Barack Obama being elected president: “So, to say Obama is progress is saying that he’s the first black person that is qualified to be president. That’s not black progress. That’s white progress. There’s been black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years.”
On racism: “But the thing is, we treat racism in this country like it’s a style that America went through. Like flared legs and lava lamps. Oh, that crazy thing we did. We were hanging black people. We treat it like a fad instead of a disease that eradicates millions of people.”
Here’s the trailer for his film.
There are quite a few celebrities who don’t like offending people -- Chris Rock is NOT one of them.
There’s been black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years.”
True. Who wouldn’t wish to see Frederick Douglass run for president? Even dead, he’s vastly better than the shit that the current political parties will throw up.
How much is a billion dollars? With a billion dollars you could buy a $55,000 car…every day of your adult life.
That much wealth is obscene.
If MLK had not been murdered…..
I did quite enjoy the “That’s not black progress. That’s white progress.” part, as well as the part about how “[his] children are encountering the nicest white people that America has ever produced.”