Dave Chappelle’s Unrefined “8:46” Special Brings Laughter To The Funeral

Dave Chappelle is the literal GOAT. He’s the greatest comedian of my generation in my opinion. His newest special 8:46 isn’t quite a comedy more so than one of the funniest people on the place calling the world how he sees it. Dave’s view isn’t always funny, but it’s honest, raw, and unfiltered. There are many parts that will make you laugh and some that will bring tears to your eyes.

The title, 8:46, comes from the exact amount of time police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on George Floyd during his murder. The theme around this time continues to come about throughout the special. He truly paints a vivid picture of how terrifying that amount of time in that situation would be.

I remember renting his stand up DVD’s at Blockbuster as a kid. I’d dub them to VHS tapes to watch over and over. I vividly remember crying from laughter at his Oscar the Grouch impression, “bitch I live in a trash can.” Today I cried my eyes out for a different reason watching his material. 8:46 is a raw commentary on the trending tragedy that has consumed our existence in this country. I say tragedy and not tragedies as these aren’t simply “incidents.” This is an issue that has plagued our history reaching it’s the latest boiling point. The frustration from the black community has reached new highs. That same frustration is all over Dave’s tone and face during this special.

I don’t want to produce any spoilers or go to in-depth to the 27ish minute video feature as I’d rather encourage you to watch it in it’s entirety. Like right now. Chappelle reaches comedic god form in this feature. He’s done something on stage or in entertainment that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced.

There’s a specific feeling at funerals. When you really love someone and they go you have a few days to gather yourself. Make sense of the pain and hurt. Once you start to pull yourself together, not in the ways of being “normal” but being able to face the world without falling apart. You then have to embark on the heart-wrenching process of a funeral.

Some of us can hold it together, some of us get glassy in the eyes. Some of us can’t even hear anything past our own weeps of sorrow. No matter where you land on the spectrum, pain and sorrow is an emotion we all share, at levels you can never feel prior. At some point after the funeral, you usually gather with close friends and family and stories come about that make you laugh. In the midst of your eyes from sorrow fills a warmth from laughter.

This transition from crying from sorrow to laughter is an unbelievable phenomenon. Chappelle is able to produce that emotion and feeling during 8:46 numerous times. This isn’t your typical Dave Chappelle commentary with comedy being the driver of the conversation. This is simply raw thoughts from someone who happens to be funny. Who we have familiarity with and trust for keeping it real and bringing joy to us. One of the few people able to produce this phenomenon on a mass level.

As the husband to a black woman and father to a black son, the recent events have touched me in so many ways. My wife and I have always openly discussed racism, my privilege, and the importance of the dynamics of race in our relationship in general. This “topic” is no stranger to my household.

As the last few months have unfolded, many discussions have taken place. Tears have been shed. I’ve learned so much more through our dialogue than I thought to be possible at this point. I know my journey as a white male in America that’s aware of my privilege is a never-ending learning curve of both empathy and understanding. Every day it occurs to me that there’s still so much more to learn and in turn take action with.

Dave Chappelle 8:46