No doubt Dave has some things to say…

Dave Chappelle, one of the greatest comedians of all time and someone who’s always had his finger on the cultural pulse, has dropped a surprise stand-up special reflecting on police brutality and the murder of George Floyd, and it’s definitely mandatory viewing. The 27-minute set is simply Dave just riffing and giving his thoughts on the whole situation, laughs and punchlines being kept to the absolute minimum.

Taking to his home town of Yellow Springs, Ohio, Dave didn’t hold back, emotionally asking “What are you signifying that you can kneel on a man’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and feel like you wouldn’t get the wrath of God?” he asked. “That’s what is happening right now. It’s not for a single cop, it’s for all of it. F—ing all of it. I don’t mean to get heavy, but we gotta say something.”

Continuing on, he said “Floyd told the police he couldn’t breathe. One of the hardest parts of the tape to listen to – he said, ‘Please.’ I can’t tell you, as a man, watching another man go through something like that, what it makes you feel like.”

The name of the special “8:46” also holds huge significance for Chappelle as well as Floyd, with Dave explaining “I can’t get that number out of my head because it was the time of my birth on my birth certificate,” he said. “I was born at 8:46 in the morning and they killed this man in 8 minutes, 46 seconds.”

The special also saw him reflect on the deaths of other African-Americans at the hands of police, such as Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Philando Castile. Ending the special, he said “These streets will speak for themselves whether I am alive or dead. I trust you guys. I love you guys.”

It’s definitely an important watch, and just goes to show how how George Floyd’s murder is reverberating through to every inch of society. Can’t recommend this special enough.