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Lenny Bruce | Are There Any Niggers Here Tonight? (San Francisco, 1963)
Probably Lenny Bruce’s most attention-grabbing satire on the unfortunate power of words. His theory was that if you take so-called “dirty” words or phrases, and you say them enough, they will lose their meaning and thus be stripped of their power to hurt and offend.
He is forever my hero.
My opinion is that so-called derogatory slurs continue to remain taboo and outrageous due in large part to civil activist organizations constantly feeding off their destructive power, all the while protesting for a constant need for the people to “do something about it.” Without hurtful words and the refusal of the mainstream to accept everyone equally and openly these groups would have a harder time justifying themselves, it seems.
“and Lenny Bruce is not afraid.” REM
Yeah if you don’t know anything about Lenny Bruce, at least watch “Lenny” w/ Dustin Hoffman playing Lenny - its a damn fine biopic that most everyone will enjoy. Then if your interested try a concert film or some of the old recordings.
Not only did Lenny attack BS, but he was a one man improv troupe. An amazing mind. In a way its kind of a sad comment on our culture that his stuff is still so cutting edge 50 years later.