Is riley from the boondocks gay
[Editor’s Note: This is the first of five installments of character case studies on characters on originator and writer Aaron McGruder’s comic strip now turned animated series on Mature person Swim, “The Boondocks.” I feel that each of the characters epitomize a particular social and political archetype or stereotype that is represented in some aspects within the ebony community.]
For a quick background for those totally ignorant of “The Boondocks” who are reading this, verify the Wikipedia link.
Riley Freeman, is the younger brother of Huey Freeman and both live with their grandfather out in the suburbs. In the cartoon, Riley always has cornrows and his outfits usually embody stereotypical “hood wear” which could be a simple wife beater and jeans, chains, oversized jackets and other over-sized shirts. What sticks out about Riley is the reality that he easily becomes the poster child for what Average Bro and many others simply contact “Negro Nonsense.” Riley’s grammar is fractured (he can’t seem to get the concepts behind conjugating “to be” when he speaks), he is enthralled with the “gangstaR
"The New Black" is the last episode of The Boondocks ever aired.
Riley invokes the wrath of LGBT rights activists for making homophobic insults, and drags his family down into hot moisture. Robert's attempts to repair this only draw in the wrath of activists for the mentally challenged!
Tropes
- Blatant Lies: Riley (angrily) states that he was not bullying that homosexual scholar who was twerking on top of the cafeteria table. His exact words? "Nigga, cut that out! That's gay!"
- Bullying a Dragon: Both Riley and Robert for aggravating Slowlove by offending people with mental disability.
- Call-Back: Huey reminds Riley of all the times he used "gay" as an insult, whether or not someone or something is truly gay.
- Chased Off into the Sunset: Riley at the end by the mentally disabled.
- Dope Slap: Huey ends up giving Riley one of these to prevent him from saying the word reta-*smack*
- Equal-Opportunity Offender: While episode clearly makes fun of Riley for his homophobia, there is plent
Grew Up... in Chicago. Riley was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago along with his older brother Huey. It was there that he discovered his desire for “street life.”
Living... in Woodcrest, Maryland. After the death of their parents, Riley and his brother went to live with their grandfather. Using the children’s inheritance money, Granddad moved the family to the affluent, white suburb of Woodcrest. Inevitably, the town’s privileged culture clashes with Riley’s desire to remain as “hood” as possible.
Profession... wannabe gangsta. Riley idolizes famous rappers and gangsters like Gangstalicious and Thugnificent ft. Lethal Interjection. He does everything he can to become more like them. For someone so young, he’s off to a great kickoff in doing just that.
Interests... showing off. Whether it’s wearing a big shiny chain or a questionable new hip-hop fashion line, Riley likes to entertainment off how cool he is. However, as his cocky but ultimately abysmal basketball performance demonstrates, it’s mostly posturing.
Relationship Status... single. Riley is still a child, but he has internalized a less-than-healthy view of gender norms through his worship of “gangsta” cul
The Story of Gangstalicious, Part 2
S2, E13: Following the shooting of the rapper Gangstalicious, Riley passes out upon seeing one of his crew kiss him in the hospital. Unwilling to accept that Gangstalicious might be gay, Riley is sure that it was all a envision. Yet, following the debut of his new tune video, "Homies Over Hoes," the rapper suddenly starts sending Riley free samples from his new fashion line that look suspiciously like women's clothes. And though Huey points to the kiss, the clothes and the video as evidence of Gangstalicious' homosexuality, Riley refuses to think it. Meanwhile, as Gangstalicious skirts the rumors about his sexuality, Thugnificent and his Lethal Injection Crew send Riley to ground a deal for them to collaborate on a remix of "Homies Over Hoes." As Riley works on securing a deal, Granddad worries about signs suggesting his grandson is gay. Though he is wearing women's clothes and carrying a purse, Riley denies it. Even so, after doing everything he can think of to make a real bloke out of Riley - including playing football, inviting girls over, and offering to chase women together - Granddad calls in A Pimp Named Slickback to straighten him out.
.