History WesternAnimation / TheBoondocks

* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: Subverted - when Robert gets pulled over, he assumes the cop's name is pronounced "Do-shay." It's really pronounced "Douche." Robert thinks it's hilarious. It should be noted that he's completely high when this occurs.

Other important characters include Uncle Ruckus (Creator/GaryAnthonyWilliams), an old black man who has a [[BoomerangBigot deep hatred of his own race]]. Also returning is Tom Dubois (Cedric Yarbrough), a very [[NiceGuy friendly]] yet [[ButtMonkey hapless]] black lawyer with a [[WhereDaWhiteWomenAt white wife]] Sarah (Jill Talley) and a {{mixed| ancestry}} daughter Jazmine (Gabby Soleil). Compared to the comic strip, there's a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters considerably larger cast]] of strange and colorful characters, both recurring and one-time.

** Tom's daughter Jazmine [[MixedAncestry is biracial]] [[ButNotTooBlack with a mostly white appearance]]. As she's also part of the same "white" culture as Tom, she's confused by Huey's insistence that she's black.

* AnAesop: Many episodes have some kind of message:
** [[StopBeingStereotypical Don't perpetuate negative stereotypes about your own people]].
** Don't fight with people over stupid and/or trivial reasons.
** Don't trust [[MorallyBankruptBanker banks]] and [[CorruptCorporateExecutive big business]] in general.

In February 2019, Aaron [=McGruder=] and Seung Eun Kim [[https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2019/02/the-boondocks-comics-back-aaron-mcgruder created some new comic strips]] satirizing the current state of American politics and pop culture. Just a few months later in June 2019, [[https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2019/06/sony-return-the-boondocks-creator-aaron-mcgruder it was officially announced]] that a [[ContinuityReboot "reimagining"]] of the animated series was in development at Creator/SonyPicturesAnimation, with [=McGruder=] also returning to produce. The new series is slated to premiere in 2021 on Creator/HBOMax.

* LighterAndSofter: The animated series downplays much of the heavy political commentary of the original comic strip, and it functions more like an animated sitcom comparable to ''The Simpsons''. [[DenserAndWackier Subsequent seasons]] are even more quirky and humorous the first one.

* LighterAndSofter: The animated series eschews much of the heavy political commentary of the original comic strip, and it functions more like an animated sitcom comparable to ''The Simpsons''. [[DenserAndWackier Subsequent seasons]] are even more quirky and humorous the first one.

* LighterAndSofter: [[DenserAndWackier Subsequent seasons]] are even more quirky and humorous the first one.

** In "A Date with the Health Inspector", Tom has a nightmare about getting [[BlackComedyRape anally raped]] by a ScaryBlackMan in [[PrisonRape prison]].

* RealityEnsues:
** Huey is established in the series as being well-trained in martial arts. However, the fact remains that he's still a 10-year-old boy, and he usually ends up losing to opponents that have more experience and training than him or in the case of Stinkmeaner, supernatural abilities.
** In "The Garden Party", while the Freemans attend a party full of rich white people, Huey attempts to tell "[[UsefulNotes/ConspiracyTheories the truth]]" (Jesus was black, Ronald Reagan was the devil, and the government is lying about 9/11). However, no one believes him because he's just a kid, he has no solid evidence, and everything he says is just his own opinions; also, Huey and Robert believe that if he told people the "the truth", [[GoMadFromTheRevelation chaos would ensue among white people]]. That doesn't happen either; just because '''one''' person says something, especially when it's a conspiracy theorist's opinion, it doesn't mean that everyone is going to instantly believe said person.
** In "Ballin'", it not only references but also deconstructs the whole concept of ''Film/TheMightyDucks''. What happens when you have a team that has little to no athletic talent? They ended up losing every game they've played in an embarrassing yet hilarious fashion, and the "miracle moment" is given to a team that is more polished athletically.
** Played straight in "Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy". The titular group fought [[spoiler:and killed Bushido Brown, an already established badass]], and after a failed attempt to make peace with them, the Freemans are about to be killed. How are these monsters stopped? [[spoiler:The police are called, and the Hateocracy surrender without a fight]].
** In "The Fried Chicken Flu", Kernel's Fried Chicken, a KFC parody, does a food promotion to introduce a new fried chicken recipe. However, ''so'' many people come to try it, there are numerous long lines, people begin getting pissed about waiting so long, and worse [[spoiler:several KFC restaurants run out of chicken]]. Then, HilarityEnsues when people start rioting.
** In "Early Bird Special", Granddad is initially optimistic about the idea of being a male escort. Believing he will be up to his neck in horny ladies. However, he quickly discovers that his clients are primarily lonely, middle aged women who are looking for companionship rather than sex. As his "employers" point out, woman have no trouble finding men willing to sleep with them and wouldn't need to pay someone to do it.

* StopBeingStereotypical: Both this series and the comic strip make regular use of this. A regular [[AnAesop aesop]] and CentralTheme of ''The Boondocks'' is how African-Americans are unjustly oppressed, right to be angry at systemic racism, and need to bring attention to such things as much as possible. At the same time, the comic and the show both criticize African-Americans who play into stereotypes, saying that they're only making things harder for everybody. The latter criticism is best seen in "The Return of the King" where Martin Luther King Jr. goes on a rant about how disgusted he is about how ignorant and stereotypical certain black people have become.

* StopBeingStereotypical: Both this series and the comic strip make regular use of this. A regular [[AnAesop aesop]] and CentralTheme of ''The Boondocks'' is how African-Americans are unjustly oppressed, right to be angry at systemic racism, and need to bring attention to such things as much as possible. At the same time, the comic and the show both criticize African-Americans who play into stereotypes, saying that they're only making things harder for everybody. The latter criticism is best seen in "The Return of the King" where Martin Luter King Jr. goes on a rant about how disgusted he is about how ignorant and stereotypical certain black people have become.

* StopBeingStereotypical:
** Both this series and the comic strip make regular use of this. A regular [[AnAesop aesop]] and CentralTheme of ''The Boondocks'' is how African-Americans are unjustly oppressed, right to be angry at systemic racism, and need to bring attention to such things as much as possible. At the same time, the comic and the show both criticize African-Americans who play into stereotypes, saying that they're only making things harder for everybody.
** The episode with MLK awakening from a coma had him deliver this exact message in-universe, saying that black people acting stereotypical was hurting all of them, and that King was mad that he "got all those ass-whippings" for people to completely ignore what he was trying to say. Notably, after he says it, a group of black people storm the White House to demand more equal rights.

** The episode with MLK awakening from a coma had him deliver this exact message in-universe, saying that black people acting stereotypical was hurting all of them, and that King was mad that he "got all those ass-whippings" for people to completely ignore what he was trying to say. Notably, after he says it, a group of black people storm the Qhite House to demand more equal rights.

* EqualOpportunityOffender: Racism towards African Americans is clearly the series' biggest target, but African Americans [[StopBeingStereotypical who don't really make it easy for themselves]] are a close second.

* StopBeingStereotypical: Both this series and the comic strip make regular use of this.

* {{Catchphrase}}: Several characters have at least one. Also most black characters say "[[NWordPrivileges nigga]]" to the point of it being a VerbalTic:

** Colonel H. Stinkmeaner: "[[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch BITCH-ASS]] [[NWordPrivileges NYUKKA]]!"

** The whole series is a giant [[NWordPrivileges Cluster N-Bomb]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mty7iENYdxE According to this video]], there are approximately (give or take) 1,298 uses of "nigga", "nigger", etc.

* NotAfraidOfHell: [[EvilOldFolks Colonel Stinkmeaner]], suiting his [[{{Jerkass}} massively abrasive personality]], is totally unafraid of being trapped in Hell, and in fact he enjoys spending his time there by [[TrainingFromHell sparring with demons]]. He even goes so far as to [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu call the Devil himself a]] "[[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch BITCH-ASS]] [[NWordPrivileges NIGGA]]!"

* NWordPrivileges: Most of the black characters, and a few white characters, say "nigga" frequently. The [=DuBois=] family are an exception though, never saying the word once.

* YouAreGrounded: In "Home Alone", Huey punishes Riley by grounding him and forbidding him from leaving the house. Huey enforces this with kicks to the face.

** In the "The Fundraiser", Riley actually recognizes that everything Huey says comes true. However, he just decides not to listen, because he [[strike: doesn't like spoilers]] thinks things go wrong ''because'' Huey talks about them.
*** However, Riley makes an exception when Huey gives him a ''[[OhCrap bulletproof vest]]'', and makes the smart move of constantly wearing it. [[spoiler: It ends up saving his life.]]
** In "The Fried Chicken Flu" this becomes a major plot point, since Huey has been preparing for the end. Hell, his survival plan is even titled, "I Told You So." They have enough food, supplies, and backup power for four people. Unfortunately, no one but Jazmine read Huey's plan, and because Riley and Granddad refused to listen to him for their own selfish ends, nine people occupy the house, the power goes out, and food becomes scarce. [[spoiler:It all goes to waste however; everyone in Woodcrest mistakenly thought the world was ending, when in fact the "killer fried chicken flu" was just an outbreak of salmonella.]]

* CatchPhrase: Several characters have at least one. Also most black characters say "[[NWordPrivileges nigga]]" to the point of it being a VerbalTic:

* AscendedMeme: In "Mr. Medicinal", Riley states that he's going to challenge Jaden Smith to a fight if he moves to LA. This is a reference to many popular pictures comparing Riley to the new ''[[Film/TheKarateKid2010 Karate Kid]]''.

* AssKicksYou: Tom uses this to escape from the Booty Warrior.

** Colonel H. Stinkmeaner is a jerkass who do assholish things to everyone indiscriminately. He states that he [[MisanthropeSupreme hates everyone]], but [[BoomerangBigot black people especially]].

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Oh so many.
** Uncle Ruckus prime character trait is a BoomerangBigot. He is prone to making anti-black statements and praising the white man. At worst, [[NotSoHarmlessVillain he actually takes those beliefs into practice]].

** Colonel H. Stinkmeaner is a Jerkass who do assholish things to everyone indiscriminately. He states that he [[MisanthropeSupreme hates everyone]], but [[BoomerangBigot black people especially]].

** A Pimp Named Slickback is an abusive, misogynistic pimp. He is also a homophobe.

** [[WhiteGangBangers Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy]]. This is [[PlayingWithATrope played with]], since they're voiced by [[Creator/CharlieMurphy Charlie]] [[Series/ChappellesShow"blackest nigga on the planet"]] [[Creator/CharlieMurphy Murphy]] and [[Creator/SamuelLJackson Samuel L.]] [[Film/PulpFiction "Bad Motherfucker"]] [[Creator/SamuelLJackson Jackson]], respectively.

** [[WhiteGangBangers Ed Wuncler III and Gin Rummy]]. This is [[PlayingWithATrope played with]], since they're voiced by [[Series/ChappellesShow Charlie "blackest nigga on the planet" Murphy]] and [[Creator/SamuelLJackson Samuel L.]] [[Film/PulpFiction "Bad Motherfucker"]] [[Creator/SamuelLJackson Jackson]], respectively.

** Oddly in "Breaking Granddad", there's a passing joke about Jazmine's insecurity with her curly afro hair, which was a running gag in the comic strip.

** Neither Jazmine nor Gin Rummy had any lines for the first half of Season 3.