It's a Black President, Huey Freeman

"It's A Black President, Huey Freeman" is the 3rd season premiere of the Adult Swim original series The Boondocks. It aired on May 2, 2010.

Plot

A German documentary, narrated by Werner Herzog (as himself), follows the Freeman family during the election of the country's first Black President. The episode takes place in three time periods: the months leading up to the 2008 Presidential Election, the months before Barack Obama's inauguration, and the present day, with Obama currently serving as President of the United States.

In the days leading up to the 2008 election, each of the main characters of the show express their opinions of Barack Obama's campaign.

• Huey Freeman is indifferent towards Obama, expressing that he is now "retired" in his role as a "domestic terrorist".
• Riley Freeman is in support of Obama because "he Black" and that he will, essentially, instantly give back to all African-Americans.
• Granddad is, like Riley, fast to place Obama on a pedestal. He also sees it as a sign that all of his hard work as a civil rights activist has finally paid off. He places a picture of Obama on his wall in the place where a picture of Huey and Riley once resided.
• Thugnificent has no idea who Barack Obama is or what his political ambitions are. However, he sees that it may be time for him to become an activist standing up for African American rights. He changes his wardrobe to a more "conservative" suit and tie look, begins wearing glasses to appear intellectual, and records a song with will.i.am call "Dick Ridin' Obama", as a message that he is an ardent follower of the Presidential candidate.
• Tom and Sarah Dubois are both campaigners for Obama, wearing "Obama Guy" and "Obama Girl" sweatshirts. While they are both fans of Obama, Sarah shows that she is a supporter of Obama for his perceived good looks as well as his platforms.
• Uncle Ruckus shows extreme disdain for an African-American Presidential candidate. He is seen throwing bricks at a cardboard cutout of Obama and states that "they" will only take his bricks from his cold, dead, hands.

An election night party is held at the Freeman's home, where everyone, except for Huey and Ruckus, are celebrating Obama's election as the first African-American President of the United States.

In the months leading up to the inauguration, each character and their opinions are revisited.

• Huey is still very indifferent towards Obama. His response of "Eh?" to the idea of Obama being elected President leads to him drawing the ire of a large crowd of Black people. Ruckus comes to his aid and, seeing that he and Huey seem to share the same views, decides to ally himself with Huey. Huey shows a growing dislike of the American people. He eventually decides that it's time for him to leave America, in an operation he dubs "Exodus". Ruckus agrees to be a part of Operation Exodus, where the two will leave America and go there separate ways at the Canadian border.
• Granddad and Riley both are overjoyed with the new President-Elect. Granddad expresses that Obama is going to lower his taxes (which he won't for people at Granddad's income level), that he will be against corporate bailouts (which he is for), and that he will withdraw American troops from Afghanistan (he actually increased the number of troops there). Granddad writes a letter to President-Elect Obama, asking for a VIP invite to the Inauguration and following Inaugural Ball, where he requests to be seated near singer Beyonce. The President-Elect agrees, giving Granddad two VIP tickets. He gives Riley his second ticket.
• Thugnificent, in his new "political activist" role, appears on a political debate television show hosted by Bill Maher. Thugnificent's intelligence in the Federal Government is challenged, to show that his activist role is just a front.
• The Dubois' are both planning to attend the inauguration, but only one ticket is secured for Sarah. A starstruck Sarah prepares to go to Washington DC, hoping to see Obama, who is obviously more of a sex symbol in her eyes. It is stated that Obama represents, in Sarah's eyes, a superior version of Tom.

The Inauguration comes. Granddad and Riley never make it to their "VIP" section, as they find out that a great many other attendees also received "VIP" tickets. Granddad is shot with a taser. Ruckus is arrested under suspicion of terrorism, as a closet full of bricks and cardboard cutouts of Obama are found at his home. Huey never completes Operation Exodus because he couldn't get a ride (Ruckus).

The characters are revisited in the Present Day.

• Huey remains indifferent towards Obama, again remarking that he is "retired".
• Granddad shows hatred for Obama, removing his picture from the wall and returning the picture of Huey and Riley. He complains that Obama is raising his taxes.
• Riley dislikes Obama for not being "a real nigga".
• Sarah, still starstruck, talks about seeing the handsome Obama, while Tom shows that he's ready to move on.
• Thugnificent returns to his old way of dress speech, a sign that his "activist" days are over.

Cultural References

• Thugnificent's initial response to Obama's candidacy is a reference to an interview that DMX did with XXL.

• Later in the episode, Granddad says "Don't tase me, bro!" to an armed security guard at President Obama's inauguration before being tasered.

• The Dick Ridin' Obama song is a parody of the songs "Yes We Can" and "It's a New Day", by Will.I.Am. Gangstalicious was featured in the video.

• After Obama's electoral victory is announced on TV, Sarah says that "for the first time in my life, I'm proud to be an American," a reference to a similar quote by Michelle Obama, speaking in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during 2008 presidential campaign.

• Thugnificent says he will replace the word "Nigga" with "Obama" and "Bitches" with "Michelle," a reference to a similar statement made by Jim Jones[1]

• The title is a reference to a Peanuts short called It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It is the second time a Peanuts animated feature was referenced in a title- the first being A Huey Freeman Christmas (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

Continuity

• Early in the episode, John McCain states that Huey is a boy that thinks "Jesus is Black, Ronald Reagan is the devil, and the government is lying about 9/11." This is a reference to The Garden Party, where Huey speaks those exact words to party guests in his dream. They were also the first words Huey spoke in the series.

• This is the second time in the series Huey has had to abort an 'operation' due to the reason being "because he couldn't get a ride". The first was in The Passion of Reverend Ruckus.

• Uncle Ruckus has more precise aim with his brick throwing unlike Season 1. Ironically, he decides not to throw a brick at Obama at the Inauguration because "his throwing arm isn't what it used to be".