The most imitated AskMe..

March 2, 2009 4:13 PM

Who was it who first said that (paraphrasing) "the American black man is the most imitated man in the world"?

I want to say that this was first said by Cornel West, but Google has failed me completely.

posted by CRM114 to writing & language (9 comments total)

This is a speech by Cedric The Entertainer's character in "Be Cool"

How is it that you can disrespect a man's ethnicity when you know we've influenced every facet of white America. From our music, to our style of dress, not to mention your basic imitation of our sense of cool. Walk, talk, dress, mannerisms, we enrich your very existence. All the while contributing to the gross national product through our achievements in corporate america. It's these coneits that comfort me when I'm faced with the ignorant, cowardly, bitter and bigoted who have no talent, no guts. People like you who desecrate things they don't understand, when the truth is you should say thank you man, and go on about your way. But apparently you're incapable of doing that.

Than he shoots the guy
posted by BrnP84 at 4:29 PM on March 2 [1 favorite]

Are you kidding me? I know I've read this from a scholarly source. Please tell me I'm not crazy.

and thanks BrnP84 ;)
posted by CRM114 at 4:33 PM on March 2

Paul Mooney! (on Chapelle's show)
posted by milqman at 4:44 PM on March 2

I think it may have been Paul Mooney in a bit on Chappelle Show c. 2004. I will look for a reference, but I'm pretty sure that's where I heard it. It would have been one of the Ask a Black Dude sketches.

Aaaaannnd on preview milqman mas it :)
posted by EmptyK at 4:46 PM on March 2

Shit.

Thanks all. :)
posted by CRM114 at 5:03 PM on March 2

George Trow writes on this topic in the second essay in the 1981 edition of Within the Context of No Context called "Within That Context." It's an essay about Ahmet Ertegun (who founded Atlantic records), black musicians, and their white imitators. Unfortunately I can't get my hands on that edition, and the essay was dropped from subsequent editions, so I'm not sure if there's a pithy quote in there to that effect.
posted by clockwork at 5:14 PM on March 2 [1 favorite]

I didn't realize that was the Trow essay you'd been looking for. Here it is under its original title. The sentiment is similar in places, but it doesn't seem to have anything quite so pithy, nor does it seem to be referring to American black men in particular except by default. Good read though. Damn could Trow write.
posted by felix grundy at 7:01 PM on March 2 [2 favorites]

Hooray! I would mark it a best answer, but it's not really my thread...
posted by clockwork at 7:17 PM on March 2

Didn't realize until I reached the bottom that it's a two parter. Part two.
posted by felix grundy at 8:20 PM on March 2