Chuquai Billy is a standup comedian. He was born in Gallup, New Mexico. He now lives and performs in London.
Yep... an American Indian who moved to England to tell jokes. How nutty is that?Chuquai, in a 2007 interview, said: “A lot of what I do in my act is try to educate them away from the popular stereotypes most of Europe still believe about Native American people.”
But is he funny?
Based on the video below, I would vote thumbs down.
In 8 minutes of material, I count one decent joke (the one about immigration). Chuquai Billy seems to be at the “open-mike-night” level of proficiency. (Compare his stage presence and audience command to Warren Hutcherson’s.)
If he is to succeed at comedy, Chuquai will have to move beyond merely pimping himself as an exotic.
Hm yea, not funny. There was a really good comedian at the opening of the Native American Museum in DC, but I cannot remember his name.
ReplyDeleteAlthough he isn't a comedian, Sherman Alexie is always hilarious on his book tour. He puts this guy to shame.
Although he isn't a comedian, Sherman Alexie is always hilarious on his book tour.
ReplyDeleteI saw Alexie on Stephen Colbert's show a few weeks ago, and he was hilarious. Quick and sharp. I could tell Colbert was impressed.
For a hot second I thought that was Axl Rose.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm....so you base your opinion on a very short clip of what this guy is capable of?
ReplyDeleteThats kinda...pathetic really eh?
Try pulling your head out your ass for a few minutes...that might help you out some...just a crazy suggestion :o)
Just wanted to add this...
ReplyDeleteYou may think you're intelligent...you may find yourselves funny...me personally...I dont think you're either based on your postings here...it just shows a difference of opinion...once in a while you might consider giving a person a break...or something...instead of bad mouthing them eh?
Its a small world...all things return full circle...and that is something you CAN depend upon.
You have a nice day now :o)
^ Welcome to my spot, Chuquai. Now work on your fucking material, why don't you?
ReplyDelete:^D
If you get up onstage to tell jokes, you best be prepared for a rigorous assessment from the folks you presume to entertain.
If your act has improved over the past year, why not post some vids on YouTube and let the world know?
And don't bother thanking me for going out of my way to discover that you exist... and sharing your name with my culturally sophisticated readers.
Halito, Undercover Bro
ReplyDeleteThanks for discovering me. Seems that happens a lot to us indins..being discovered...!?
I take on board your comments and critiques. I recognise that stand-up isn't easy, expecially considering the great divide between american and british humour. I'm working on putting together a proper video for youtube as the one you used was put up not by me but by the club promoter last year for one of his gong shows. I signed a release aparently. Even though I won that night, I agree it's a crap video taken in front of a rowdy mostly drunken racist aussie crowd, but i have come quite a long way since and did a pretty good edinburg fringe show this year.
by the way, for the record, the above comment wasn't posted by me but by one of my cousins. We natives are very protective of each other sometimes.
Axel Rose? yeah, that's cool. at least she didnt say Meatloaf ;)
Yakoke hattak,
Chuquai
Thanks for discovering me. Seems that happens a lot to us indins..being discovered...!?
ReplyDeleteNow that's what I'm talking about! :^D
Greetings, Chuquai. I really appreciate you stopping by. And I respect you for having the courage it takes to tell jokes for a living... a path that is surely difficult for anyone.
And I envy you for being in the U.K., which I have never visited. I am a lifelong fan of British humor.
When you put something up on YouTube, please let me know. I would love to spotlight it on this blog.
Meanwhile, let me point everyone to this improv piece featuring you.
Now let me really piss you off by saying... Happy Thanksgiving!
Take care over there.
Chuquai...
ReplyDeleteWe natives are very protective of each other sometimes.
Yeah, you should 'specially in this case. 'Cause Mills' reaction to the not-so-quaint-idea that true justice for native people of this continent would consist of returning their land to them was a follows: "In that case: Fuck Justice". Same with reparations and the US honoring her treaties.
By the way, David. Is it correct as is claimed in Russell Myrie's book "Don't Rhyme For The Sake Of Riddlin'" that you prompted Griff by you "actually saying the infamous words 'the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe'" when Griff "failed to finish the sentence"..."that the 'Jew are responsible'" (page 129)?
Mills..
ReplyDelete"Now let me really piss you off by saying... Happy Thanksgiving!"
Are you just an all-round insensitive bigot and would you actually also say to a German Jew "Happy Kristallnacht" or are you more selective and you confine your insensitive racist "humor" to people of color without power?
(((shakin' head)))
^ So Michael, you don't celebrate Thanksgiving?
ReplyDeleteMills...
ReplyDelete"So Michael, you don't celebrate Thanksgiving?
No, I don't.
That doesn't mean that I don't get together with family. But not in order to celebrate what amounts to the success in taking folk's property.
But that ain't even the point. The point is, that, whether the holiday is actually offensive or not, you clearly think that the holiday should be offensive to a Native Person (which, according to your thinking, offensive nature of the holiday to Native Persons is the basis of your "joke"). Nonetheless, you wish them a Happy Thanksgiving.
Given that fact, your "joke" is stupid, insensitive, and racist bullshit.
Now, how about answering the Prof. Griff question?
Well, Michael, perhaps indeed my "Happy Thanksgiving" line, as I constructed it, was off-putting. The fact is, I'm preparing a post on Dennis Banks, one of the founders of the American Indian Movement.
ReplyDeleteAnd fresh in my mind was the fact that militant radical Indians reject Thanksgiving. But, in case you didn't know, Fish, many Indians celebrate the holiday... because it's an American holiday and they are Americans.
The vibe I get from Chuquai, from my limited exposure to him on YouTube, is that he's not a militant radical. So my joke was to address him as if he were.
It would be as if I said to you: "At the risk of pissing you off... Happy Fourth of July!"
As for your Professor Griff question... it was very confusing and poorly worded. I'm not quite sure what's being claimed.
Could you type here the relevant passage from the book precisely, with no ellipses, so I can be clear on what's being said exactly?
David,
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving. (Actually, one of my cousins just wrote that) They are protective of us Irish-Catholics.)
The absolute truth about Thanksgiving is the original Pilgrims were giving thanks they did not have to put all that paint on their face and the Indians are giving thanks they did not have to wear those stupid Pilgrim costumes & hats (and shoes). They sat at the tabled and snickered at each other.
They should change the holiday to 'Gratitude Day' and we should express our gratitude for all of the things HE has given us we do not deserve and did nothing to earn. Instead of moaning about 1654 or whatever date is was. That's called the grace of God.
Happy Gratitude Day
Ok. here it is:
ReplyDelete"One version of events has it that Mills is in conversation with Griff when Griff allegedly asserts that 'Jews are responsible' but fails to finish the sentence and explain what he supposedly thinks Jews are responsible for. Mills them prompts him by actually saying the infamous words 'the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe?'. According to this version of events, Griff then answered in the affirmative."
Thanks, Michael. Now... do you believe that "version of events"? Does that sound right to you? Does it sound credible?
ReplyDeleteI was vaguely aware of the 'Griff' incident. First off, was it a typo - 1989??
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I googled and read two interviews with the Professor regarding the incident and I don't think he answered one single question directly that the interviewer posed to him. "I thought", "It was my intention", What I meant to say...", etc., etc.
Thirdly, I youtubed the dude and listen to his rap and on a credibility scale of 1 to 10, I would put him at minus 2.5.
I'm no judge, but the evidence leans pretty heavy against my brother, the 'Proff'...
I have to disagree with Vince. It should be remembered always as Thanksgiving so that every year we can reflect on the terrible irony of the day.
ReplyDeleteDo I believe that version of events? Normally not. But you've already advocated so much nonsensical white racist b.s. it wouldn't surprise me in your case. In any case, you still have not (as is your prerogative, of course) answered the question: is it accurate or not?
ReplyDeleteYou know the answer.
ReplyDeleteHaving worked with PE, you must have had a conversation or two with Griff. Does it sound like something he would say or not?
And if Griff did utter those words, would you denounce him as an antisemite?
If I knew the answer I wouldn't have asked you, Mills.
ReplyDeleteSo stop avoiding giving the answer, if you could.
I don't believe that "The Jews are responsible for the majority of the wickedness in the world." That lets too many assholes off the hook.
Now in order to answer your question, could you first tell me what a Semite is?
^ For the purposes of this conversation, I mean a Jew. If Griff said "Jews" are responsible for "the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe"... would that be worthy of your condemnation?
ReplyDeleteMills...
ReplyDelete"If Griff said "Jews" are responsible for "the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe"... would that be worthy of your condemnation?"
If a person with power said it it would be worth condemning, when a powerless guy like Griff says it is worth dismissing as irrelevant. If anything I'd challenge him to prove it. Like I challenged you to prove your "black are genetically disposed to inferior mental acuity" nonsense.
You still haven't answered my question, by the way.
ReplyDeleteThe question is an insult, Michael. Therefore it warrants no response.
ReplyDeleteAnd since you disingenuously claim not to know the answer, let me help you figure it out for yourself.
Look at the passage from Myrie's book. Why is it worded so peculiarly? "One version of events has it that..."
What does that mean? Myrie's not saying "This is what happened." He's not saying Griff said "This is what happened."
"One version of events has it..."
Why would you -- a supposedly well-educated man -- invest any credence in such a claim? By calling into question my integrity, you've only succeeded in calling into question your own good sense and ability to navigate the adult world.
If you cannot discern good information from bad, Fish, you really shouldn't be fucking around on the internets. Being on some "self-hating mulatto" shit, you're just bound to frustrate yourself.
Next time I come home late and my wife asks where I had been and what was I doing, I will merely say, "One version of events has it that..."
ReplyDeleteIn other words, I know what I am about to say bears zero resemblance to the truth, but I'll cover my ass by attributing it possibly elsewhere...
Do we have any BS detectors out there??
Mills...
ReplyDelete"If you cannot discern good information from bad, Fish, you really shouldn't be fucking around on the internets."
The question, Mills is not an insult, it's a question. Tip toeing around it doesn't make it go away.
"Being on some 'self-hating mulatto' shit, you're just bound to frustrate yourself."
Now THAT'S coming outta left field. What is all that self-hating mullatto stuff about?
^ You come to my place for no purpose but to stir discord. Seems indicative of some sort of personality disorder.
ReplyDeleteYou have such contempt for the history of Europeans... yet half your bloodline, your genetic inheritance, is European.
Whatever's going on inside your noggin, it's not about engaging me in good faith about Griff or anything else.
So how about you don't come around anymore, okay, Fish? Put your Web time to better use.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMills..
ReplyDelete"You come to my place for no purpose but to stir discord."
David, whatever discord that has been stirred, has been stirred by you. You can hardly expect to publish racist stuff on an open forum called "the internet" and not expect someone to respond to it.
The reason I comment on these things is because of the significant historical negative impact you have made on American black-white race relations in, what bottom line, proved to be in the service of white racism. And the reason you were able to do so and get away with it is by adopting this "I'm black" persona and pretending to battle white racists such as Auster, Jobling et al.
"You have such contempt for the history of Europeans... yet half your bloodline, your genetic inheritance, is European."
Who said I've got contempt for the history of Europeans? I've got contempt for the history of European racism, which is a different matter altogether. I don't recall ever saying anything negative about my European ancestry. In fact, I know my European ancestors by name, birth date, death date, and occupation all the way back to 1506 and beyond that by increasingly vague information all the way to 7 AD.
On the other I don't go around such as you publicly proclaiming that black people on the average are genetically inferior mentally than white people or Asians.
Given that you claim that you are black that would mean that you, Mills, seem to harbor contempt for black folks. Given that you claim to have enough black "genetic inheritance" to call yourself black that would indicate that the self-loathing thing would be your shtick.
What does Nipsey think about this situation, David?
ReplyDelete^ Bro. Fisher is correct. Mills is the sellout of all sellouts.
ReplyDeleteBut I stay friends with him hoping he'll hook me up with one of them Hollywood writing gigs.
Nipsey. The one you need to be friends with is me.
ReplyDelete^ Nipsey doesn't like doing business with Jews. Until he's in need of an accountant, a lawyer or a physician. Then, he will accept nothing less.
ReplyDeleteReally? Then Nipsey is my kinda guy. And that's why I like you so much.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteI thought you once told me David Simon worked for YOU...