A Nigga Moment?

Is Aaron McGruder having what his main character Huey Freeman describes as "a nigga moment?" What's up with his not wanting to communicate with the folks who syndicate his comic strip about when he'll return from his sabbatical to recharge his creative juices? I just read an article in The Washington Post that an NABJ colleague shared with our listserv and I'm just scratching my head.

McGruder's staple comic strip, The Boondocks, appears in more than 300 newspapers across the country. United Press Syndicate handles distribution and has been trying to get McGruder to tell them when papers can expect the strip to return. Apparently he's not taking their calls and didn't do much listening when his editor flew out to La La Land to convince him to honor the six month sabbatical agreement.

I'm wondering what's so difficult about at least giving his editor an update? If he wants more time off, why not ask for it the right way? Has Hollywood gone completely to his head making him think he's above treating his business partners with the same respect he would expect? I'll admit, the television version of The Boondocks is da bomb! I love the show and bought the first season DVD as soon as it hit stores. Cartoon Network renewed the show for another season on Adult Swim and I hear a movie is in the works. That's all great. But, the strip is where it all started. The strip, if you ask me, is the bread and butter. The strip is what makes the TV show and movie possible. I sincerely hope he's not going to kick that to the curb and silence that sharp political and social commentary voice.

Aaron, where are you? Come out of this "nigga moment" with the syndicators and get back on top of your game!

Oh, Good Evening!

McGruder photo from washingtonpost.com