I'm not big on celebrities but obviously Dave Chappelle is different. The Times said last week he's back in circulation after taking off for self-reflection or whatever. His wife is Filipina, how cool is that? It just so happens that a few minutes ago the brother himself was at the Starbucks on Lavaca at 3rd Street, which is kind of my office, in the World Capital of Live Music. I knew something was up when a white chick in one of the easy chairs by the east window lit up and then, a blink later, looked cool and uninterested again. I turned my head. He came in with two in the entourage, one guy looked Caucasian which is completely cool, diversity in the supporting cast and all that.
Dave himself came up to the big table where I was working on organic chemistry and said, "Can we sit with you?" For real, he was polite just like an ordinary person. In fact he was more polite than an ordinary person who probably wouldn’t have asked shit before sitting down. Dave was carrying an expensive motorcycle helmet. Did he bring his ride on the plane from wherever? I wanted to ask him what kind of bike he has and tell him that mine, chained up outside, is a three-speed.
He got his drink and collected his helmet and didn't actually sit down which bummed me out a little. He looked more muscular in person which surprised me too. Somebody tried to stop him on the way out and tell him about seeing his show in New York. I had all kinds of bright repartee thought up while he was in line getting his mocha or whatever but I never got a chance. I could have discussed with him, black male to black male, the cruel realities of growing up in the 'hood, where every day was a struggle just to survive.
Or I could have impressed him with my knowledge of the Fischer esterification process in which an ordinary carboxylic acid, like acetic acid, and an alcohol, primary or secondary and maybe even tertiary (we're still learning the mechanism) is converted into a fragrant smelling ester, like banana oil. If Dave is in town for a show maybe he'll be back in the next day or two. I'll be here. We have our third test next week, organic is a bitch. Seeing the brother made my day.
My mother, may she rest in peace, would not have approved of Dave Chappelle of course. Let's be honest here. She would've considered him a bad example, a "threat to the advancement of the Negro race," something like that. She caught a bit of Richard Pryor on TV, back in the day, and had palpitations. Dave Chappelle is a bad influence. That's what got me so excited that he's here. This city has been gentrified up the ass and now most of my bad influences are white.
It's nice to see the real thing and remember what the Black Race is working for, what we're trying to achieve as a people, and all.
