The definition of the word Boondocks is a wild, desolate and uninhabitable country. The term is used to describe a place of unsophistication. The animated series ‘Boondocks’ is based on all this unsophistication amongst people (whites and blacks). In terms of whites it is about capitalism (love of money) and amongst blacks it is about ignorance.
Each episode holds a lesson that has to be deciphered.Most people just watch it for laughs but a few figure out the messages. It begins with the characters.
THE CHARACTERS
Robert Freeman

Robert Freeman (note the second word FREE MAN, as in no more a slave). Robert freeman is the guidian of his grandson, Huey and Riley. He lived through a time of slavery so for his second name to denote the word freeman illustrates this fact.
Huey Freeman

Huey Freeman character seems to be based on the man Huey Percy Newton (February 17, 1942 – August 22, 1989). Huey P Newton was the co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for self defense. It was an black organization established to promote black power, civil rights and self defense.
The character Huey Freeman is an activist, aims to defeat ignorance (alreadys reading in the show) and knows self defense.

Huey P Newton
Riley Freeman

The brother of Huey Freeman. Adores rappers, great at art and works on ‘loyalty’ (no snitching rule). One of the biggest drug dealers of all time known for his loyalty was Pablo Escobar. In one episode Riley referred to himself as Riley Escobar.
Pablo Escobar
Riley represents the youth of today (21st century). They copy and they are not willing to learn or listen to what is right. They just copy what is hip. Whatever is hip is accepted amongst youth and as long as they have a feeling of belonging they feel right. Rappers are the biggest influence amongst youths today so thats who they want to copy. Those are their ‘mentors’. Riley represents this innocence as well as ignorance.
Tom Dubois

Tom is the Freeman’s neighbour and is married to a white woman. He does everything the system says and is even a lawyer. This system, often called the ‘white man’s system’ which was created dating back to slavery time and before. The name Tom should be no surprise for this character because it has that persona uncle Tom. Been an uncle Tom simply means trying to live the white man’s life in a ‘white man’s system’.
Tom is the black man who would not be portrayed as black because of his behaviour. Although black is and should be referred to a person skin or complexion, black people do live their life different from whites. He has a daughter Jazmine with Sarah, his wife.
Sarah Dubois

Sarah is the wife of Tom. She is the white woman who likes and can stand blacks. She represents the white woman who doesn’t really care about skin colour but about how she is treated. Afterall she married Tom who is black but then again Tom behaves white (an uncle Tom).She has her daughter Jazmine and they both love musicians. Their favourite is Usher, note that Usher is black. Sarah also seem to represent the preference that all women have in a man, regardless of colour.
Jazmine Dubois

Jazmine represents all that is innocent in a child. Yet there is a sense of teasing in her innocence, making it seem like ignorance. For example, Jazmine believes in Santa, unicorns and tooth fairies, things that adult tell children to keep their innocence longer.
The name Jazmine (spelt or pronounced Jasmine) is of old French and Persian origin meaning a climbing plant with delicate fragnant flowers. Jazmine is the delicate flower in this whole show. She is easily crushed when she starts realizing certain things about her surroundings. Huey tells her things she doesn’t want to hear and things that takes her out of her dreamland of santa and unicorns. But at the same time it is Jazmine optimism that sometimes counteract Huey’s pessimism.
Uncle Rukus

You only need to look at the name Rukus to know what this character is all about. Uncle Rukus hates black when he is black himself. He represents the black on black crime that goes on amongst the urban community. Here is a man who would team up with white folks to bring the black society down. He potrays the hatred amongst blacks and that by hating on each other, black people eliminate themselves for the white folks that wants to see them eliminated. He is always on a Rukus.
Ed Wuncler Snr

One word sums up Mr Wuncler, capitalism (love of money). Ed Wuncler Snr represents greed and power. His last name comes from a book called ‘The Lorax’ by Dr Seuss. The antagonist business owner in there was called Once-ler, which is also the prounciation of Wuncler. Mr Ed Wuncler Snr represents the system of rich and poor.

The book The Lorax
Ed Wuncler III
Grandson of Ed Wuncler Snr and represents the angry, spolit and unethical rich kids who believe that the world is theirs for the taking. With is Ed Wuncler Snr way of thinking and an ex-soldier, Ed Wuncler III is a psychopath. This character seems to be based on George Bush who most (if not all) say was the worst American president ever. Ed Wuncler III is been groomed to take over the family business (just like George Bush was [taking the presidency]) and is a wild, wannabe gangsta. His approach to everything is invasive and confrontational.

Gin Rummy

Best friend of Ed Wuncler III and also a former soldier. The last name ‘Rummy’ comes from the Secretary of state name Rumsfeld (Donald Rumsfled). The character Gin Rummy is meant to depict Donald Rumsfled who is best friend with Ed Wuncler III ( who is meant to depict George W Bush). Gin Rummy is also a pyschopath who does crazy things with his best friend Ed. He on the otherhand thinks and actually convinces himself that everything he does has a purpose and it is justified. This allows him to feel good about the crimes he commits.

Donald Rumsfled
Gangstalicious

Gangstalicious represents rappers who take the thug life image too far. Note that the word is image not lifestyle. Not to ruin it for anyone that hasn’t even started watching yet but this ‘thug’ has a lot of secrets that would be considered going against the image or lifestyle of a thug. But the reality is many wannabe thugs and rappers have a lot of secrets.
This character is meant to be based on Tu Pac Shakur, where he gets shot or gets into constant trouble. But this character has a twist of his own. His ‘real name’ is Fredrick.

Tupac Shakur
Otis Jenkins also known as Thugnificent

Thugnificant represents the thugs or wannabe thugs getting a lot of money and showing off with it. Although this character does have a degree in communication, a person wouldn’t think so because of the way he behaves. He represents the misconceptions of what people think of ‘thugs’ because of the behaviour they portray. Every rapper saying they are thugs are not thugs, some were brought up in a different environment from the thug life. For rappers (well most of them) been thugish is an image. Thugnificant represents this.
His ‘real name’ is Otis Jenkins, not that it bare much significance but Otis redding the soul singer (often called the King of soul) sang and toured with Johnny Jenkins, a left hand blues guitarist. It was Johnny Jenkins that helped launched Otis Reddings career. Again not that it is significant but the name Otis Jenkins, the real name of Thugnificant could have came from the name Otis Redding and Johnny Jenkins (first name from Otis Redding and last name from Johnny Jenkins). They were the greatest musician of their time (the 60’s).
Thugnificiant is part of the group ‘Lethal Interjection Crew’ involving members like Macktastic and Flonomial who he met through the label. Riley Freeman (representing the attitude of all young kids) wants to be just like them. Wants to be a thug.

Otis Redding

Johnny Jenkins
Macktastic and Flonominal

Macktastic (on the right) is the rapper that doesn’t represent a thug but a pimp. He is well spoken but he doesn’t speak a lot. He loves women. The First part of his name says it all MACK-tastic.
Flonominal (in the middle) represents all the loud, trouble making, fast talking rappers. Flonominal also has a degree but most of the time he is all for trouble. He goes on ignorant on purpose. He is respectful and educated but that doesn’t suit the image of a thug so he pretends. He is called FLOnominal yet when he speaks he waffles, see the unsophistication?
A Pimp named Slickback

In a wild, desolate, unhabitable country, you will see Pimps. A Pimp named Slickback represents people who are not really fond of nicknames. Every name doesn’t have to be abbreviated just because a person knows the person. It is funny that this sort of attitude is coming from a pimp when he is the one that giving hoes nicknames.
Apart from rapping or working in a law firm (like Tom) he represents other ways of making money. The fact that he is called upon sometimes makes him valuable and shows that what he is, is in demand.
Colonel H Stinkmeaner
Hates everybody, especially black people.His hate is not like Uncle Rukus (where it is black on black crime) but more to do with what black people do. Colonel Stinkmeaner lives to create n*gga moments. The n*gga moment is a moment of choice. A choice to either walk away or fight. This is emphasised by the Colonel himself everytime he says “Watcha ya gonna do n*gga, watcha ya gonna dooo?”. Colonel Stinkmeaner represents every old man complaining about life and the youth. He also represents what happens when a man has no discipline. He does what he likes, when he likes. He is blind and doesn’t care.
The fact that he is called a Colonel (a high rank in the army) shows that he knows what he is doing but in this case he doesn’t care. He is one that uses his blindness as an excuse to get away with what he does. His second name Stink meaner, shows what he is a colonel of. The word stink means that something smells bad. It could be put in a sentence as in something smells fishy, or I got a bad feeling about this. The meaner part of his name just shows his attitude through and through. He hates everything!
Rev Rollo GoodLove

This character is meant to be based on Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Like all so-called leaders the focus is on money and reputation. Rev Rollo GoodLove represents the leaders who say much for the benefit of trying to show that they are doing something but do nothing. They will debate the issues out but at the end of the day, one could say that they don’t really care about the outcome. The fact that this character is also a Reverend represents that religious leaders are not excluded from such tactics.

Al Sharpton

Jesse Jackson
Cindy Mcphearson

The white girl who knows nothing about racial discrimination. If she loves it, she’ll do it regardless of gender. She represents the white folks who can get along with blacks (or different ethnic group). She loves what she loves and will do and wear what she feels. Once again the hip hop culture comes into this because Cindy and Riley both love the image. In every episode she is always in a team. She seems to portray unity.
Bushido Brown

Where Huey represents an activist for change and Stinkmeaner represents a lack of discipline, Bushido Brown represents discipline. He is a martial art master and his character is based on the character Jones in the film ‘Black Belt Jones’.Bushido Brown throughout the whole show is a body guard.

The Film Black Belt Jones
VOICES
Voice of Robert Freeman (Grandad) is John Whitherspoon
(below)

Voice of Huey and Riley Freeman is Regina King (below)

Voice of Tom Dubois and Colonel H Stinkmeaner is Cedric Yarbrough (below)

Voice of Sarah Dubois is Jill Talley (below)

Voice of Yazmine Dubois is Gabby Soleil (below)

Voice of Uncle Rukus is Gary Anthony Williams (below)

Voice of Ed Wuncler is Edward Asner (below)

Voice of Ed Wuncler III is Charlie Murphy (below)

Voice of Gin Rummy is Samuel L Jackson (below)

Voice of Gangstalicious is Mos Def (below)

Voice of Thugnificient is Carl Jones (below)

Voice of Macktastic is Snopp Dogg (below)

Voice of Flonominal is Busta Rhymes (below)

Voice of a Pimp named Slickback is Katt Williams (below)

Voice of Rev Rollo GoodLove is Cee-Lo (below)
Voice of Cindy McPhearson is Tara Strong (below)

Voice of Bushido Brown was first by Cedric Yarbrough then it was done by Michael Jai White (below)

WATCH ALL BOONDOCKS EPISODES