Dubois Family
Encyclopedia
The members of the DuBois family — Tom (husband), Sarah (wife), and Jazmine (daughter) — are fictional characters and featured players in Aaron McGruder
's Boondocks comic strip and animated TV series
. They live across the street from the main characters, the Freeman family — Robert
and his grandsons, Huey
and Riley
.
.
Sarah is shown to be much more playful and low-key than Tom, which leads to strains on their relationship (such as when he refused to lighten up and have a little extra wine on their anniversary due to his prison rape phobia). She is hinted to be somewhat sexually frustrated
. She fantasizes about strong, successful black men like Barack Obama
and Usher
.
Though Huey takes pleasure in criticizing her both subtly and conspicuously, he has also shown a willingness to empathize with her and tends to avoid being mean just for the sake of it. Most of the time, when he berates her, it is his way of dealing with her ignorance and naïveté in what could be construed as an unnecessarily cruel way to try to enlighten her. Though such attempts usually fail, he remains patient and tolerant. For her part, Jazmine appears to be a kind and considerate friend to Huey, as when she applauds enthusiastically for Huey's unchanged "Black Jesus" play -- unlike Granddad and Riley, who fall asleep. In the nation-wide pandemic during "The Fried Chicken Flu
," Jazmine is the only person Huey allows into his home other than his immediate family. In the same episode, it is hinted that Jazmine is probably Huey's only friend, and possibly vice versa. It can also be said she has a crush on Huey.
In the comic book Jazmine has trouble accepting the fact that she is Multiracial
, wishing her hair to be straight instead of puffy and Afro
-like. She was a regularly featured character in the comic strip until 2001, when the strip took a more political focus upon which she inexplicably disappeared until the later years of the strip. During that time, Jazmine was replaced by Michael Caesar
as the prominent character other than Huey and Riley Freeman. She returned to the comic strip in 2004, explaining that she had been so afraid of terrorism that she hid in her room for two years.
She appears to be quite attached to her father, crying when he doesn't come back from work in "A Date with the Health Inspector
." The notable exception to this is during the episode "Tom, Sarah and Usher
," when she wishes that Usher
was her father instead (although this sentiment quickly passes).
Jazmine seems to mistake Santa Claus
for Jesus Christ. This is an example of McGruder satirizing the unseen effects that parents lying to children can have, as well as a possible reference to Linus
and the Great Pumpkin
of Peanuts
, which McGruder admires.
Aaron McGruder
Aaron McGruder is an American cartoonist best known for writing and drawing The Boondocks, a Universal Press Syndicate comic strip about two young African American brothers from inner-city Chicago now living with their grandfather in a sedate suburb, as well as being the creator and executive...
's Boondocks comic strip and animated TV series
The Boondocks (TV series)
The Boondocks is an American animated series created by Aaron McGruder on Cartoon Network's late night programing block, Adult Swim, based on McGruder's comic strip of the same name...
. They live across the street from the main characters, the Freeman family — Robert
Robert Jebediah Freeman
Robert Jebediah "Granddad" Freeman is a fictional character in the animated television show The Boondocks, as well as a regular character in a comic strip of the same name. He lives in the suburb of Woodcrest with his two grandsons, Huey Freeman and Riley Freeman...
and his grandsons, Huey
Huey Freeman
Huey Freeman is a fictional character of The Boondocks syndicated comic strip written by Aaron McGruder, as well as the main character and recurrent principal narrator of the animated TV series of the same name...
and Riley
Riley Freeman
Riley Freeman is a fictional character from the syndicated comic strip The Boondocks written by Aaron McGruder and its TV series adaptation...
.
Tom
Sarah DuBois is the least prevalent character from the DuBois family. She, like her husband, is liberal and fiercely political. She focuses her efforts on political action against the conservative parties. She is incredibly casual about her interracial marriage, even going so far as to joke about it when Tom is mocked and attacked for it. Sarah is a member of the NAACP and a self-proclaimed "crusader for black rights." She and Tom have also clashed over her support for Ralph NaderRalph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
.
Sarah is shown to be much more playful and low-key than Tom, which leads to strains on their relationship (such as when he refused to lighten up and have a little extra wine on their anniversary due to his prison rape phobia). She is hinted to be somewhat sexually frustrated
Sexual frustration
Sexual frustration describes the condition in which a human or animal is in a state of agitation, depression, stress, loneliness or anxiety due to prolonged virginity, sexual inactivity and/or sexual dissatisfaction that leads him or her to want more sex or better sex, or a state in which he or she...
. She fantasizes about strong, successful black men like Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
.
Jazmine
Jazmine DuBois is a typical naïve and innocent ten-year-old bi-racial girl, which, to her chagrin, occasionally makes her an object of ridicule for Huey and Riley. She is the most prominent child in the show other than the Freeman boys.Though Huey takes pleasure in criticizing her both subtly and conspicuously, he has also shown a willingness to empathize with her and tends to avoid being mean just for the sake of it. Most of the time, when he berates her, it is his way of dealing with her ignorance and naïveté in what could be construed as an unnecessarily cruel way to try to enlighten her. Though such attempts usually fail, he remains patient and tolerant. For her part, Jazmine appears to be a kind and considerate friend to Huey, as when she applauds enthusiastically for Huey's unchanged "Black Jesus" play -- unlike Granddad and Riley, who fall asleep. In the nation-wide pandemic during "The Fried Chicken Flu
The Fried Chicken Flu
"The Fried Chicken Flu" is the thirteenth episode of the third season of the American animated television series The Boondocks. It first aired in the United States on Cartoon Network's programming block Adult Swim on August 1, 2010...
," Jazmine is the only person Huey allows into his home other than his immediate family. In the same episode, it is hinted that Jazmine is probably Huey's only friend, and possibly vice versa. It can also be said she has a crush on Huey.
In the comic book Jazmine has trouble accepting the fact that she is Multiracial
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
, wishing her hair to be straight instead of puffy and Afro
Afro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
-like. She was a regularly featured character in the comic strip until 2001, when the strip took a more political focus upon which she inexplicably disappeared until the later years of the strip. During that time, Jazmine was replaced by Michael Caesar
Michael Caesar
Michael Caesar is a fictional character from the comic strip The Boondocks, created by Aaron McGruder. Caesar was Huey's classmate and best friend during the comic strip's run...
as the prominent character other than Huey and Riley Freeman. She returned to the comic strip in 2004, explaining that she had been so afraid of terrorism that she hid in her room for two years.
She appears to be quite attached to her father, crying when he doesn't come back from work in "A Date with the Health Inspector
A Date With The Health Inspector
"A Date with the Health Inspector" is the fifth episode of the Adult Swim animated television series The Boondocks. It originally aired on December 5, 2005.-Plot:Tom DuBois has a recurring nightmare about being sexually molested in prison....
." The notable exception to this is during the episode "Tom, Sarah and Usher
Tom, Sarah and Usher
"Tom, Sarah and Usher" is the second episode of the second season of the Adult Swim animated television series The Boondocks and the seventeenth episode overall. It originally aired on October 15, 2007.-Plot:...
," when she wishes that Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
was her father instead (although this sentiment quickly passes).
Jazmine seems to mistake Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
for Jesus Christ. This is an example of McGruder satirizing the unseen effects that parents lying to children can have, as well as a possible reference to Linus
Linus van Pelt
Linus van Pelt is a character in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. The best friend of Charlie Brown, Linus is also the younger brother of Lucy van Pelt and older brother of Rerun van Pelt. He first appeared on September 19, 1952; however, he was not mentioned by name until three days later....
and the Great Pumpkin
The Great Pumpkin
The Great Pumpkin is an imaginary character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.The Great Pumpkin is a holiday figure that seems to exist only in the imagination of Linus van Pelt. Every year, Linus sits in a pumpkin patch on Halloween night waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear...
of Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
, which McGruder admires.