The Passion of Reverend Ruckus
Encyclopedia
"The Passion of Reverend Ruckus" is the fifteenth episode of the Adult Swim
animated series, The Boondocks
. It originally aired on March 19, 2006. It is the final episode of the first season.
' dream in which he goes to Heaven
. He is met at the gate, not by St. Peter, but by Ronald Reagan
. Reagan tells Ruckus that this is "White Heaven" and that there are several separate, but relatively equal
Heavens, one for each type of person (although he seems to be hinting that White Heaven is the best). Ruckus, being a self-hating black man, asks what he has to do to come to White Heaven. Reagan tells him that spreading the message of White Heaven and White Jesus will earn Ruckus a place in White Heaven. Ruckus looks at his reflection in a nearby pool and sees that he has been transformed into a blond, blue-eyed white man. Ruckus awakes and sets out to spread the "good news."
Meanwhile, Huey
and Jazmine
are having a meeting to discuss plans to visit Huey's friend Shabazz K
. Milton Berle
, who is on death row
. Shabazz had worked as an intern for the Black Panther Party
in 1970 and had been doing some paperwork when he heard a gunshot outside his window. Shabazz then heard a man shout that he had committed a murder
, identifying himself and dropping the weapon at the scene (with his fingerprints clearly marked in chocolate frosting from the donut he had been eating, and with the registration tag attached). A court stenographer happened to be there to record this oddly specific confession, as well as the dying man's last words, which also implicated the killer. An amateur home video of the act confirmed this as well. Despite all of the evidence that cleared Shabazz of any wrongdoing, the jury convicted him and sentenced him to death.
It is revealed that Huey has been corresponding with Shabazz, who is sentenced to die soon. Huey tells Shabazz that he sent a letter to the governor threatening to reveal his gay affair, reasoning that if 10% of the population is gay, and 50% cheat on their spouse, this plan has a 5% chance of success.
Ruckus, meanwhile, has started preaching. He will park his car in front of passers-by and tell them that if they are white, they will go to Heaven. Being that most of the population of the town are white, this message goes over quite well. Robert and Tom
hear the message and ask Ruckus if he's feeling alright. Ruckus was diagnosed with a tumor
on his back and doctors say that soon he will die, but in his remaining days he wants to spread the word about how black people can redeem themselves and gain admittance to White Heaven through hating their own blackness. Robert tells Ruckus to stop being stupid, but the message spreads and Ruckus gets on television and even gets his own revival meeting at the local sports coliseum.
Huey is still working on a prison break plan that he calls "Operation Black Steel" (despite Jazmine's insistence that it should be called "Jazmine and Huey's plan to get his friend out of jail"). Huey expects to die in the attempt to free Shabazz, but feels that the cause is greater than his own life. He hugs his brother goodbye, (prompting Riley
to comment, "Nigga, you gay") and climbs down the stairs to meet with his destiny. His plan is thwarted at the last minute when Robert tells him he cannot give Huey a ride to the prison, having decided to go with Tom to Ruckus' revival and try to talk some sense into him.
Huey ends up on a hillside and, as a last resort, begins praying for Shabazz. The governor, reading Huey's blackmail letter, panics over the thought that news of "Raoul" has leaked out. As he reaches for the phone and Tom begins to fall under Ruckus' influence, Ruckus declares, "If any of my words don't come directly from the almighty God himself, then may I be struck by lightning right this very instant! Hallel-" At that moment, a lightning bolt does strike him, blacking out most of the city in the process. The prison loses power at the exact moment that the switch is thrown to execute Shabazz; once the lights come back on, the phone rings and he calmly says, "Would somebody like to get that? I think it's for me."
Ruckus has lost his flock, no one willing to follow a man who God himself seems to have branded a liar. The lightning cured Ruckus' cancer as well. Huey says that doctors would find no remaining signs of his tumor. Also, Raoul is revealed to be the homosexual lover of the governor that Huey had risked exposing. Even though Shabazz is still in prison, Huey considers his mission a success for now.
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
animated series, The Boondocks
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...
. It originally aired on March 19, 2006. It is the final episode of the first season.
Plot
The episode starts in Uncle RuckusUncle Ruckus
Uncle Ruckus, also known as Rev. Uncle Ruckus and Rev. Fr. Uncle Ruckus, as well as Uncle Rukus while serving at Robert Freeman's Soul Food restaurant "The Itis" , is a fictional character from the Boondocks comic strip and animated television series The Boondocks...
' dream in which he goes to Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
. He is met at the gate, not by St. Peter, but by Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. Reagan tells Ruckus that this is "White Heaven" and that there are several separate, but relatively equal
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
Heavens, one for each type of person (although he seems to be hinting that White Heaven is the best). Ruckus, being a self-hating black man, asks what he has to do to come to White Heaven. Reagan tells him that spreading the message of White Heaven and White Jesus will earn Ruckus a place in White Heaven. Ruckus looks at his reflection in a nearby pool and sees that he has been transformed into a blond, blue-eyed white man. Ruckus awakes and sets out to spread the "good news."
Meanwhile, 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 Jazmine
Dubois Family
The members of the DuBois family — Tom , Sarah , and Jazmine — are fictional characters and featured players in Aaron McGruder's Boondocks comic strip and animated TV series...
are having a meeting to discuss plans to visit Huey's friend Shabazz K
Malik Zulu Shabazz
Malik Zulu Shabazz is an American attorney and the National Chairman of the New Black Panther Party. He is a frequent guest on television talk shows, such as Face the Nation, Meet the Press, The O'Reilly Factor, and Hannity.-Early life and legal career:Shabazz was born and raised in Los Angeles,...
. Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
, who is on death row
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
. Shabazz had worked as an intern for the Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
in 1970 and had been doing some paperwork when he heard a gunshot outside his window. Shabazz then heard a man shout that he had committed a murder
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
, identifying himself and dropping the weapon at the scene (with his fingerprints clearly marked in chocolate frosting from the donut he had been eating, and with the registration tag attached). A court stenographer happened to be there to record this oddly specific confession, as well as the dying man's last words, which also implicated the killer. An amateur home video of the act confirmed this as well. Despite all of the evidence that cleared Shabazz of any wrongdoing, the jury convicted him and sentenced him to death.
It is revealed that Huey has been corresponding with Shabazz, who is sentenced to die soon. Huey tells Shabazz that he sent a letter to the governor threatening to reveal his gay affair, reasoning that if 10% of the population is gay, and 50% cheat on their spouse, this plan has a 5% chance of success.
Ruckus, meanwhile, has started preaching. He will park his car in front of passers-by and tell them that if they are white, they will go to Heaven. Being that most of the population of the town are white, this message goes over quite well. Robert and Tom
Dubois Family
The members of the DuBois family — Tom , Sarah , and Jazmine — are fictional characters and featured players in Aaron McGruder's Boondocks comic strip and animated TV series...
hear the message and ask Ruckus if he's feeling alright. Ruckus was diagnosed with a tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
on his back and doctors say that soon he will die, but in his remaining days he wants to spread the word about how black people can redeem themselves and gain admittance to White Heaven through hating their own blackness. Robert tells Ruckus to stop being stupid, but the message spreads and Ruckus gets on television and even gets his own revival meeting at the local sports coliseum.
Huey is still working on a prison break plan that he calls "Operation Black Steel" (despite Jazmine's insistence that it should be called "Jazmine and Huey's plan to get his friend out of jail"). Huey expects to die in the attempt to free Shabazz, but feels that the cause is greater than his own life. He hugs his brother goodbye, (prompting 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...
to comment, "Nigga, you gay") and climbs down the stairs to meet with his destiny. His plan is thwarted at the last minute when Robert tells him he cannot give Huey a ride to the prison, having decided to go with Tom to Ruckus' revival and try to talk some sense into him.
Ruckus has lost his flock, no one willing to follow a man who God himself seems to have branded a liar. The lightning cured Ruckus' cancer as well. Huey says that doctors would find no remaining signs of his tumor. Also, Raoul is revealed to be the homosexual lover of the governor that Huey had risked exposing. Even though Shabazz is still in prison, Huey considers his mission a success for now.