Black Jeopardy - SNL skit w/ Louis CK

[Michele Vogt-Schuller]

This is one of the best videos I've seen for teaching cultural context and is somewhat similar to Key and Peele's substitute teacher videos. In Black Jeopardy, the host and two contestants are the insiders, the BYU professor of African American Studies, the outsider. On first viewing, this is just downright funny - my seniors, especially the classes with a lot of African American kids, were roaring. On second viewing, I cut it into six "acts" - I stopped the clip after the host responded to the professor's answer. In each act, the professor attempts to "read" the rules of the game (he is never given clear feedback) to improve his effectiveness, but he's not able to do so. However,  if one looks very closely at the questions and answers, a deeper level begins to emerge....very, very, very good stuff.

Some questions to consider:

1. If the dominant culture (the universe represented in Black Jeopardy) is not ashamed of stereotypical attributes revealed - are they negative?

2. Look at the skit as representative of a teacher and students, boss and employees - who is the favorite? How do players adapt to "please" the boss or teacher?

Here's the link:http://youtu.be/VWuJHbVZBQg