The enormously talented Key and Peele take on the harsh reality of racism and police brutality, in an improbable song and dance fantasy-land called ‘Negrotown.’
In this must-see video, Keegan-Michael Key’s character is stopped by a policeman for nothing more than walking down a dark alley. When he asks the jumpy cop why he’s being stopped, the officer pulls his gun on him accusing him of talking back. The handcuffs come out, and innocent of any crime, he is led to the police car. When the anxious cop ‘helps’ him duck to enter the cruiser, Key receives a severe bump on the head – and reality drifts away.
The dark alley is gone, and a homeless man, (Jordan Peele) now replete in a jaunty orange suit, takes custody of Key from the (now) friendly and smiling officer. Things only get more surreal, as the two enter ‘Negrotown.’ Gone is the dark night, and color fills the screen, as a community of happy people celebrate the magical world, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
This is not a preachy sermon on equality, Key and Peele know that a spoonful of sugar helps most anything go down, and this epic production number is no exception. In this ‘utopia for black people ‘you can walk the streets without getting harassed or beat,’ and ‘wear a hoodie without getting shot.’ In this place, ‘hanging out in a group doesn’t make you a gang, and every word that you say isn’t considered slang’. It sounds too good to be true, and there’s so much more!
Truthfully, the only things that should be ‘unreal’ about this utopia are the vintage cars and bright colors. The equality, safety and courtesy are what every American should expect and receive…Maybe even take for granted.
Keegan’s character comes to – again in the dark alley, prodded by the cop. Dazed, the prisoner says, ” I thought I was going to “Negrotown.”
“Oh you are” the officer assures him.