Two examples from Boondocks: Huey mistakes a neighbor washing his car with a hose for Bull Connor, the pro-segregationist Birmingham police chief who turned fire hoses on black protesters in the early ’60s. In another strip, Huey confronts Jazmine about her biracial ethnicity, arguing that she is black, even though her mother is white and her father is black.

Race: A laughing matter?

Aaron McGruder, creator of the controversial comic strip “The Boondocks,” will be coming to California State University Sacramento to speak about race relations, his comic strip and give a demonstration of some of his drawings Oct. 7 at the Union Ballroom. His presentation, “What’s the Color of Funny?” deals with race relations and ethnicity that is the basis of his work.

“His strip is the hottest moving strip in the country,” said Dean Sorensen, program advisor for student activities, who arranged for McGruder to come to CSUS. “As a country, we are wrestling with race relations. I think it’s worth talking about.”

The comic centers on a black family from South Chicago that has moved into a white suburb. The main characters consist of Huey Freeman, his younger brother Riley, and their grandfather who face racial conflict while trying to find their place in a white society.

The star of the strip is Huey, named after Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party in the ’60s. Huey is an elementary schoolboy who is intellectually beyond his years and challenges the school system he finds himself in. His world view centers on the black struggle against a white oppressive society.

Because of public outcry several newspapers, including one in Ohio and one in South Carolina, have cancelled the strip. The Atlanta Constitution moved the strip to the editorial page.

Protests have not stopped McGruder from continuing, however. In fact, at www.boondock.net, “The Boondocks” official Web site, McGruder posts his hate mail for all to read under the daily funny section. Letters have been posted from all races and genders.

McGruder graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in African American studies with a concentration in social and cultural Analysis.

According to his Web site, “The Boondocks” has become his life’s mission.

“The Boondocks” first printing was in February 1996 at The Hitlist Web site at www.hitlist.com. On Dec. 3, the strip began its first run but was pulled after only two months.

Success came in April of this year when McGruder joined the United Press Syndicate. UPS distributes “The Boondocks” nationwide and 160 newspapers have picked up the strip, making it the largest comic debut since “Doonesbury” in the 1970s.

McGruder hints that a Boondocks TV show is being planned and Boondocks gear may be available soon as well.

Sorensen’s advice for those wishing to attend the lecture? Show up early. The presentation begins at 11:45 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m.

Student Activities and Unique programs are sponsoring the lecture as part of their Cultural Affairs Program to try and raise cultural awareness on campus.