Dave Chappelle on free speech, the purpose of comedy and the weaponization of jokes

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Dave Chappelle on free speech, the purpose of comedy and the weaponization of jokes

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Dave Chappelle, the provocative comedian and architect of Chappelle’s Show, is one of the biggest names in comedy. Now in arguably the most successful chapter of his life and career, he views himself as not just an entertainer -- but as a professional processor of events and experiences. He describes comedians as 'the nation's kidney' -- an essential organ for processing the raw experiences of life.

Chappelle believes that function is one shared by comics and journalists -- they both process events and help audiences make sense of the world. That conviction is why he recently invested $15 million into the infrastructure of WYSO, the public radio station in his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio.

In this episode of NPR’s Newsmakers, he tells host Michel Martin why free speech is so important to him, and why he refuses to let public expectations dictate his art.

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