Rick Kogan of Chicago Tribune recently wrote a great piece on Lenny Bruce. In it he covers how Lenny Bruce influenced a generation of musicians, artists, and comedians with interviews from Richard Lewis, Saturday Night Live actor Tim Kazurinsky, and of course, Kitty.
The article can be found here: “Nothing, nothing was sacred“
Posted in: Current Events
It was a great article. I couldn’t believe there was actually a cover story on Lenny Bruce in the Tribune magazine section. I’ve been a Lenny Bruce fan for more than 30 years now and a new story never fails to get me excited.
And while there was nothing new in the article for me, I hoped it would spark interest in Lenny’s life and career and thoughts for a new audience.
I just wish journalists would go that extra mile and explain more about why Lenny mattered so much and why he still matters. Now more than ever.
The inclusion in the article of Lenny’s Nigger talk was bold, particularly in these intolerent times. I thought (wished) Kogan might explore that further and help some neophytes realize the brilliance of what Lenny was saying, that supressing the word gives it power, and saying it (ad nauseum) helps diffuse its hurtful aspects. Yet today we live in society where not only can we not utter the word, but there’s serious talk by some people about banning the word — as if such a thing were possible.
Recently a theater company outside Chicago closed down a production of the show Ragtime, because it included the word “nigger.” It didn’t matter that it was couched in its historical context. You just can’t say the word. Period. It’s absurd. When we start talking about banning words, and punishment for saying certain words (those who utter the “N-word!!” risk being ostracized and having their careers ruined,) we take a giant step backwards from the ideals Lenny spoke of so eloquently.. Lenny died, in part, for an intolerance of things he said. Obscenity laws have come a long way, but we still need a champion to say the words themselves don’t mean anything. They’re just words. That’s just one of the many reasons Lenny Bruce matters. And one reason I appreciate this Web site. Keep that flame burning….
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