On Dave Chappelle’s “The Closer”: Picking The Low-Hanging Fruit

by Max S. Gordon

“An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times. I think that is true of painters, sculptors, poets, musicians. As far as I’m concerned, it’s their choice. But I choose to reflect the times and situations in which I find myself. That to me is my duty. And at this crucial time in our lives when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don’t think you can help but be involved. Young people, black and white, know this, that is why they are so involved in politics. We will shape and mold this country or it will not be shaped and molded at all anymore. So I don’t think you have a choice: how can you be an artist and not reflect the time? That to me is the definition of an artist.”

— Nina Simone, American singer, songwriter and activist

“Every gay life in those years took courage. So much self-invention, so much care. So much work. So much looking in the mirror and thinking: ‘Who in the name of God is this that I’m looking at?’”
— Colm Tóibín, interviewed in The Truman Tapes (directed by Ebs Burnough)

“I was a young guy processing a broken heart. I deeply regret any pain all this has caused.”