Contrarian

D.L. Hughley brings a seasoned, blunt perspective to the stage, drawing on his decades as a syndicated radio host and veteran of “The Original Kings of Comedy.” He is at his most compelling when confronting the systemic realities of race in America. His strongest segments tackle why Black parents teach their children to fear rather than respect the police, and why NFL players are uniquely suited to protest police brutality. He balances these observations with lighter riffs on the absurdities of modern parenting, the complications of relationships in the smartphone era, and his mother’s tough love. Filmed at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia and released on Netflix in September 2018, the special arrived during a busy year for Hughley, which also saw the publication of his book How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People. Critical reception was mixed. While reviewers praised his direct satire on race relations, they found some of his broader material, such as his take on the #MeToo movement, to be less focused and prone to punching down.