Dave Chappelle Opens Up About Making Comeback in Current Racial Climate

“This is a very surprisingly emotionally charged time, so people like me, I think, are very relevant and necessary in sorting through all this,” comedian says

| July 19, 2015 @ 10:48 AM Last Updated: July 19, 2015 @ 2:52 PM
WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18: Dave Chappelle speaks on stage as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

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Dave Chappelle has never been shy when it comes to race. But the comedian says it’s just a coincidence he’s staging a comeback as the country deals with a series of racial issues including the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, and the deaths of Eric Garner and Freddie Gray in police custody.

“I think it is important to be out now, but what’s going on in the world isn’t why I initially came back out,” Chappelle told the Associated Press Saturday.

He went on to say, “This is a very surprisingly emotionally charged time, so people like me, I think, are very relevant and necessary in sorting through all this information and emotional content.”

The former “Chappelle’s Show” star made his comments at a gathering in Bridgehampton, New York, where he received an award from Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.

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During his acceptance speech, Chappelle said the arts education he received in high school in Washington, D.C., helped keep him out of trouble. He went on to tell the audience that artists have a responsibility to be activists.

“The biggest enemy of an artist is apathy,” he said. “A kid gets killed by the police and I buy a T-shirt and before I can wear that one, there’s another kid [killed] and I’m running out of closet space.”

Chappelle famously walk away from his Comedy Central show in 2005, just months after signing a $50 million deal with for a third and fourth season.

Also Read: Prince Unleashes Freddie Gray Protest Song 'Baltimore': Listen to It Here (Audio)

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18: Soledad O'Brien, Russell Simons, Danny Simmons, Dave Chappelle, Wangechi Mutu, Simon de Pury, Ava DuVernay and Tangie Murray attend as Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary At Annual Art For Life Benefit at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation)

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At the time, his sketch series was a juggernaut hit with many of its comedy sketches, particularly the ones about race, becoming viral sensations.

But on Saturday, Chappelle told the crowd he has no regrets about walking away.

“I can say honestly that I’m happy, that I can sit at home on a Tuesday night and watch Key and Peele do my show and it doesn’t hurt me.”

“Selma” director Ava DuVernay and artist Wangechi Mutu were also honored at the event, which raised money for arts in schools.

The Scene in Baltimore Following Freddie Gray's Death (Photos)

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  • Caption:BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 27: Demonstrators climb on a destroyed Baltimore Police car in the street near the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues during violent protests following the funeral of Freddie Gray April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Gray, 25, who was arrested for possessing a switch blade knife April 12 outside the Gilmor Homes housing project on Baltimore's west side. According to his attorney, Gray died a week later in the hospital from a severe spinal cord injury he received while in police custody. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images
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  • BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 27: Two cars burn in the middle of an intersection at New Shiloh Baptist Church on April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Riots have erupted in Baltimore following the funeral service for Freddie Gray, who died last week while in Baltimore Police custody. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 28: Protestors defy curfew in front of police officers the night after citywide riots over the death of Freddie Gray on April 28, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Freddie Gray, 25, was arrested for possessing a switch blade knife April 12 outside the Gilmor Houses housing project on Baltimore's west side. According to his attorney, Gray died a week later in the hospital from a severe spinal cord injury he received while in police custody. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Getty Images
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Violent protests took over the city as thousands demonstrated after the 25-year-old man died in police custody on Apr. 19

Freddie Gray suffered catastrophic injuries after he was arrested on Apr. 12 for running from Baltimore police. He slipped into a coma and died on Apr. 19.

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