Invasion of the Katrinians

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The Boondocks episode
“Invasion of the Katrinians”
Robert and his cousin Jericho
Original airdate
Season no.	2
Episode no.	24
Production no.	206
Director	Dan Fausett
Writer(s)	Aaron McGruder Rodney Barnes
Guest star(s)	Cedric the Entertainer Lil' Wayne Bebe Drake

The Boondocks - Season 2 October 8, 2007 – ?
...Or Die Trying Tom, Sarah and Usher Thank You for Not Snitching Stinkmeaner Strikes Back The Story of Thugnificent Attack of the Killer Kung-Fu Wolf Bitch Shinin' Ballin' Invasion of the Katrinians Home Alone The S-Word The Story of Catcher Freeman The Story of Gangstalicious Part 2 The Hunger Strike † The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show † † Canada-only

← Season 1

"Invasion of the Katrinians" is the ninth episode of the second season of the Adult Swim animated television series The Boondocks and the twenty-fourth episode overall. It originally aired on December 10, 2007.

[edit] Plot

Granddad's cousin Jericho and his family take up residence in the Freeman home after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. While professing their gratitude, Jericho and his family quickly begin taking advantage of the Freemans' hospitality, running up bills, devouring all of the food in the house, and destroying the family's belongings. When Robert asks them to get jobs, Jericho and his family refuse and tell Robert that it is white society's responsibility to help them out, not their own. Jericho tells Robert that he will be receiving a check from FEMA, and that when he does, he will give him some of that money as a reimbursement.

Time drags on and Jericho and his family cause the living conditions in the Freeman home to become abysmal. Angry at having been taken advantage of, Robert stops paying the utility bills to drive Jericho and his family out. The plan backfires, however, as neighbors begin giving handouts to Jericho and Granddad is attacked by the local media.

Eventually, Huey gives an impassioned speech to Jericho and his family, telling them that waiting for other people to help them is what got them into the mess they're in; instead, Huey says, Jeircho and his family should go back to New Orleans and help their fellow citizens repair the city. Jericho quickly agrees-- neglecting to tell anyone that he has just received a check for $200,000 from FEMA. Jericho instructs his family to pack up so they can go home; they soon depart, with a grinning Jericho promising Granddad to pay for all of the damage he and his family caused, "as soon as my check arrives."

[edit] Cultural references

The theme for the Jericho family is a jazzy rendition of When The Saints Go Marching In... — a song often associated with the city and culture of New Orleans.^[1]
Riley is shown preparing roux, a cooking base for Cajun cuisine.^[2]
A reporter asks Robert if Bill Cosby put him up to the eviction of "poor black people" when he tries to kick Jericho out. This is in reference to Bill Cosby's criticism of "poor blacks" during an NAACP speech in 2004.^[3]
Granddad's expressed desire of wanting to help out Katrina victims and his subsequent reluctance to do so may be an example of NIMBYism.^[4]