Chuck Knipp

F. Charles "Chuck" Knipp

Chuck Knipp, performs in blackface as Shirley Q. Liquor in New Orleans at the "Good Times" bar. 2001
Born Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Occupation Actor, Comedian, Registered Nurse, Minister Quaker-Buddhism
Website

Chuck Knipp (born 1961) is a American Canadian (dual citizenship) comedian best known for his controversial vocal characterisations heard on radio - the "Mammy Welfare Queen- 'Shirley Q. Liquor', histrionic 'North Dakota Marge', Orangefield's own 'Delbert Peveto' and the tragic searcher for any kind of spirituality, 'Betty Butterfield'.

Knipp also does radio vocal impersonations of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Al Gore, Barbara Jordan, H. Ross Perot, U.S. Presidents Nixon, Ford, Bush and Clinton as well as Canadian Prime Ministers Mulroney and Crétien. He is known for radio advertisements in Southeast Texas as well as widespread protests against his performances.


Lesser-known works are his assortment of characters in an imaginary transsexual drag show, a continuing web-based series,[1] featuring characters Sissy St James, Mrs. Valerie Valingtimes, Mavis McDougall, Wanda Melon, Lindsey the Mediator, "Placidia the Robot Transy" and the "Bitter Comic". Valerie Valingtimes was recently recently featured as the voice of a flight attendant in a remix on Rupaul's Drag Race. (Season 7, Episode 2).

Knipp is a member of the Libertarian Party and was nominated as their candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000 for Texas, District 2. He is a member of Universalist Friends (Quaker).

Support

Knipp concedes that his performances should make people uncomfortable because "we all are used to treating African Americans as if their skin colour is a disease" and that black people are "more than intelligent enough to discern the nuance" of his performances. He has also said that "many people thought that Harriet Beecher-Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin was and still is perceived as racist, despite being the probable artistic genesis of emotional support against slavery in the 19th century."

Criticism

There have been a number of articles in the media that have taken issue with Knipp and the character.

References

  1. Transy Radio -{"http://www.mmmhellooo.com/2008/08/transsexual-rad.html"}
  2. southerndecadence.net
  3. RuPaul. "These Folks Is Just Plain Ignunt!" (blog entry) 3 November 2002
  4. Kennedy, Dan. "The sixth annual Muzzle Awards", The Boston Phoenix, 10 July 2003
  5. GLAAD’s New Act, The New York Blade Online, 23 February 2007
  6. "Shirley Q. Liquor Does Southern Decadence", Southern Decadence
  7. Cannick, Jasmyne. "Shirley Q. Liquor Update: A Response to the Blade Editorial "GLAAD's New Act" (blog entry), 23 February 2007
  8. Daniels, Jennifer. "The Racist Sting of Shirley Q.", Black Entertainment Television, 22 January 2007

External links