"Where have I been?" Dave Chappelle asked a San Francisco audience in 2005. "It's a long story. It's a long, uninteresting story..." Maybe it is. And maybe it isn't. One thing is certain. Today, Chappelle is considered by many to be one of the most influential comedians. He is particularly known for his lively, controversial and sometimes bordering on obscene comedy performances. In 2006, he was labeled "America's comedic genius" by Esquire. More recently, Billboard (2013) proclaimed it “the best.” Surprisingly, it's been more than ten years since his comedy series "The Chappelle Show" first aired. What's even more surprising is the fact that his major work only comes from the first two seasons. The main subjects of Chappelle's comedies are typically race, inequality, sex, drugs, and politics. However, while the use of these subjects for parody is not uncommon, what is unique is the fact that Chappelle's comedy preaches an entirely different perspective. Rather than simply leaning into this topic for shock value as many comedians would, Chappelle urged his audience to see how we tend to label people too often. And, ultimately, labeling leads to the creation and perpetuation of cultural stereotypes. However, Chappelle's comedy routine and the topics he embraces are a far cry from his roots. He was born David Khari Webber Chappelle in Washington DC in 1973. His father was a statistician before accepting a professor position at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. His mother was a professor at several colleges and universities, including Howard University. He was also a minister of the Unitarian Church. Chappelle grew up in Silver Sprin... in the middle of the paper... or for some time to come. His message may well outlast him. Finally, Chappelle recently turned down a $50 million contract with Comedy Central, deciding to put The Chappelle Show on hiatus. Rumors spread like wildfire surrounding his possible motives and a short-lived and, by all accounts, disappearance. The media made it appear that Chappelle had suffered from a drug problem or a nervous breakdown. This has been proven not to be the case. Chappelle had literally fled to South Africa to escape the limelight. He also said he wanted to gain an appreciation for the new culture. Can anyone blame him for wanting to gain an appreciation for his African roots? Ultimately, Dave Chappelle may be trying to teach us a few things about intercultural acceptance. However, it's clear that he intends to continue living, learning, and growing alongside the rest of us.