Firstly Dave Chappelle is the greatesT stand up comedian of hus generation and for me he is the GOAT, he is an incredible orator, I could listen to him for hours and In 2023,he dropped his Netflix special The Dreamer, Dave Chappelle uses the concept of "the dreamer" as a framework to discuss ambition, identity, and the reality of things to be honest. To Chappelle, a "dreamer" is anyone who possesses the audacity to manifest a reality that does not yet exist and to him everyone is a dreamer, we all have dreams.
He frames the pursuit of one's goals not just as a career path, but as an act of will where the strongest dream, amongst other dreams eventually becomes the dominant reality for everyone else involved. Chappelle’s primary focus point is that we are all living within the ripples of someone’s dream. If your dream is to work at Tesla,you are effectively living in Elon musks dream, his dream being to own and manage tesla while yours is to work for tesla, its all interteined, He famously states that one must be wise enough to know when they are living in their own dream and humble enough to realize when they are actually a character in someone else’s.
This speaks to the dynamics of success, when you are at the top of your field, like Chappelle in comedy, the environment and the people around you begin to conform to your vision and schedule. He warns that if you don't fight for your own aspirations, you risk becoming a mere tool used to fulfill the ambitions of those who were more persistent than you. Chappelle uses several illustrations on how this manifestation works in the real world. One of the most prominent examples is his story about Jim Carrey on the set of Man on the Moon. Carrey remained in character as Andy Kaufman at all times, refusing to acknowledge his true identity. Chappelle explains that Carrey was a "dreamer" who forced everyone on set to participate in his internal reality. Whether they liked it or not, they had to treat him as Kaufman because his commitment to the "dream" was so absolute that it overrode the objective truth of who he was at the time.
Another example is found in Chappelle's own career trajectory. He reflects on his early days at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C., where he first started. He describes his younger self as a dreamer who saw a future that seemed impossible to those around him. By sheer persistence, he turned that internal vision into a global career, eventually returning to that same stage as one of the most famous comedians in the world. In this context, the "dreamer" is a person who refuses to let the "ticking clock" of age or the doubts of others dictate what is possible.
Chappelle also applies this label to the transgender community, though this part of his special remains controversial for some, me I enjoyed every bit of it, like it’s a joke its not that deep. He describes trans people as the "strongest dreamers" he knows because they are attempting to manifest an internal identity into the external world, often against great societal resistance. While critics argue his jokes "punch down," Chappelle frames his commentary as a boundary-testing exercise between fellow dreamers. Chappelle for me is a work of art, the way he works the stage, it all seems so effortless , its mesmerizing and im gonna stop here cos im glazing alot at this point but he deserves it. He is incredible, id drop the link to the special.
Chappelle breaks down his philosophy on the wisdom and humility required to
