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When drag queen Shirley Q. Liquor takes the spotlight at this weekend's Exxxotica convention in Miami Beach, she will say something like this to her audience: "I'm gonna burn me up some chitlins and put some ketchup on there and aks Jesus to forgive my sins."

The muumuu-clad, garishly made-up queen might also make references to "Kmark," "Egg McMuffmans," her "gynechiatrist," and "goin' to the store for some collard greens, ham hocks, and cheese." And she'll likely purr her trademark greeting — "How you durrrin'?" — and sing a song called "Who Is My Baby Daddy?"

Here's the thing: Shirley Q. Liquor is a black character played by a gay white man — in blackface paint — named Charles Knipp. African-American activists throughout the nation have protested the modern-day minstrel act, and performances have been canceled in Hollywood, Atlanta, Boston, Hartford, and New York. More than 1,000 people have signed an online petition, at www.banshirleyqliquor.typepad.com, demanding that Knipp cease his stage show for good.

"I just don't think it's appropriate for him to be making fun ... of someone's race," says Jasmyne Cannick, a Los Angeles-based writer and blogger who started the petition. "When I look at that character, I see grandmothers, great-grandmothers who struggled."

So far there's been little buzz in Miami. Exxxotica spokesman Woody Graber refused to answer questions regarding Knipp's act. He says the convention will "showcase a wide variety of exhibitors, seminars, and attendees who embrace alternative lifestyles and ... enjoy a multitude of personal pleasures. Although all may not be of one mind, at Exxxotica we all agree to not pass judgment."

But when New Times told Liberty City activist Rev. Richard Dunn about the upcoming show and e-mailed him video clips of Knipp's act, he hatched a plan to mobilize protesters and bring it up on a Tuesday radio show he cohosts with Bishop Victor T. Curry on WMBM-AM (1490) at 9:30 a.m. "It shows that unfortunately racism is alive and well in America," Dunn says. "It shows that we are not serious or sensitive enough about the rights of everyone."

Knipp, who is 46 years old and lives in Kentucky, would not comment for this story. He grew up in Texas near the Louisiana border and is in many ways a typical rural Southern white boy; his classes were integrated when he was 11 years old, which is when he "fell in love with black people," he told the Lexington Herald Leader in March 2007. He's a registered nurse who volunteers at hospices and an ordained Quaker minister who performs same-sex marriages. He's also a donor to both the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and he claims not to be a racist. "I don't think that black people should be exempt from parody," he told the paper. "We should act like nothing is funny about any of them? That's a form of racism in itself."

He created the Shirley Q. Liquor character in the early Nineties, drawing on the speech patterns of his childhood nanny, who was African-American. He said the performance is an homage to strong black women and a way to break through the race barrier. "There are so many pent-up things that black people want to say to white people and vice versa, but we're all scared to death of offending each other," he said. He adds that many black people love his show.

Never mind that the character is on welfare, loves malt liquor, and has 19 "chirren" with names such as Cheeto, Orangello, Chlamydia, and Kmartina — Knipp insists he created Shirley "out of love." And possibly money. He told Rolling Stone in 2007 that he makes between $70,000 and $90,000 a year through stage shows and merchandise sales (a popular item: baby bibs that read "Inmate" or "Who is my daddy?")

Knipp's core audience is gay white men — the stage show was born in small Southern gay clubs. Locally the show is scheduled at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. The drag performance will be sandwiched between the "pillow fight league" act and the "screaming orgasm" contest.

Shirley Q. Liquor even has some well-known fans: CSI: Miami hired Knipp to perform the drag show for its wrap party, while hosts of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy frequently used Liquor's trademark query, "How you durrrin'?" on-air. "People really need to take a chill pill," singer and fellow drag queen RuPaul wrote on her blog. "Shirley Q. Liquor is so clearly coming from a place of love."

Unsurprisingly, black activists don't buy Knipp's — or his fans' — naiveté. Cannick is considering traveling to Miami Beach to protest Knipp's Exxxotica performance. She and other LA activists shut down one of Knipp's shows at a gay club in Hollywood in 2007. Around that time, CNN asked the pair to appear on television together. Cannick said Knipp refused to debate her. "If you have the balls to do what you do, why don't you have the nerve to debate a real black woman?" she fumes.

Mel Reeves, a black Miami activist, was insulted when shown a video clip of Shirley Q. Liquor portraying a stewardess for "Ebonics Airlines," in which the black-owned plane crashed from ineptitude. "That insinuates that black people can't run successful businesses. The fact that this person has a receptive audience is revealing. This wasn't funny to me."

E-mail protests have recently flowed into the offices of the City of Miami Beach, Exxxotica organizers, and the NAACP. A woman named Mercedes Davis wrote February 29: "Considering Miami's diverse culture, it's very shameful for you to allow someone like Mr. Charles Knipp to perform in the city. His stereotypical performance of a black woman is hurtful and, by my opinion, not funny. I really enjoy my vacations in Miami and I would hope the city is prepared to lose out on a lot of commerce if this man is allowed to display his lack of theatrical skill."

A person named ChrisT wrote, "I ... would like to add my voice to the others asking you to please not promote racism by allowing [Shirley Q. Liquor] to perform." And a woman named Tracy added, "In the year 2008, it is ridiculous to allow a white gay man to dress as a black woman and perpetuate these stereotypes. I am disappointed in the wake of what has happened with Don Imus and the Rutgers women's basketball team. I am asking you to cancel this show. An apology after the fact is not acceptable."

Write Your Comment show comments (24)

  1. Why are the Black activist who are so offended by racism not at the Hard Rock's comedy club when Chris Rock was lambasting everything about white people if they are so bent on stamping out racist stage acts.

    ...I think Shirley Q. Liquor and Chris Rock are funny.

    Lots of Black comedians are applauded when making humor of trashy white crackers,,,it's funny because there is an element of truth to it. Just like laughing it up over fagots and niggers.

    I feel like if you can not joke about crackers, niggers and fagots then we are all too serious and we should know what can happen when disdain for negative stereo types is serious.

    Nazism, Communism and Islamo Fascism is the alternative.....I plan to be there this weekend at the Convention Center to take in the sights.

    Comment by Glenn61 — April 16, 2008 @ 09:37PM

  2. And...why aren't Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh organizing protest at appearances by Larry the Cable Guy ,Or calling for a ban on reruns of HeeHaw...?

    And why is Barack H. Obama given a pat on the back for stereo typing poor whites as bitter dummies who cling to their guns and Bibles...?

    Smacks of a double standard to me....if we are going to ever achieve equality of the races, classes and genders then we all need to stop being so damn overly sensitive to what is just comical about us....some people just deserve to be made fun of.

    Comment by Glenn61 (Googole my name) — April 17, 2008 @ 06:24AM

  3. Comedy is an exercise in 1st Amendment rights and should never be taken literally. Funny this paper is organizing protesters at an event that's being advertised on this website. ESPECIALLY FUNNY given the fact that the paper's chief editor, Michael Lacey, was recently quoted using the N word at a banquet: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,348412,00.html

    Comment by Biscayne Bystander — April 17, 2008 @ 05:08PM

  4. I can't help it. I love Shirley Q and think she is really funny. I have every CD Shirley ever did and still crack up every time I listen.

    Comment by Mr Clean — April 17, 2008 @ 10:01PM

  5. The activists just have nothing to bitch about. Everything is fair game in comedy. Black comedians make fun of white people. White comedians make fun of black people. And everything in between. Get over yourselves.

    Comment by will — April 17, 2008 @ 10:26PM

  6. I write from the bias of being a Shirley Q. fan. For the record, I'm also a white gay man. Judge, belittle or disqualify my opinion accordingly, if that's your inclination.

    1. This piece refers to itself as an "article," suggesting at least some degree of journalistic objectivity. But it's an opinion piece with a clearly-visible slant. Boo to the editor for allowing that to pass as such and relegating the piece to an Op-Ed quarters where it belongs.

    2. Please tell me I'm not the only one who got a hoot out of the author earnestly referencing a protest email from a sometimes-visitor who took exception to the city of Miami allowing the performance to occur. I wonder if the e-mailer has heard of the First Amendment. You know, that little addendum stating that speaking one's mind, whether in blackface, dressed as Queen Elizabeth, or hanging from their toes in a bikini made of baby seal fur. Point is, it's protected. I suppose the city could bump Shirely Q. by invoking some kind of reference to "community standards"--a certain infamous fatty-in-bikini ban comes to mind--but the city of Miami would have such an army of lawyers and civil libertarians (self included) up their...bikini...as to not require a Poly Sci grad or constitutional scholar to point out it'd be a first-class blunder.

    Thank you. You may unplug your ears now.

    Comment by Ben Patrick Johnson — April 18, 2008 @ 03:32AM

  7. "Comment by Ben Patrick Johnson —I write from the bias of being a Shirley Q. fan. For the record, I'm also a white gay man.........Thank you. You may unplug your ears now."



    YOU TELL 'EM BITCH...!,,,,,,,,,good job...LOL

    Comment by Glenn61 (Googole my name) — April 18, 2008 @ 06:24AM

  8. Don't we still live in the United States? He has the right to put on his show and say whatever he wants, and anyone who finds it offensive should just not buy a ticket! If our society gets anymore politically correct, we will have nothing to laugh at or make fun of!

    Comment by Beeker — April 18, 2008 @ 04:32PM

  9. Don't we still live in the United States? He has the right to put on his show and say whatever he wants, and anyone who finds it offensive should just not buy a ticket! If our society gets anymore politically correct, we will have nothing to laugh at or make fun of!

    Comment by Beeker — April 18, 2008 @ 04:33PM

  10. Anyone who reads this with a critical eye can tell immediately that this "article" was plagiarized, word for word, in its entirety, from:
    * The August 2007 issue of "Rolling Stone
    * "Wikipedia"
    * Jasmyne Cannick's weblog.


    This begs the questions...

    • What are the journalistic standards of the "Miami New Times?" (A 5th grader could have written this._
    Is "Tamara Lush" an actual person or a pseudonym?

    Comment by Duracell Jones — April 20, 2008 @ 11:46PM

  11. Duracell Jones,,, why don't you post a link here to the article so we can all check it out. Being vague in your references takes away from your credibility...bla-bla-bla

    Comment by Rayovac Johnson — April 21, 2008 @ 05:24AM

  12. Thank you all for commenting on this story. I appreciate your thoughtful feedback.
    As far as this story being plagiarized, it's simply not the case. I stated very clearly in the article when and where I quoted from other publications. I gave attribution when I quoted Shirley Q. Liquor's comments from other newspapers. That is not plagiarism -- look up the definition.
    Charles Knipp/Shirley Q. Liquor would not respond to an interview request from me.
    And, finally. Am I a real person? Or a fifth grader? Maybe you should Google my name to find out.

    Comment by Tamara Lush — April 21, 2008 @ 08:11AM

  13. Strange,,,I don't recall any outrage or cries of racism when Eddie Murphy made himself up in white guy make up, did the tight ass walk and secretly caught white people breaking out the booze and laughing it up as soon as the last black guy got off the bus to satire white ignorance in a skit on Saturday Night Live.

    Nor do I recall any protest in the media from white professional men when Dave Chappelle did his hilarious white weather guy in the news room act.

    Seems like there's a section of black folks in this country that need to lighten up and stop taking themselves so serious.

    It's all about how their great grand father was a slave, or their third grade educated mother who started popping out one baby after another shortly after her sixteenth birthday had to clean rich white folk's houses.....BOO-HOOO-HOO.

    It's the same shit one could here from any person with no sense of self worth,,,It's the "WE ALL GOT PROBLEMS, BUT MINE ARE THE ONLY IMPORTANT ONES" attitude.

    I don't want to hear it,,,,all the fuckin cry babies can go die in a dumpster for all I care............I'm Glenn61,,,,Google my name bitch..!

    Comment by Glenn61 — April 21, 2008 @ 08:23PM

  14. I was there at the beginning in Orange TX when Chuck was first honing his act; he was extremely popular in his hometown. As I grew up, I learned that there were many blacks; male and female; just like Shirley Q. Liquor. It would be real nice in some sort of perfect world for all black women to be like Oprah Winfrey or Condaleeza Rice; howewver a great many black women seem to have a lot of Shirley's characteristics. Chuck calls 'em like he seems 'em. Of course, that automatically makes him a racist.

    Comment by Roadgeek — April 22, 2008 @ 01:14AM

  15. What do you think about the same-sex marriage? I have a friend getting married with the same sex under the help of the site biloves.com. And now they live very happily.

    Comment by dalla — April 22, 2008 @ 03:37AM

  16. Nice one for the New Times to create a story by showing the activists Shirley when she wasn't on the radar in the first place.

    Comment by steev mike — April 23, 2008 @ 10:58AM

  17. Here's Shirley Q. Liquor's act,,,I was there Saturday at one o'clock and videoed most of the performance.check out the links.....G61

    http://www.yourfilehost.com/media.php?cat=video&file=shirly_12.7.wmv

    http://www.usasexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=643604&postcount=635

    Comment by Glenn61 — April 23, 2008 @ 06:02PM

  18. People need to focus on thier children staying in school and off the streets.Cleaning up thier neighborhoods of gang activity.Black comedians make fun of other races as well,from Redd Fox to Bernie Mac.Im white and i could care less what is said about my race,most of the time I just find it funny anyways.Find something better to do than protest.Clean up your city,mentor a child,get involved with your childrens school,and chill out its going to be a hot long summer

    Comment by Peter Persico — April 24, 2008 @ 08:25AM

  19. People need to focus on thier children staying in school and off the streets.Cleaning up thier neighborhoods of gang activity.Black comedians make fun of other races as well,from Redd Fox to Bernie Mac.Im white and i could care less what is said about my race,most of the time I just find it funny anyways.Find something better to do than protest.Clean up your city,mentor a child,get involved with your childrens school,and chill out its going to be a hot long summer

    Comment by Peter Persico — April 24, 2008 @ 08:25AM

  20. People need to focus on thier children staying in school and off the streets.Cleaning up thier neighborhoods of gang activity.Black comedians make fun of other races as well,from Redd Fox to Bernie Mac.Im white and i could care less what is said about my race,most of the time I just find it funny anyways.Find something better to do than protest.Clean up your city,mentor a child,get involved with your childrens school,and chill out its going to be a hot long summer

    Comment by Peter Persico — April 24, 2008 @ 08:25AM

  21. People need to focus on thier children staying in school and off the streets.Cleaning up thier neighborhoods of gang activity.Black comedians make fun of other races as well,from Redd Fox to Bernie Mac.Im white and i could care less what is said about my race,most of the time I just find it funny anyways.Find something better to do than protest.Clean up your city,mentor a child,get involved with your childrens school,and chill out its going to be a hot long summer

    Comment by Peter Persico — April 24, 2008 @ 08:25AM

  22. People need to focus on thier children staying in school and off the streets.Cleaning up thier neighborhoods of gang activity.Black comedians make fun of other races as well,from Redd Fox to Bernie Mac.Im white and i could care less what is said about my race,most of the time I just find it funny anyways.Find something better to do than protest.Clean up your city,mentor a child,get involved with your childrens school,and chill out its going to be a hot long summer

    Comment by Peter Persico — April 24, 2008 @ 08:25AM

  23. People need to focus on thier children staying in school and off the streets.Cleaning up thier neighborhoods of gang activity.Black comedians make fun of other races as well,from Redd Fox to Bernie Mac.Im white and i could care less what is said about my race,most of the time I just find it funny anyways.Find something better to do than protest.Clean up your city,mentor a child,get involved with your childrens school,and chill out its going to be a hot long summer

    Comment by Peter Persico — April 24, 2008 @ 08:25AM

  24. All ocmedians make fun or other groups, their own and stereotypes. Maybe the costume is a bit too much, also it's reminiscent of a minstrel show. Then agian, if Eddie Murphy were the comedian, thre wouldn't be any uproar.

    Comment by M.M. — April 29, 2008 @ 11:46PM

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