Black is beautiful again

'Dave Chappelle's Block Party" is one subtle pro-black experience. It may not hit you until you get home how much this movie, a filmed chronicle of a free concert Chappelle threw in Brooklyn in September 2004, relishes its blackness. Even Chappelle's sneakers, with the black-power fist on their tongues, are feeling it.

But don't get it twisted. "Party," directed by the French and not-black Michel Gondry ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") is not an exclusive, militant, it's-a-black-thing gathering. It's more of a celebration of inspiring, African-American collaboration and artistry, a utopia of urban unity. It may be no "Madea's Family Reunion," but black people so need to see this film.

If you know black music, then it's no secret that the performers assembled for the event, including neo-soul artists Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, hip-hop renaissance men Common and Mos Def and The Roots as the house band (Gondry's suggestion), know each other like the backs of their hands. They don't perform; they perfectly weave into each other.

Experiencing Scott and Badu vocalize on The Roots' "You Got Me," hip-hop duo dead prez go a cappella on "It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop" or Mos Def tear into "Umi Says" is right up there with catching Leontyne Price sing an operatic aria. It's as thrilling as it is emotionally moving. The evening is such a beauteous vision of positivity and good vibes (it's the antithesis of every violence-plagued rap concert that you hear about on the news), even The Fugees, whose chances of getting back together were dead awhile back, had no choice but to reunite and close out the show.

While some critics have been referring to "Party" as Chappelle's "Last Waltz," especially since the viewer is always nagged with the thought that this may be the last thing Chappelle ever does, the film "Party" most recalls is "Wattstax." That 1973 concert film featured artists such as Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers and The Bar-Kays performing for an L.A. football stadium full of black folk in 1972 and showed that solidarity and pride can be obtained in the black community.

Of course, at the center of "Party" is Dave. Anyone who buys a ticket hoping to see him break into any of his characters from "Chappelle's Show" will be just as disappointed as when Chappelle fled to Africa last year and left the show in limbo.

Cool and relaxed, he looks like "Chappelle's Show" is the furthest thing from his mind. Either armed with a mike or a megaphone, Chappelle gets a lot of satisfaction putting on the show and serving as the mischievous MC, and it shows. Watch him interacting with his fellow townspeople at his Dayton, Ohio, home base, getting them to check out the show with the promise of free busfare and lodging. Check him as he hits the stage, playing around with the band or engaging in a freestyle rap battle with a mohawked spectator.

Chappelle loves entertaining people on his own terms. No corporate sponsors. No outside interference. No compromises. It's no wonder Chappelle ends the movie by saying it's the best thing he's ever done in his career. He may honestly feel that.

"Dave Chappelle's Block Party" may not satisfy the appetites of those dying for Chappelle to quit all this stalling and do another season of "Chappelle's Show." But it is a peek into the kind of euphoric, black-and-proud experience Chappelle wants if he ever decides to do the show again.