As part of its “King Week” activities in observance of Monday’s national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the University of Central Oklahoma has a unique screening planned: an episode of the Adult Swim animated series “The Boondocks.”

Based on the daily comic strip by Aaron McGruder, “The Boondocks” has proven both popular and highly controversial since beginning its run on Cartoon Network’s late-night block in 2005. 

At 1:30 p.m. Jan. 19, you can see why. The first-season episode “Return of the King” will be shown in Room 300 of the Nigh University Center. Originally aired on King’s 77th birthday, the ep won a Peabody Award in 2006, but not without some serious feather-ruffling.

“Return” imagines that King wasn’t felled by his assassin’s bullet. Instead, he plunges into a three-decade coma, only to awaken to find he doesn’t like the African-American leaders who have emerged in his absence: “Is this it? This is what I got all those ass-whoopings for? ... I've seen what's over the horizon, and I promise you, you niggas have nothing to celebrate! And no, I won't get there with you.”

No stranger to complaining to the press, an offended Rev. Al Sharpton demanded an apology and that the episode be pulled. Instead, the network issued a statement that read in part, “We think Aaron McGruder came up with a thought-provoking way of not only showing Dr. King's bravery, but also of reminding us of what he stood and fought for.”

A discussion will following the screening, which is free and open to the public. For more information, call 974-3588. —Rod Lott