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GU I D E to Y E L L OW S P R I NG S | 2O22 – 2O23 61 Called the “voice of his generation” by fellow come- dian and actor Eddie Murphy, longtime Yellow Springs resident Dave Chappelle was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Oct. 27, 2019, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washing - ton, D.C. Surrounded by family, friends and fellow enter- tainers from throughout his 30-plus-year career, Chap - pelle was feted by a lineup of nationally known comedians, actors and musicians in a nearly three-hour gala perfor- mance that included musical offerings, spoken testimonials and, not surprisingly, consid - erable humor. In accepting the award, recognized as the highest honor in comedy, Chap - pelle expressed not only his happiness at seeing so many people present from through- out his life, but also his appreciation at being part of the comedy community. “I love my art form,” he said. “I love this job. It saved my life.” He gave special thanks to his wife, Elaine Chappelle, and his mother, Yvonne Seon, who looked on with other Yellow Springs family members from a theater box at stage right. “Elaine, you help me and improve me in everything I do,” Chappelle said before the sold-out Kennedy Center audience. He also recounted some of the ways his mother had encouraged and supported him when he was a teen-aged aspiring comic — bolstering his confidence as a sensi- tive person in a frequently harsh world, telling him that his story-telling gift was like that of an African griot and accompanying him to his early comedy club shows. “She’d do a full day of work,” he told the crowd, turning to his mother to speak to her directly. “You’d be there falling asleep, just waiting for me to go on.” Facing the audience again, he Dave Chappelle— ‘THE VOICE OF HIS GENERATION’ By CAROL SIMMONS From November 2019, updated in 2022 ▲ One of Yellow Springs’ most famous residents, comedian Dave Chappelle, won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2019. The award is considered to be the highest honor a comedian can receive. ABOVE: Chappelle in the early ’90s engaged with a group of youngsters. 310 DAYTON ST. YELLOW SPRINGS 937-546-0184 WWW.THREETENBED ANDBREAKFAST.COM THREE TEN BED & BREAKFAST An historic two-story brick home, built in 1843, just three blocks from downtown shops, restaurants, bike paths and Glen Helen.