racist comedians

[halfpastseven]

how do you feal about comedians whos basis is race?
does anyone get offended by them?
why do you think they do it?
do you think it helps different races get along or does it make things worse?

 

[ottaia]

Unfortunately, what it ends up doing is reinforcing stereotypes. The humor works because it plays off the stereotypes: i.e. All Blacks wear sagging clothes and bling, All Chicanos talk with an accent and want to kick your butt, All Gays have a swish and a lisp.

 

[Spherical Time]

I disagree with ottaia. I think that sometimes such humor can raise awareness. I don't think that it happens all of the time, but I think that certain racist humor can do as much as a movie like Crash to raise awareness of race related problems.

 

[chipmunk]

I think they're just trying to make a buck and if racial jokes spin that for them, they'll use it. I notice that generally (not all the time), the racial jokes are geared towards the comedians own race. I think it does reinforce racial stereotypes. If what I've observed is the norm, then having comedians make fun of their own race is another tactic to help reinforce the stereotype. Mencia and Chappelle come to mind.

 

[ottaia]

I disagree with ottaia. I think that sometimes such humor can raise awareness. I don't think that it happens all of the time, but I think that certain racist humor can do as much as a movie like Crash to raise awareness of race related problems.

Hi ST, I am intrigued by comment, could you expand upon it?

 

[Spherical Time]

Hi ST, I am intrigued by comment, could you expand upon it?

I'll try to by responding to Chipmunk.

I think they're just trying to make a buck and if racial jokes spin that for them, they'll use it. I notice that generally (not all the time), the racial jokes are geared towards the comedians own race. I think it does reinforce racial stereotypes. If what I've observed is the norm, then having comedians make fun of their own race is another tactic to help reinforce the stereotype. Mencia and Chappelle come to mind.

I think that perhaps it's our awareness of such stereotypes that combats them. A gut reaction that a Church's chicken is going to filled with black people is bad, but unless you realize that it's a negative stereotype you can't combat an automatic thought.

For instance, until you are confronted with the fact that asians are poor drivers is a stereotype, how are you going to go about combatting that belief.

I think that some of the racial jokes that people make inspire thought on the matter. In the movie Crash, Ludacris uses the n word as an example of derogatory language, but it is still a present and important part of his vocabulary. The irony drawn between the example and the action is important to bring the idea of racism and stereotyping to life.

I can't think of a good example of this in racial humor, but in terms of sexual assault, during the movie "The Aristocrats" Sarah Silverman turns an a dirty joke into a commentary on sexual assault against women. I can't explain it here, of course, but while you're invited to laugh about it, you can't deny that it brings up the problem in a way that provokes thought and discussion.

In another way, I think that it's important to be able to talk (and laugh) about some of the serious issues. If you can't discuss them, then once again, you're not going to be able to address the problem.

 

[chipmunk]

A person must first be inclined to want to think critically about a message for the message to be useful. I suppose comedy could be used to help people talk about the problem, but only in people who are inclined to see there IS a problem.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen people watch this kind of comedy and come away with a "I knew they were like that" attitude. It only reinforced the problem, and did nothing to help it. The people that need the message aren't getting and such comedy is only a reinforcement. It goes something like this: "Well, if the mexican comedian, Bob, admits that mexicans cram themselves in cars like sardines, then it must be true."

I didn't see all of Crash, but I wouldn't call what I saw of it comedy. I never saw the Aristocrats.

I agree that talking about sensitive subjects is good and brings new insights, but not everyone agrees. Not everyone is going to see what you are trying to say is there. The conversation could just as easily turn into how these stereotypes are right, than how these stereotypes are wrong. I see more of the former in people than I do the latter. It's very sad.

 

[Gomez]

how do you feal about comedians whos basis is race?
does anyone get offended by them?
why do you think they do it?
do you think it helps different races get along or does it make things worse?

I think people should remember these are just jokes. No need to take everything seriously.

 

[The Gregorian]

it depends. Some racial humor is funny... (however... 'gay' isn't a race, therefore not racial humor.)

Example: Carlos Mencia is funny. He points out some stereotypical things about a lot of races, but in a witty way. Usually to prove a point that is actually pretty wise.

Dave Chipell on the other hand is WAY too racist on the other hand. 95% of his show is "haha, black people are better than white people, yay." His show isn't well thought out and rides solely on the basis of "no one can complain because he's black... and when they do complain, they're just being stupid white people." There's little/no wit, and it doesn't bring up any points... he's flamboyantly racist.

 

[Koz]

hilarious

 

[non-religious]

[chipmunk]the racial jokes are geared towards the comedians own race. I think it does reinforce racial stereotypes[/QUOTE]I agree... Chris Rock, Richard Pryer and some of Eddie Murphy's earlier stuff was basically poking fun at their own race. It comes down to the N word also becos black people can use, even though the majority of black people (I can't speak for all, so I'll say the people I know and associate with) find it offensive. Yet when or if a white person used the word there would be an uproar. Is a person who tells racist jokes racist? I don't know, perhaps they are.

We have a quite famous comedian over here called Bernard Manning and 99.9% of his act is racist. He used to appear on mainstream tv back in the 70s, but then times changed and those kinds of shows, including the infamous Black and White Ministrel show, were dropped and never to be seen again.

Some would argue that political correctness has gone mad and people should be able to tell jokes about any subject they want, no matter how offensive..

 

[corvus_corax]

A person must first be inclined to want to think critically about a message for the message to be useful. I suppose comedy could be used to help people talk about the problem, but only in people who are inclined to see there IS a problem.

Quite right
And Ive only seen one comedian present it in a way where one was forced to think about it, even if one was not inclined to do so.
Unfortunately, I cant for the life of me remember his name. It's been a few years since Ive seen him, and I only saw one of his shows.

But for nearly two hours, he poured out one racist joke after another. No race was sacred. Jews, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Oriental, Native American, etc etc etc were all targets.
The audience was rolling in laughter.

Then during the last 5 minutes of his show, he started to get more serious. I cant remember all of what he said, but three sentences jumped out at me and burned themselves into my head forever.
"I joke about racism because racism is a joke.
All of you, wonderful audience that you are, have been laughing and laughing at everything Ive said. As I leave, think about this- Why have you been laughing?"

 

[chipmunk]

Quite right
And Ive only seen one comedian present it in a way where one was forced to think about it, even if one was not inclined to do so.
Unfortunately, I cant for the life of me remember his name. It's been a few years since Ive seen him, and I only saw one of his shows.

But for nearly two hours, he poured out one racist joke after another. No race was sacred. Jews, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Oriental, Native American, etc etc etc were all targets.
The audience was rolling in laughter.

Then during the last 5 minutes of his show, he started to get more serious. I cant remember all of what he said, but three sentences jumped out at me and burned themselves into my head forever.
"I joke about racism because racism is a joke.
All of you, wonderful audience that you are, have been laughing and laughing at everything Ive said. As I leave, think about this- Why have you been laughing?"

That sounds similar to a Bill Cosby clip I saw in my Anthropology class. It was called "Bill Cosby on Prejudice." He portrays himself as a bigot and complains about people's race, their age, their sex, and anything else he could.

 

[MikeMcK]

how do you feal about comedians whos basis is race?

Comedians who do comedy based on race is not the same as "racist comedians".

does anyone get offended by them?
why do you think they do it?
do you think it helps different races get along or does it make things worse?

There was a time when we could all laugh at ourselves, but not anymore.

Personally, I was a huge fan of Don Rickles, who most younger people who've been indoctrinated into political correctness would find appalling.

Likewise, I've always loved Jackie Mason and Pat Cooper, both of whom would be considered racist by todays' hyper sensitive standards.

I also like Dom Irrera and Joe Conklin, both of whom do quite a lot of ethnic humor.

 

[MikeMcK]

Dave Chipell on the other hand is WAY too racist on the other hand. 95% of his show is "haha, black people are better than white people, yay."

You must not watch his show very often. He is brutal about the things that go on in the black community.

He doesn't let black people get away with a thing.

My favorite skit of his is Clayton Bigsby, the white supremecist who doesn't know that he's actually black.

Another good one is the one where he takes the camera out on the street to see how different races react to different kinds of music.

Having lived in a highly multicultural city, I can say that many of the points he brings up are dead on.

His show isn't well thought out and rides solely on the basis of "no one can complain because he's black... and when they do complain, they're just being stupid white people." There's little/no wit, and it doesn't bring up any points... he's flamboyantly racist.

As a fan of the show from the beginning, I can't imagine how you got this idea.

There is a lot of wisdom in his comedy and he brings up very important points that no one else is addressing.

My mother is a sociology professor at two major northeast universities (Widener U. and U. of Penn). She tells me that many, many teachers use Chapelle's show in class precisely because it is so well thought out and so insightful.

She also tells me that the minute she starts talking about race, his name comes up and that they've had a lot of meaningful dialogue on race because of it.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to create a Bible study around some of the skits.

 

[MikeMcK]

I'll try to by responding to Chipmunk.

I think that perhaps it's our awareness of such stereotypes that combats them. A gut reaction that a Church's chicken is going to filled with black people is bad, but unless you realize that it's a negative stereotype you can't combat an automatic thought.

I've always thought it was funny that people are so offended by the idea that black people like fried chicken and then, when I was the only white guy in an all black office, anytime we would have an office function where people were to bring in food, the first thing they would bring in was fried chicken and mac and cheese (and Kool Aide. Can't forget the Kool Aide.)

Nothing wrong with that. Being from the South, I like many of those same foods. But if it's true, then it shouldn't be considered offensive.

 

[non-religious]

[MikeMcK]You must not watch his show very often. He is brutal about the things that go on in the black community.

He doesn't let black people get away with a thing.

My favorite skit of his is Clayton Bigsby, the white supremecist who doesn't know that he's actually black.

Another good one is the one where he takes the camera out on the street to see how different races react to different kinds of music.

Having lived in a highly multicultural city, I can say that many of the points he brings up are dead on.



As a fan of the show from the beginning, I can't imagine how you got this idea.

There is a lot of wisdom in his comedy and he brings up very important points that no one else is addressing.

My mother is a sociology professor at two major northeast universities (Widener U. and U. of Penn). She tells me that many, many teachers use Chapelle's show in class precisely because it is so well thought out and so insightful.

She also tells me that the minute she starts talking about race, his name comes up and that they've had a lot of meaningful dialogue on race because of it.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to create a Bible study around some of the skits.

I have to agree with you on this one. I love his show it's hilarious...

 

[Cerberus~]

Listen, I enjoy racist humor. Down south, I grew up on it.

N****r is an active part of my vocabulary, and I don't mind it. I don't say it around black people, or in front of anyone for that matter, unless I know them well enough to know I can use that word around them. I make fun of blacks, hispanics, Catholics, gays, asains, the french, europians, arabs, and Jews, and I'm a Jew!

I'm not racist, and I don't have anything against anyone that I don't know, but I honestly think we all need to just grow up and get over these stupid sensibilities and stop being offended everytime someone utters a certain chain of syllables and start taking context into greater account.