Where is the line? A comedian asked
this week, what comes first, the racist comedian or the racist crowd? Another
has said that any joke based on a cultural stereotype is racist. We have all
laughed at a joke that could be seen as a bit racist before. Chris Rock, one of
the world’s best and most loved comedians, is no stranger to having jokes that
are mostly based on black stereotypes. Don’t believe me? Get a white person to
do the same exact same set in front of a black crowd. Then we will talk again.
Okay, it is a bit of a cheap shot to
mention Chris Rock. But he fits my argument pretty well. He is a black
comedian, doing black stereotypical joke, and making black people laugh. So
where is the racism? Racism isn’t just black and white either. People of all
colours can make jokes about all the other people and their colours, while all
the people of the other colours will laugh. I mean, we are all just laughing
right?
We have coloured comedians doing
jokes about not having coloured people not having front teeth. This particular
joke I find a little offensive. But then I asked my coloured friends about it
and they don’t see it as racism. In fact, I have had coloured friends at gigs
and they laugh harder than me at some of the more questionable jokes.
Thoughts?
You make a good point. Mostly I just laugh along, but there has been the odd time where I've felt really uncomfortable when a comedian has told a racist joke, whether it was aimed at their own race or not.
ReplyDeleteRacical stereotype jokes reinforce those stereotypes and make them seem socially acceptable. Whether they are being perpetuated by someone of the same race as the target of the joke or not, the telling of the joke and the audiences acceptance of it makes that stereotype just that small bit more ingrained in the minds of those who attended.
ReplyDeleteA comedian who is prepared to perpetuate a stereotype that negatively reinforces the impressions of their culture, or race, is therefore not a thinking comedian, nor a moral one. They are profiting from selling their culture, or the cultures of others, into long term negative perception. What's funny about that?
*Slow clap* Well put Warren. I personally think that racial stereotyping has been flogged to death and sets a bad example for new comedians. I have seen countless new acts doing racial jokes and doing them badly. We need to break the perception that it is ok to go the easy route.
ReplyDeleteyes, but is it only negative stereotypes that are wrong? Also, from what I have seen, most comedians have at least one or two racial jokes in their repertoire. Also again, not just in sa, this is basically already the norm for stand up.
ReplyDeleteSure, these are easy jokes but they seem to get the laughs. Though, in the end, i personaly respect the comedian that doesnt need to go the racial road more. Like Mark Palmer told me once, nothing is funnier than real life.
Ps, i typed this on my phone so excuse any mistakes. But you read my blog so you should be used to it by now.