Black comics

[Ordinaryundone]

Man, I had forgotten how funny Dave Chappelle was. I don't give a crap about racism, but thanks for posting the videos >__>

 

[IamQ]

Haven't found one I really like.

Like alot of female comedians, they rarely change subject to joke about.

Just take a look at the videos you just linked:

White people

white and black people food

white people fight

white women

racist

Man, the variation is just shocking!

 

[Something Amyss]

Racism can be about that but can't it be about getting rid of it by bringing people together and not saying "well you're different 'cos ...." or "black people are like Y but white people are like X".

You can if it's light-hearted.

Of course, I don't think any of the above examples were funny, but that has less to do with racial humour and more with the comedians involved.

 

[Random Fella]

Pretty much
If you make a joke about a white person, it's not racist
If a white man say's anything it's therefore racist or sexist
White males are unfortunately silent victims in race and gender abuse, as everyone looks to them as the abusers, rather than the takers of racism.
I may have gone a bit off topic, but that's the truth

But you're ignoring the different social standing. I'm not going to deny that it's possible to be racist against white people but its pretty negligible.

When a black (or any un-privileged person) makes a joke at the expense of the dominant group they're weakening that dominance. When the dominant group makes a joke at the expense of the oppressed they're further oppressing them. There's a difference between punching up and kicking down.

I'm actually stating the social standing, that standing that white people are supposedly the 'bad guys' when it comes to race, and to talk about the white race in a negative tone is fine whereas in the other circumstance, it is found extremely rude. Also black people aren't under privileged, they have now got the same or more rights than a white person in law.

 

[CaptainKarma]

Pretty much
If you make a joke about a white person, it's not racist
If a white man say's anything it's therefore racist or sexist
White males are unfortunately silent victims in race and gender abuse, as everyone looks to them as the abusers, rather than the takers of racism.
I may have gone a bit off topic, but that's the truth

But you're ignoring the different social standing. I'm not going to deny that it's possible to be racist against white people but its pretty negligible.

When a black (or any un-privileged person) makes a joke at the expense of the dominant group they're weakening that dominance. When the dominant group makes a joke at the expense of the oppressed they're further oppressing them. There's a difference between punching up and kicking down.

I'm actually stating the social standing, that standing that white people are supposedly the 'bad guys' when it comes to race, and to talk about the white race in a negative tone is fine whereas in the other circumstance, it is found extremely rude.

That's not what I mean my social standing. White people have more power and privilege in society than black people. Jokes directed at black people are bad because they reinforce this. Jokes directed at white people DON'T, so are less of a deal.

Also black people aren't under privileged, they have now got the same or more rights than a white person in law.

In law maybe. But you can't deny there's still significant systemic racism directed at them.

 

[Unesh52]

Comedians are under no obligations to talk about things as they actually are, nor to be consistent. Their craft thrives on the perceptions and opinions of their audience. Black comedians tell jokes about white people and race relations because the people they tell those jokes to are of the opinion that white people are different from black people, and that white people treat black people in certain ways. It says a lot more about the audience that laughs than the comedian that tells the joke.

In light of that, I don't think it's a good thing that black comedians play so much on racial differences and stereotypes like "white people can't dance" and "all cops hate black people," etc. etc., but that's not to say I think they should stop. It's bad because people find those things funny, which is partly because they believe they are true, at least to some extent. If they didn't, comedians would stop telling those jokes out of necessity. The fact that those types of jokes are popular is a symptom, not a problem in itself.

 

[omega 616]

Racism can be about that but can't it be about getting rid of it by bringing people together and not saying "well you're different 'cos ...." or "black people are like Y but white people are like X".

You can if it's light-hearted.

Of course, I don't think any of the above examples were funny, but that has less to do with racial humour and more with the comedians involved.

I chose them clips 'cos they are all black comics doing "blacks are like X and whites are like Y" ... except for the one of Dave saying "I am sick of racism".

Haven't found one I really like.

Like alot of female comedians, they rarely change subject to joke about.

Just take a look at the videos you just linked:

White people

white and black people food

white people fight

white women

racist

Man, the variation is just shocking!

You wanted me to post about how black comics do jokes about how different white and black people are but not post vids to highlight my point?

Did you want me to post vids by latino's joking about Mexican food? How would that fit into what I was saying?

 

[IamQ]

Racism can be about that but can't it be about getting rid of it by bringing people together and not saying "well you're different 'cos ...." or "black people are like Y but white people are like X".

You can if it's light-hearted.

Of course, I don't think any of the above examples were funny, but that has less to do with racial humour and more with the comedians involved.

I chose them clips 'cos they are all black comics doing "blacks are like X and whites are like Y" ... except for the one of Dave saying "I am sick of racism".

Haven't found one I really like.

Like alot of female comedians, they rarely change subject to joke about.

Just take a look at the videos you just linked:

White people

white and black people food

white people fight

white women

racist

Man, the variation is just shocking!

You wanted me to post about how black comics do jokes about how different white and black people are but not post vids to highlight my point?

Did you want me to post vids by latino's joking about Mexican food? How would that fit into what I was saying?

I'm going to be honest here, I haven't got a clue about what you just said.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough.

What I said was that I do not really enjoy black comedians, because they usually only talk about one subject. The subject in question is race. I then used your videos to highlight that fact. Because all your videos were about black comedians talking about black and white people.

When did I say that I wanted Latino jokes about Mexican food?

 

[krazykidd]

I have seen a fair few black comics, some big names and some less well known and a lot seem to do race jokes.

Now is it a little weird for a black comic to be saying things like "man, I'm sick of racism ..... now you white folk ...".

I know it's just comedy but it just strikes me as weird that they want to get rid of racism (like any level headed person would), then go on to list the differences between them.








Don't get me wrong, I don't mind any of these jokes and I love most comedy (the office can go die in a corner, for example).

First , those videos are kinda old .

Second , they can do it , because they are subjects of racism . It depends on the joke , like most of dave chappel jokes make fun of black peoples habbots and white peoples views of them . Him having been the object of racism can joke about it . How many white comics can honestly say they have been the object of "true" racism . I say true racism meaning , they have been degraded due to the color of their skin as opposed to just " feeling" that they were when they really weren't ( the difference between , being treated badly by someone that is racist rather than being treated poorly by someone that happened to be of another race).

That being said i am black and i don't really like most black comics for this exact reason. It depends on the situation and the relevance of what they say . If it's an anecdot , i don't mind it as much as if they are just saying it to say it . Or if it's true.

An example is when chris rock asks : " who's more racist? White people or black people? Black people , because black people hate black people too!".

Now you could read into that and say , he's saying all white people are racist , or you could understand that racism effects everyone , and black people also have their issues. As in we are all human and have our flaws .

I think it depends on how it's delivered , but having experienced something and making a joke about it , is better than just making shit up for a cheap laugh . Especially on a sensitive subject .

 

[Sandytimeman]

Edit: well basically saying that I feel like African Americans have overcome a lot of that racism and that its not really an issue anymore but other groups it still is an issue for.

Well everyone can be happy in the fact some white males do receive a good helping of bigotry and basic legal rights being stepped on. Homosexuals..which I'm in the process of coming out publicly. I mean I like in a heavily christian blue collar area of the country. I am afraid of being ostracized by my family, losing my job, being attacked...and if I ever find mr.right it will take years and thousands of dollars to get the same legal rights as a drunk couple in Vegas for 500 bucks and a half hour ceremony

 

[omega 616]

I'm going to be honest here, I haven't got a clue about what you just said.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough.

What I said was that I do not really enjoy black comedians, because they usually only talk about one subject. The subject in question is race. I then used your videos to highlight that fact. Because all your videos were about black comedians talking about black and white people.

When did I say that I wanted Latino jokes about Mexican food?

No, I know what your point was.

My point was kind of similar, which is why I made this thread. They often talk about race while saying they are sick of racism.

They don't always talk about race, they go off on to other subjects, like Chris Rock goes on to politics, strippers etc etc etc.

I selected those videos in the OP to illustrate my point, I can't illustrate my point if I put a vid up of a Latino doing Mexican food.

I can't make a thread about a subject and then post vids totally irrelevant to it.

 

[CaptainKarma]

Edit: well basically saying that I feel like African Americans have overcome a lot of that racism and that its not really an issue anymore but other groups it still is an issue for.

Well everyone can be happy in the fact some white males do receive a good helping of bigotry and basic legal rights being stepped on. Homosexuals..which I'm in the process of coming out publicly. I mean I like in a heavily christian blue collar area of the country. I am afraid of being ostracized by my family, losing my job, being attacked...and if I ever find mr.right it will take years and thousands of dollars to get the same legal rights as a drunk couple in Vegas for 500 bucks and a half hour ceremony

Bigotry towards gay people doesn't mean that there's bigotry against all white people. Black people can be gay too, and so the end up getting a double-dose of bigotry.

 

[omega 616]

First , those videos are kinda old .

Second , they can do it , because they are subjects of racism . It depends on the joke , like most of dave chappel jokes make fun of black peoples habbots and white peoples views of them . Him having been the object of racism can joke about it . How many white comics can honestly say they have been the object of "true" racism . I say true racism meaning , they have been degraded due to the color of their skin as opposed to just " feeling" that they were when they really weren't ( the difference between , being treated badly by someone that is racist rather than being treated poorly by someone that happened to be of another race).

That being said i am black and i don't really like most black comics for this exact reason. It depends on the situation and the relevance of what they say . If it's an anecdot , i don't mind it as much as if they are just saying it to say it . Or if it's true.

An example is when chris rock asks : " who's more racist? White people or black people? Black people , because black people hate black people too!".

Now you could read into that and say , he's saying all white people are racist , or you could understand that racism effects everyone , and black people also have their issues. As in we are all human and have our flaws .

I think it depends on how it's delivered , but having experienced something and making a joke about it , is better than just making shit up for a cheap laugh . Especially on a sensitive subject .

What does the age of the vid have to do with my point?

I know the best subjects to make jokes of are the ones you have lived through and are like stories from your life. I just think they should diversify from this "black people are like X and white people are like Y".

I also think it's weird they want to stop racism but unintentionally separating the room by listing difference. I know nobody is going "OMG, I am so offended by these jokes" but it is there.

 

[Pegghead]

Like many others in this thread have said, joking about stereotypes and how different we can be is a way of belittling racism and ultimately killing it off. These comedians are pretty much at the fore-front of that, jokingly mocking white customs and stereotypes while also poking fun at black customs and stereotypes (and ultimately just making one big joke about maintaining some gap between races when really we're all ridiculous).

 

[keideki]

I've never found the kind of jokes that African-American comedians tell to be offensive, although I do tend to find them repetitive. It seems like most of the famous comedians that are associated with a certain ethnic background use it as an excuse to make the same jokes over and over and over. Jewish comedians do it, Latino comedians do it, African-American comedians do it, Caucasian ones too. I'm less worried about racism and more worried about originality.

It's about telling jokes about what you know and I think we all have funny anecdotes, comedians just get paid to tell there funny anecdotes.

A homeless person telling jokes about how upper class people act is bizarre and it wouldn't be as funny as if he was telling jokes about that 3 legged pigeon he saw that one time.

My question is where does talking about what you can relate to end and telling the same joke over and over and over begin?

 

[quiet_samurai]

So... yeah... is there a question here?

IMO, when we all can make jokes about one another, and list the differences among us, and laugh about it while having a good time without being sensitive..... then we have truly overcome racism.

And I don't thin statng the differences between people is rascist, it's only rascist if you do it with hate in your heart.

Racism can be about that but can't it be about getting rid of it by bringing people together and not saying "well you're different 'cos ...." or "black people are like Y but white people are like X".

Sure, but it depends on how you look at it.

People of different backgrounds coming together and sharing a good time without getting angry is a bonding experience... no matter the topic.

We are all always going to be different.... it's a given. And we are all going to know this.. so we can get angry, ignore it and make any mention of it taboo, or embrace it and in those differences enjoy ourselves.

The only way we could all never be different is to blend the species into one along with our cultural and social ways. Which... is highly unlikely.

Oh no, I get that.

It's just I watch a lot of comedy, from a lot of races and ethnicity's and the only ones I pick up on doing a lot of race jokes are black comedians.

I can't actually think of a white comedian who has done a "you what the difference between white people and black people are?" joke ... Although (like Perry cox) I haven't done the appropriate leg work to say for sure if that's the case (probably isn't) but I listen to Jimmy carr and he does a lot of close to the bone jokes (child abuse, necrophilia, people with special needs etc).

Check this chick out.... and this is pretty tame for her

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st49UflCFQc

 

[krazykidd]

First , those videos are kinda old .

Second , they can do it , because they are subjects of racism . It depends on the joke , like most of dave chappel jokes make fun of black peoples habbots and white peoples views of them . Him having been the object of racism can joke about it . How many white comics can honestly say they have been the object of "true" racism . I say true racism meaning , they have been degraded due to the color of their skin as opposed to just " feeling" that they were when they really weren't ( the difference between , being treated badly by someone that is racist rather than being treated poorly by someone that happened to be of another race).

That being said i am black and i don't really like most black comics for this exact reason. It depends on the situation and the relevance of what they say . If it's an anecdot , i don't mind it as much as if they are just saying it to say it . Or if it's true.

An example is when chris rock asks : " who's more racist? White people or black people? Black people , because black people hate black people too!".

Now you could read into that and say , he's saying all white people are racist , or you could understand that racism effects everyone , and black people also have their issues. As in we are all human and have our flaws .

I think it depends on how it's delivered , but having experienced something and making a joke about it , is better than just making shit up for a cheap laugh . Especially on a sensitive subject .

What does the age of the vid have to do with my point?


I know the best subjects to make jokes of are the ones you have lived through and are like stories from your life. I just think they should diversify from this "black people are like X and white people are like Y".

I also think it's weird they want to stop racism but unintentionally separating the room by listing difference. I know nobody is going "OMG, I am so offended by these jokes" but it is there.

Well the age of the vids do make an importance . You have to show that your point is still relevant today , as opposed to 5 years ago . You know things move foward . Not to say that it's not valid , but i find black comics doing less of these jokes "Today" as opposed to 5 -10 years ago .

Also, a comedians job is not to stop racism , it is to make people laugh. A way to make people laugh , is to take subjects like racism , put it in a real situation , and exagerate it a Lot. They point out stereotypes , situations , and exagerate them to some extente . In a sense ridiculising , the situation , making it seem silly. This of course depends entirely on the comedian . Dave chapelle is good ( imo) at dealing with racism in manner where it seems just silly the sheer stupidness of racism.

 

[Something Amyss]

I chose them clips 'cos they are all black comics doing "blacks are like X and whites are like Y" ... except for the one of Dave saying "I am sick of racism".

You also chose to ignore my on-topic commentary for an aside, in this case to explain why you chose clips (comedians, actually) I chose to be not particularly funny.

 

[Zen Toombs]

I thourght you were reffering to some comic book publisher I didnt know about :/

differences will always be there...we can laugh about it or get up-tight about it

Thou hast stolen the words from mine mouth, even in the confusion over the title of this page. I salute you sir.

Comedians will always draw from their experiences, and each subgroup of America (be it race, religion, gender or whatever) will alter your experience.

 

[Random Fella]

Pretty much
If you make a joke about a white person, it's not racist
If a white man say's anything it's therefore racist or sexist
White males are unfortunately silent victims in race and gender abuse, as everyone looks to them as the abusers, rather than the takers of racism.
I may have gone a bit off topic, but that's the truth

But you're ignoring the different social standing. I'm not going to deny that it's possible to be racist against white people but its pretty negligible.

When a black (or any un-privileged person) makes a joke at the expense of the dominant group they're weakening that dominance. When the dominant group makes a joke at the expense of the oppressed they're further oppressing them. There's a difference between punching up and kicking down.

I'm actually stating the social standing, that standing that white people are supposedly the 'bad guys' when it comes to race, and to talk about the white race in a negative tone is fine whereas in the other circumstance, it is found extremely rude.

That's not what I mean my social standing. White people have more power and privilege in society than black people. Jokes directed at black people are bad because they reinforce this. Jokes directed at white people DON'T, so are less of a deal.

Also black people aren't under privileged, they have now got the same or more rights than a white person in law.

In law maybe. But you can't deny there's still significant systemic racism directed at them.

Black people may be less privileged in the community due to their wages and such, but that's the fault of their own habits to not learn, and not strive for good jobs, this isn't because the "White man" is putting them down, but due to the culture they have that has come from each other and their parents to not strive hard, for example many black people live in communities full of thieves and under achievers, I'm not saying it's because they are black that they do not get the best jobs, but because of the background they are brought into that makes them not try as hard. If one person from that place where to study properly, which is available to them for free, just as it is for someone of a different race, there is no reason they cannot achieve as highly and using their race as an excuse for underachievement is racist in itself.
" Jokes directed at black people are bad because they reinforce this. Jokes directed at white people DON'T, so are less of a deal."
Jokes against white people reinforce many stereotypes, I don't see how if a white man makes a joke about a black man it should be more offensive than if a black person made a joke about a white person. They are both stereotypical and racist, showing in society we are racist as we allow racism to flow one way but not the other, whereas we should deny it on all fronts.
I wish to see a white man make the jokes the comedians in the OT did, and see the amount of abuse they would get from the public.