The appropriateness of racial humor is not so much based on what you say but on how you react when people from the community you are addressing respond.
For example, you might think you're "making fun of stereotypes," but people from that community just think you're supporting stereotypes. When that happens, I think you have a responsibility to respond by changing your approach rather than criticizing those who are criticizing you. That reveals your character and determines your allyship.
Personally I feel people need to change their criteria of whats funny.
For example :
" I was madder than a legless Ethiopian watching a doughnut roll down the high way" - Larry the cable guy.
Now its funny to all those ignorant "rural conservative " because
1- it reinforces stereotypes of people they probably don't know. Ethiopians don't have as much exposure in this country as lets say the asian american community or the gay community so its an easy target they don't think too much about.
It is interesting. Didn't Chappelle drop his show because of this problem of how humor can be interpreted in so many ways? As a responsible comedian, he started to question whether segments of his audience was responsible and self-reflective enough to properly synthethize his racial humor. I notice myself being far more comfortable with racial humor in a diverse group who are all on similar pages, but add someone whom I don't know as well and I hear how that humor could be counterproductive.
The appropriateness of racial humor is not so much based on what you say but on how you react when people from the community you are addressing respond.
For example, you might think you're "making fun of stereotypes," but people from that community just think you're supporting stereotypes. When that happens, I think you have a responsibility to respond by changing your approach rather than criticizing those who are criticizing you. That reveals your character and determines your allyship.
ituzzip 1 year ago
Personally I feel people need to change their criteria of whats funny.
For example :
" I was madder than a legless Ethiopian watching a doughnut roll down the high way" - Larry the cable guy.
Now its funny to all those ignorant "rural conservative " because
1- it reinforces stereotypes of people they probably don't know. Ethiopians don't have as much exposure in this country as lets say the asian american community or the gay community so its an easy target they don't think too much about.
tapthepope 2 years ago
and 2- a complete lack of empathy.
None of the people in the audience stopped to think about what it would be like to go hungry let alone be a paraplegic.
I doubt any of those people know what extreme poverty means. Not that I do or anything but I don't go around making dumb ass jokes.
tapthepope 2 years ago
I feel the problem isn't humor in itself.
I believe humor reflects personality, its a peephole into human character.
and with that in mind if you take a second look at larry the asshole you can say he is severely deficient of any at all.
...a bit scathing but still my 2 cents.
tapthepope 2 years ago
"and [...] i don't go around making dumb ass jokes"
Amen and ditto
27Morpheus 2 years ago
It is interesting. Didn't Chappelle drop his show because of this problem of how humor can be interpreted in so many ways? As a responsible comedian, he started to question whether segments of his audience was responsible and self-reflective enough to properly synthethize his racial humor. I notice myself being far more comfortable with racial humor in a diverse group who are all on similar pages, but add someone whom I don't know as well and I hear how that humor could be counterproductive.
MochiMC 2 years ago