Do racist remarks and jokes by black comedians about other races offend you?

Question

This is in response to Micheal Richards racial slurs toward some black patrons at his show at the Laugh Factory. Some have mentioned that if it were a black comedian it would be OK. I am saying it is NOT OK for anybody to be disrespected by racial slurs. Making fun of the differences that are generally allowable? Yes. Shock jokes? No. Even from black comedians it is not funny and I think many blacks agree. It makes us uncomfortable and if we could turn red we probably would. I do not think THOSE jokes are funny even if the comedians otherwise are funny.

What do you guys think?

Answer 1

I have a high threshold of tolerance for things. I watched this one white comediane spend half of her routine saying things that, being black, could have offended me, including the N-word. The first time I watched it I was a little upset then I re-watched it and she was making valid, legitimate complaints about every race and the jokes were VERY funny. I found that she was no worse than Richard Pryor or Chris Rock.

So no, it doesn't really bother me if anybody is doing it to make a legitimate and funny joke. Sarah Silverman, who is white and Jewish, can be quite "offensive" but the jokes are often funny and trying to make a point.

What Michael Richards did was not funny though. He was clearly trying to be rude, mean and hateful to get back at the hecklers. He's a comedian and should know better. He didn't try to be funny or make a joke about the situation, he just went into this racist tirade and that's the difference. Also, lynching, no matter what race, is never really, you know, that funny. At All.

Answer 2

I think that you are absolutely right. When they make those racial slurs it really makes them look stupid, uneducated and ignorant. I think when a black person tries to be funny and talk about other black people and the white people and other races are laughing their probably saying in their minds. You stupid black idiot we put you in the same category of the people that your taking about, your no different. If your a comedian and the only thing that you have to talk about is your race or another race to make people laugh, go to the unemployment office and started looking for a new job, because you serious need one.

Answer 3

I don't think racism, in itself its funny, but I do, however, think a lot of things that comedians do or say are funny. I am not aware of the joke you are speaking of, so I can't speak of that one. I think that most comedians just want people to laugh and have a good time, and a lot of them make fun of all races, not just one, including their own race. I am Hispanic and you know, as well as anyone else, there are a million and one jokes for me, but I just laugh it off. To me, it's not different then fat jokes. Yes, most imply that is how all blacks, hispanic, whatever are, but that doesn't define who you are. Be proud to be who u r.

Answer 4

I think that most comedians are just trying to get laughs and when your at a comedy show or watching comedians, its honestly all in fun. There is so much pain in the world that makes us sad, why can't a comedian no matter what color they are and what race they are comment or say whatever they want in fun. We know attending a show or watching them on TV that their sole purpose is to make us laugh and most black comedians speak what is really going on in the world and that is what makes us laugh, they poke fun at other races as well as their own with the reality of life experiences, that when said out loud just makes you laugh. I don't think jokes are targeting one race and if one race makes jokes at another in fun, I think we should treat it exactly as it was meant as a JOKE..... As for Michael Richards case, he was not making jokes he was talking about lynching and that took the humor out of it. Most black comedians are usually joking about other races dancing or speech most is harmless but they don't joke about death or harming them.

Answer 5

Offensive, particularly because they are NOT funny. Good comedians can make satirical comments ABOUT racism, but bad ones can only make jokes that rely on racism for the supposed humor. But embarrassed or shocked laugh responses are not evidence there was any true humor involved.

Answer 6

If anybody is stupid and ignorant enough to make a racist joke against anybody I consider that person an idiot.Just like the N word nobody can say it,so that includes black people.

Answer 7

yes I really do get offended. I am just curious to why it is ok for other races to socially mock the White race uncensored and publically but it is forbidden for a White to say the same remarks about other races. Explain this to me please, and don't bring up the whole slave factor either. White Jews were burned alive and gased, starved, beaten to death by the millions. Italians were the actual first slaves not Africans. As a matter of fact Africans took over Italian villages, raped their woman and killed the men and thats how the cecilian race began. So please explain to me.

Answer 8

There are times that you have to say things in such a way to elicit subconscious responses. I do not for the most part like racial based humor unless there is a point to it, such as to point out how stupid it,or people who think that way are.

Lenny Bruce, Carroll O'Connor and Richard Pryor are some of my heroes, they said things that were offensive to get people to think about themselves and if that was really what they sounded like to those who heard them.

Answer 9

Cheap laughs. There's enough to laugh at in this world without playing the race card.

Answer 10

some times because people say that all native americans drink lysol and lysterine, i mean iv never swollowed lysterine and i cant stand the smell of lysol (i prefer frebreeze)!