When did you realize that Polack jokes were also racist?

Answer 1

In Korea I heard a lot of smilers about the Japanese and Chinese.

Haole jokes and Hawaiian jokes used to ride heavy over the islands.

Mexican workers in this country have plenty of Gringo jokes, and I've never been around any Native American tribe that didn't have LOTS of jokes about other tribes, Hispanics and other non-natives.

I used to occasionally have to drive a truck with a bumper-sticker WHITEY WILL PAY on the back window .... belonged to a NA acquaintance. In an area surrounded by Acoma, Laguna, Zuni and Navajo Rez it was still unusual enough to draw a raised fist salute from NA pedestrians until they saw it was a white man driving.

Racism appears to be a matter of concern mainly to whites who don't wish to be tagged with the label, even if it's ethnic whites being discussed.

I never heard a Polish joke until I was in my 20s. By that time it was clear in my mind a slur was intended.

Answer 2

Honestly, yeah I do find some racist jokes funny. I know I know, I'm a horrible person but I'm just being honest. I also find some sexist jokes funny when people know how to tell them (the typical go back to the kitchen jokes don't amuse me, I think they're retarded). I do think some people are overly sensitive when it comes to jokes. I'm one of those people that laughs/makes jokes about things you probably shouldn't make fun of, but theres like a line you know and I just try not to overly cross that line. I think people should stop being so serious and just laugh. The third question reminds me of how me and my friends were telling racist jokes at a party but then one of our friends got all insulted and left. Kill joy. But it was still funny though...

Answer 3

I just thought they were in fun--like Aggie jokes--until I was an adult and understood things better (I never told any myself).
However, I did hear the best Polack joke ever, and it's not racist--please read on.
When you hear someone telling such jokes, just ask:
"Do you speak Polish?"
They will say "no."
Then ask: "How does it feel to be dumber than a Polack?"

Answer 4

The term Polack is even considered defamatory or denigrating. And I knew that as a child, as my parents taught me not to use terms of national origin that were biased or meant to make fun of denigrate.

If a term is offensive to the group it describes, it is a no-no IMO. Why should I make fun of another group of people...am I so great that I
'rise above' others to sit on my lofty perch and sneer? Even if it sparks humorous reactions in many, that does not make it right or kind.

Answer 5

My husband and I know lots of Polish people and we are of that descent also.
We only tell jokes amongst each other.
It's usually a race to see who can repeat the most often heard jokes the fastest.
Just because we accept this among ourselves, doesn't make us racist, and we wouldn't do this with a Polish person we don't know.
We didn't/don't teach our children negative name calling words for any race.

Answer 6

In Texas we had our own version of the Pollock joke. It was the Aggie joke. We made fun of the people who had attended Texas A & M. I don't consider the jokes racist. I've heard way too many Blond Jokes but I don't get offended. It's kind of flattering to be considered blond when most of my hair has turned silver.

Answer 7

When I married a Polish fella. I had never heard them before. Then I had 4 beautiful Polish/Irish children and really started to resent the stupid jokes. I went through the entire encyclopedia and found all of the famous Polish people. I made a list of them and every time some idiot would tell me one, I'd hand them a list of some of the "dumb" Pollocks like Copernicus and General Pulaski, etc. I'm divorced now-but my children are still Polish and I'm incredibly proud of all of them.

Answer 8

I lived near a lot of Polish-Americans, and they were mostly nice people. I never thought Polish jokes were funny.

However, I have heard the same jokes told over and over, with just the race and a couple of details changed, about all races, blondes and women included. They are still racist, no matter who they are told about, and they are still not funny.

Answer 9

they are -- since they are about a class of folks that really does not exist i do not see the problem -- go to the map and point on the the country of polack!!! i am from poland and I'm polish and i enjoy the jokes!!!

Answer 10

When I taught in a foreign country, I had a wonderful Polish boy in my 9th grade class. He told all the same old jokes, but they were about Russians! In my region, when I was a kid, they were about Italians. A Swedish friend said they told them about Finns. And so it goes!