Is This Racist?

[raum]

I was checking out new comics, and saw this on youtube.

Is this racist? You be the judge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbfS6f-h ... re=related

If you think it is racist, state why, please.


(btw, check out Kathleen Madigan. She is Hilarious!!!)

[happywonton]

I don't really think it was racist but he did play on the stereotype that all black people talk like that and how black women (or black mothers) talk by saying "Oh Lord... something something" but the guy wasn't funny and I'm not really sure if his stuttering was because of an actual problem or if he was trying to be funny.

In the end, that shit was stupid.

[raum]

this is what I thought.

He basically made fun of the way black comics make make fun of white people... and have been since Richard Pryor dared to do imitate an exaggerated demeanor of faux civility and privelidge. Everyone from Eddie Murphy to Kat Williams has done that same exact portrayal... not to mention three people a week on def comedy jam. He was stuttering just like Richard Pryor was NOTORIOUS for stuttering, and he used a delivery that recalled Richard Pryor's inflection, his awkward pauses, and his sidelong glances - all of which were considered signs of weak comedy before Richard Pryor mastered them.

He also said he was writing these jokes for a black comic like Richard Pryor started writing comedy for white comedians, and then he was thrust up on stage with his own material, just like St. Pryor.

I think the kid was paying tribute to Richard Pryor, a personal saint of mine.. and in that case, this is Brilliant! BUT I can't figure out if it is intentional. I think comedy has gotten so infused with Richard Pryor it could be possible for someone to pay tribute to him and not even realize it, but this is CLEARLY a comedy student and I think he might have been fully aware of it.

As far as it being racist... I think it is, but not derogatory. It just shows how delivery and context are inherent to the delivery of comedy.

[darklighter1]

this is what I thought.

He basically made fun of the way black comics make make fun of white people... and have been since Richard Pryor dared to do imitate an exaggerated demeanor of faux civility and privelidge. Everyone from Eddie Murphy to Kat Williams has done that same exact portrayal... not to mention three people a week on def comedy jam. He was stuttering just like Richard Pryor was NOTORIOUS for stuttering, and he used a delivery that recalled Richard Pryor's inflection, his awkward pauses, and his sidelong glances - all of which were considered signs of weak comedy before Richard Pryor mastered them.

He also said he was writing these jokes for a black comic like Richard Pryor started writing comedy for white comedians, and then he was thrust up on stage with his own material, just like St. Pryor.

I think the kid was paying tribute to Richard Pryor, a personal saint of mine.. and in that case, this is Brilliant! BUT I can't figure out if it is intentional. I think comedy has gotten so infused with Richard Pryor it could be possible for someone to pay tribute to him and not even realize it, but this is CLEARLY a comedy student and I think he might have been fully aware of it.

As far as it being racist... I think it is, but not derogatory. It just shows how delivery and context are inherent to the delivery of comedy.

Exactly. I think the stuttering and stammering were part of the act and it was his way of imitating a black comedian imitating a white guy. Not sure if it was a tribute to Pryor, maybe though. I didn't think the jokes themselves were all that funny but his delivery was with the cards and all. I think everyone has to calm down with the PC stuff. I think it's alright to laugh once in awhile at differences in the religions and races. Especially when a comedian does it (unless it's Michael Richards).

[zebulon69]

The best jews fun stories I ever heard were told by jews themselves. Colored people and Jews have a great sense of humor. To the contrary it is interesting to note that Arab community is an exception to this rule ! For them a joke is a racist insult !

[5829]

I saw this show, and the show basically ended after she asked the question. There was no discussion.
If you get a chance then watch it. It will be on again.


http://www.moronosphere.com/hiromi/2007 ... t_joke.php

I can't stop laughing at this "racist" joke

There must be a vibe today -- I'm chiming in with a post on "racist" humor. Before falling asleep last night, I was watching a Whoopi Goldberg special on Bravo. Toward the end, she tells three jokes, the last of which she says might anger "The Community." I perked up here, being a member of a "Community" myself. She tells two parrot jokes (not relevant here), and then ended with this joke (my typing can't capture her delivery -- you'll have to substitute her voice in your mind as you read):

Up in heaven, there was a little black baby. He was flying around happily, and then he sees God.

"Hi God!" he says.
"Hey there" says God.
"God," he asks, "can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Then I'll go over there!" ::Whoopi as little baby flitting over to God::
"God, since I have these little wings on my shoulders, am I an angel?"

::comedic pause::

"No nigger, you a bat."

I cracked right up, and am giggling as I type this. After she told that joke, she invited the audience to think about why they laughed, or why they didn't.

As best as I can tell, I laughed because
1) The surprise factor. God isn't supposed to say mean things like that to a baby -- one humorist (I can't remember who) once said that one essential element of comedy is surprise, to provide an unexpected ending to a narrative. Also, given her phrasing of God's reply, could God be black? Another surprise perhaps, given the persistence of received images of him as bearded old white man?
2) To build on the surprise factor of #1, isn't it also an amusing commentary on how persistent certain racial perceptions are despite our attempts to get rid of them? This isn't to blame or scold the audience, simply to remind us of the prevalence of these ideas; they're part of the ether, so to speak.
3) She "transgressed" current standards of sensitivity. (Please, I must ask that no one use the loaded pejorative "political correctness"), but
4) Would it be funny if a comedian of another race/ethnicity had told it?



http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/~jast/Number2/Espey.html
Multiculturalism and Humor
(too long to post here)

[raum]

Interesting, I laughed at whoopie's joke because (in order):

1. people presume all angels have wings.

2. anything that would ask God a question is not an angel.

3. that an angel would have to move closer to God to be in his countenance.

4. at the thought of winged babies

5. at the abruptness of the God in the joke.

6. at the tendency to presume oneself higher than one is, as evidence by the conclusion the baby comes to about his angelic assumption.

7. at the thought of seeing this as a silent cartoon in a Felix the cat style.

[AYHJA]

I was finally able to sustain a connection long enough to download this clip...

Man, I don't care what nobody say, that shit was funny...And I traditionally don't care for white comedians...I'm tired of my peoples confusing the word racist, with prejudice...The dude's act was great, I thought he set it up well, and that the idea to do it the way that he did it was CRAZY original...

See, in comedy, you have black people that make fun of white people...And generally, its funny...But I've not hardly seen a white guy pull off making fun of black folk...Not cause people think that its taboo, but it just don't...Hmm...Hard to put it into words...''vibe'' the same...There was a white guy who used to host BET...Can't remember his name but he was FUNNY AS SHIT and he could pull it off...

But, I'd also like to say...The difference in a black comedian making fun of white people and vice versa is about the same as a fat guy making jokes about fat people...A skinny guy telling the same joke as a fat guy about fat people would NEVER be as funny...Hope that helps it make more sense...

[raum]

Finally, Ty speaks up!

Did you see what I was saying about how he seems to have a lock on how Richard Pryor made making fun of white people an institution, but he is spinning it? It looks deliberate to me, but I am not sure, because so many things Pryor did have influenced comedy many of which were solid taboo on the stage before.., you can't hit a club without seeing some variation of something he did. Hard to tell.

If this kid is in comedy school, I would weigh money it is deliberate. Comedy schools study Pryor like Oxford studies Tolkien.

[shining2001uk]

dont really think its racist
my idea of racism is about intention, if you intend to cause offence then you can say almost anything in a racist manner
conversely, if you use words that are clearly 'racist' but ur intentions are innocent then I think that makes u ignorant rather than racist
i think the comic was making a parody of the genre of comedy ie black people vs white people, which I havent seen before so to me its original but i didnt laugh very much!