Why Racist Humor?

by Jesus

Racial  Jokes are very offensive. Often, people make jokes about other races with out noticing.  They also make racist comments subconsciously  (with out knowing ).  People do this to try to be funny but they wouldn't like it if they did the same to them behind their back.  Racist jokes are almost always hurtful, because it is humor at someone else's expense.
   

People make jokes about another race because they feel insecure about their own identity. They can't find another way to feel secure. They just tease and tease and the result is the continuation of stereotypes. For example African American they say that they have big butts and big lips.  Latinos they say we mow lawns and fix cars.  Whites are labeled as racist people who can't dance and act nerdy.  Blondes are called airheads.  Asians have to fit the stereotype of fixing computers and driving tricked-out Hondas. These are just  a few stereotypes that people laugh about.  Except it's pretty hard to laugh when it becomes an expectation of what you are supposed to do. 

 

                              Where it all comes from
    All this comes from way back in history when there was a little thing called segregation. This was when the "colored" people African Americans,Latinos,and other races that weren't white had to stay in one area and experience socialization separately.  This was when all other races than white were separated. The drinking fountains that the "colored" had were dirty and small. The drinking fountains that the whites had were the complete opposite, pristine and clean. Whenever a "colored" went to a restaurant the had to sit at the back. Some places wouldn't serve him.

So in the process, we had to create the "other" and make general statements.  "See those guys, they're real dark and real loud," and it was an issue of judgment.  Then these judgements became the lens for viewing the race forever.  Humor became one of the things that reinforced these ideas.  So radio shows like "Amos and Andy" included two whites who made fun of black stereotypes.  Old movies and t.v. shows ignored the Latino population. Then, when there were finally "black" shows like Family Matters, they continued with white stereotypes that minorities could mock. 
 
I think the civil rights activist worked real hard for our rights.  I can't believe some of the things they fought for are still going on in our country; especially here in Arizona where there are many laws against the Hispanics . Dolores Huerta fought for the farm workers right and yet today there are bosses who threat the workers that they are going to call "la migra" which is the border patrol.  Countless African-American civil rights leaders helped transform race relations through groups like SNIC and SLCC and leaders like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. Groups such as AIM helped Native Americans fight for civil rights as well.  

When we turn race into a joke, it's a slap in the face to the heritage of the Civil Rights movements.  When we laugh at stereotypes we reinforce old ideas in the name of humor.  

Photo Credit 

Radio Revisited