It was that simple. It doesn't need the long, drawn out explanations some of these people give. I'm half black/half white, so I get jokes from both perspectives. Either way, its just someone (the comedian) trying to get someone (the audience) to laugh. Its completely harmless. These are most likely the same people that complain about God being used in the Pledge of Alliegance. Some people need to grow up and quit complaining about completely harmless things (such as comedians telling jokes).
Just because I know a little about this. 1. White comedians DO talk about black people but in an observational sense, although it is not as prevalent as the other side. When Jay Mohr or Bobby Slayton come to town check out their shows, they are laced with black observational humor, funny as hell and Al Sharpton hasn't protested yet. 2. Black comics do jokes on white people because it has been proven that they LOVE it! In almost every show that I do, some white guy wants me to say something cruel about someone he's with, "giv'em ****" is what they say. I do it, and they love it! Comedy audiences are mostly white therefore black comics develop addressing the obvious differences, the same as with fat people and women. 3. Comics are to be held accountable individually. Whatever Denis Leary says only Denis Leary should address. To spend time on the speculation of exactly what a comic meant is a waste of time. My recommendation to people that are offended is to chill. If Lopez ain't worried about it, why should we?
