This is the double standard of this country. I am sure if it had been an Asian person you all would have found it funny. Its just a joke, nobody with a brain believes this was for real.
I don't believe Asian-americans have a 200 year history of bondage in this country do they? What would you say if someone made a holocaust joke at the expense of a Jewish person? I'm sorry but I can't really buy any explanations which claim this is ok.
If you think Asians had it easy, you're dead wrong. California railroads. Japanese internment camps. That's enough on that subject. And if you want to talk about slavery, we can talk about mestizos. The b*stard children of the oppressing Spanish and the oppressed Indians. Blacks aren't the only people in the history of the Americas to get a bad deal. Ask the Indians. So make whatever jokes you want. In the end, it's just humor.
excellent post. Lets not forget the person who created the Japanese interment camps is also considered one of the greatest presidents in history.
Excellent post Ender, I really think the Native Americans were treated much worse than African-Americans in this country's past. As evidence, just think about mow many Native Americans you see on a daily basis, not very many. You know why, because they were pretty much wiped off the face of Earth. On a different note, I guess those of you who are offended by this never watch Chapelle's Show. He plays on black stereotypes and slavery all the time, but I don't recall anyone here being offended by what he says, just that he's one of the funniest guys alive.
Interesting take. What if the author of this prank is a black man? Would that change everyone's opinion? This should be in the D&D. DD
Of course it would. Blacks can make jokes about themselves and every other race. Anytime a white person makes a similar joke then they are a piece of ****. Ridiculous double standard. Get over yourselves and maybe the rest of world will too. Yes I know that racism still exists. Yes I know people still get oppressed by the man. There are plenty of great people that instead of crying about it, they used it as motivation to better themselves. Let the bashing begin because since I'm white and I say this, I am obviously a racist.
Sorry, but this is such bull****. I just watched some standups on Comedy Central and no less than two white comedians made jokes about Blacks, Asians and Latinos that are equal to the jokes that African-American comedians make about other races. Perhaps I missed the big outcry by African-Americans when one of those comedians landed a gig on SNL a couple years later.
You cant tell me that there are jokes that AA's can tell that whites cannot. Those jokes are not just limited to their own race either.
I've heard many other white comedians tell the type of jokes I heard the white comedians say. One of these people is now on SNL and I've yet to hear any backlash against him. Maybe it's because the whole "Black people can tell one kind of joke and others can't" is a bull**** urban legend. I think it's white people who think that a black person telling an off color joke about another race gives them some sort of license to be a real racist, not a comedic one.
I dont think it is that at all. I think off color jokes are funny no matter who is telling it or who it is about. They are jokes. It is meant in jest and fun. The double standard is what I think is stupid.
And I'm asking where this so-called double standard is. Give me a specific example of a white comedian who was lambasted for telling a similar race joke to the ones that some African-Americans use.
Thats the point, no one does it because it isnt PC. Here is an article that I found, I thought it was a decent read. Honesty in Stereo by Michael Protos, staff writer If people can't handle brutal honesty, they may not want to stay at this forum," said Aidil Polanco, a junior journalism and mass communication major and one of the two mediators, to start the session. Blue & White Staff Manager Seth Shore accompanied Polanco as a mediator. The participants responded well to Polanco's challenge and offered candid opinions on the conditions of race relations in racial humor, in the media and in issues of achieving greater equality. The overall atmosphere created the sense that, although the issues of representation and fair treatment have improved over the years, more work must be done for individuals of all races to look past skin color to fully share and understand each other's experiences. "Until I stop having to fight for affirmative action or wondering if my children will be able to come to this university or wondering where federal funding is going to go, and is it going to be proportional, I can't laugh," said Tyra Moore, a senior psychology major and president of the Black Student Movement. Moore said she cannot laugh at the racial jokes delivered by some white comedians because of the persistent concerns she expressed. The first subject of the night referred to white comedians who are criticized for making racist jokes to predominantly African-American audiences, à la "Comic View" on BET. Participants generally agreed that African-American comedians who use similar material about their own minority are not criticized. "The only white comedians I would laugh at are ones on 'Comic View' because I feel like they have been screened," Moore said. Darrel Johnson, a junior applied sciences major, argued that different opinions on comedy create double standards. Why should a white person not be permitted to make racial jokes about African-Americans if Afircan-Americans can make racial jokes about white people, he reasoned? "[Comedy] is a good way to get people to start thinking about things they might not have thought of before," said Samantha Terry, a junior psychology major and representative of Masala and of Students for the Advancement of Race Relations. Ethnic jokes have become a fixture of many headlining stand-up comedians. The discussion raised the argument that if one finds the material offensive, one should not choose to watch it. Seldom will a person be chained to a chair and forced to watch Chris Rock perform. However, the forum also raised the question about drawing the line between humor in good taste and blatant racism. "I can't say I have been extremely offended. I tend not to take comedy seriously unless it is something that is out and out racist," Terry said. The levity of comedy does not extend to acquaintances attempting to be funny when it involves a white person telling a racist joke, according to certain panel members. The possibility of underlying racism can create awkward tension due to varying sensitivity on racial issues. "You might really believe what you are saying and that scares me," Moore said. "If I overheard someone I didn't know making a racist joke, I'd be angry," Terry said. The foundation of this argument rests upon the controversy of representation. Can comedians of all races represent African-Americans through the usage of humor? If so, does this privilege extend to all races, or just those that can achieve stardom? The same theory includes other minorities representing their own cultures in conceivably derogatory humor. Participants discussed this when the topic of minority epresentation on television programs was raised. "Native Americans are not represented at all. When we [Native Americans] see a Native American on TV, everybody notices," Samantha Richardson, representative of the Carolina Indian Circle, said. Richardsoin recalled an incident at a Native American culture museum where someone indicated that the museum presented the culture of an "extinct" people. Lack of adequate representation proliferates these false views. Other participants grieved minority portrayal in the portrayal of minorities in the media, which nurtures stereotypes. "What happened to the professional black family? You look at TV now-you'd think it doesn't exist. There definitely needs to be more realistic representation of black people on TV," Terry said. Forum participants analyzed television programs with minority characters such as "The Cosby Show" and "The Wayans Bros." Shore introduced the opinion of Professor Chuck Stone, Walter Spearman Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, that African-Americans play the role of "magical friend" to a white person or the role of jester on many shows. Both stock characters encourage stereotypes about African-Americans as ignorant fools or as characters who are only capable of helping others and not themselves. Television bears a large responsibility for the creation and the proliferation of these stereotypes and the continued dominance of ratings by majority group programs. "White shows make the most money. TV is a business and it is unfortunate, but I don't think it's going to change," Jermain Reeves, a senior history major and representative of SARR, said. Whiteness sells. Television programs must appeal to the largest possible audience; therefore they must appeal to whites. As long as that remains true, social inequality will stunt the growth of racial harmony. James HaltoM, a sophomore political science major, expressed his concerns about shows like "The Real World" that feature conflicts between interracial cohabitants. "I think it's a big problem because it teaches young people that we can't live together, we can't interact in a peaceful environment," Haltom said. Television stations and programs oriented toward minority audiences are not free of blame. Cita, BET's flamboyant animated veejay, came under fire from the panelists at the forum for propagating negative stereotypes of blacks incapable of speaking proper English. "If African-Americans or Native Americans or Asian-Americans perpetuate the stereotypes that exist, then there is never going to be any reconciliation," Moore said. Regardless of race or ethnicity, pandering to stereotypes exacerbates social inequality by reaffirming those views. Rhiannon Fisher, a sophomore drama major, offered an example she encountered here at UNC. People have asked her how often she brushes her teeth and whether she shaves her legs and armpits because she is British. The image of Austin Powers flashing a disgusting set of teeth reflects these stereotypes. Fisher said she never realized that his repulsive dental condition was reflecting an American stereotype. "How terrible that must be to experience on a daily basis," Fisher said. As a British student studying in the U.S. this semester, she was unaware of others' stereotypes about Europeans until confronted by inquiring Americans. Through this uncomfortable experience, she could identify with others, especially minorities, who receive similar comments. The notion of identifying with a specific group soon led to a discussion about racial conditions at UNC. Reeves said the lack of faculty diversity was the biggest obstacle to overcome. He said there are not enough minority professors in this school, except in specific departments like African-American studies. "If I have a black professor, I can better relate to that particular person," Reeves said. Shore added that "any type of common background" offers students an instantly deeper connection. He introduced the comparison to a student and professor both hailing from Montana, which certainly is not a common occurrence at a university in North Carolina comprised by an majority of in-state students. The participants argued whether such a connection should hold any influence on a student's ability to succeed in the course. While the students agreed that academic success should not be influenced by a student-teacher connection of any form, added diversity broadens horizons for many students who may not have had the opportunity to know people of different ethnicities in their hometown. Encouraging campus diversity requires differentiation from self-segregation. "I don't think we should automatically assume that because people are hanging out with their race that they are purposely segregating themselves," Terry said. Haltom, who is founding a race unity club, said that the hardest step in forming interracial relationships is overcoming the fear of initiation. He argues people have a comfort zone that does "not necessarily mean that we don't want to interact with other races," but makes contact difficult for many people. The forum encouraged the exploration of new ideas to improve UNC race relations. It sought to bring together leaders of all groups representing various minorities or cultural groups. The focus of the forum was not relations between any specific set of minorities, but to offer any person or group identifying with race relations issues an opportunity to speak out. Judging by the participants' positive reactions, the meeting accomplished its goals. Michael Protos is a sophomore journalism and mass communication major from Radnor, PA. He may be reached at protos@email.unc.edu
I don't see anything in that article that comes close to proving your point. One person saying they can't laugh doesn't equal a double standard. That just proves she doesn't have a sense of humor. Show me a specific example of a white comedian who made an off-color racial joke similar to those made by some African-American comedians who was then lambasted and criticized for making said joke. People do make those jokes because I heard them with my own ears this morning. One of the comedians is now on SNL. I don't recall any outrage. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me.
I never said that it proved anything, I said it was an interesting read. Settle down. I'll try to find something if it is that important to you. I'm not the D&D pro like you therefore I can have a thought provoking discussion where two people do not agree without getting all pissy.
I never said Asians or other minorities haven't been oppressed in this country. Let's not get into a "we have a more tragic history than you do" debate. I simply addressed the fact that the very part of history that this joke is playing upon dealt with African-Americans. It's the context that makes it insulting. Were there to be a similar entry with a picture of an asian man trumpeting him as being "adept at building railroads" or something of that nature it would be equally wrong. I don't think there would be as much of an outcry if it weren't for the context of the "joke". Frankly, it may be that i just don't think things like this are funny. Perhaps I've never acquired that sense of humor.
