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Racial Jokes Make ‘News’ in America

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AFP, Oct. 30, 2008

As Barack Obama closes in on his bid to become the first African-American US president, racial politics have burst into mainstream media with the release this month of two “news” shows anchored by black comedians.

But while some applaud the emergence of minority viewpoints in prime time, others worry that even in jest, the negative stereotypes show just how little has changed when it comes to racism in America.

On the debut of “Chocolate News,” a half-hour sketch show on the Comedy Central cable channel, comedian David Alan Grier wasted no time joking about Obama’s mixed race heritage.

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Grier, 53, came up with the idea for the show more than a year ago, after seeing Jon Stewart, the host of the Daily Show, get an uncomfortable response when he tried to make a joke about Obama.

“David heard that and thought ‘Wait a minute, I am the person who can absolutely make jokes about Barack Obama,’“ said Lauren Corrao, president of programming at Comedy Central.

In contrast to the brash, curseword-laden skits on “Chocolate News,” comedian D.L. Hughley’s weekly show on CNN aims to meld a comedian’s viewpoint with a mainstream news channel.

The first episode of “D.L. Hughley Breaks the News” featured the 45-year-old reviewing popular Hollywood images of black men as president, interviewing white supporters of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and enticing former White House press secretary Scott McClellan to announce his endorsement of Obama.

But not everyone was a fan.

A writer on the blog blackpoliticalthought.com called it “an offensive show that perpetuates the negative stereotypes that have dogged blacks in this country for too long.”

The blogger criticized Hughley’s comments that an Obama health care plan would provide “grills,” or metal teeth caps for all, and the appearance of a guest dressed as a pimp who said “politicians are pimps and the electorate are their ho’s (whores).”

A CNN spokeswoman referred AFP to a statement that said: “This is a comedy show and there is no expectation that people will agree with D.L. all the time.”

{snip}

While the emergence of racial comedy on mainstream news is uncharted territory, controversial jokes about race and prejudice have long been fodder for comedians including the late Richard Pryor, Paul Mooney, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock.

Comedians can use humor to raise discussions rarely heard elsewhere in society, according to Gary Weaver, a professor of cross-cultural studies at American University.

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Original article

(Posted on October 30, 2008)

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Comments

1 — James wrote at 2:09 AM on November 1:

It’s amazing how black comedians can make fun of white people in skits and jokes, where if it were the other way around, the white comedian’s career would suddenly be over. And havn’t you ever noticed these home security commercials, where the perps trying to break into the house are always WHITE!. And what about in the movies, where you can always tell who’s going to be the bad guy from the good guy based solely on their race. If the black guy is bad, it’s for a very good reason, like white racism, or if he’s really bad in the beginning of the movie, he see’s the moral right in the end and suddenly becomes a good guy. Or what about all those black scientist, Brain surgeons and computer geeks on TV that has little to do with reality.
It’s know wonder these young white educated idiots thinks there’s no such thing as racial differences.

2 — Oscar wrote at 10:28 PM on November 1:

November 5th is the end of logic and common sense in the United States. The borders will NOT be closed. Illegals will NOT be deported. Minorities will get endless loans for starting their own businesses, and college loans, that will be forgiven. Welfare Rats who have made a comfortable living on gub’mint handouts and freebies, will get more handouts. Prisons will become more racially balanced, as black judges and gub’mint encouraged judges drop the charges against more and more minorities normally on their way to prison for Assault, robbery, rape, child molestation, home invasions, and homicide, to balance the racial makeup in prisons and jails. Crime will escalate as it has in central Florida. Criminals will get bolder and bolder, as laws against minorities get laxer and laxer. Middle class working Americans will pay for more police, more handouts to have-nots, and the wages of middle-class, and pensions will be tapped to help foot the bill. The internet will be “Monitored” and a fee will be assessed to access it. Everyone’s online activity will be monitored to determine if you are a hidden Conservative trying to overthrow the Socialist Agenda of Obama. Your Bank Accounts and assets will be measured when Retirement time comes, to determine how much income you NEED to get by. The rest will be taxed. Socialism destroyed Mexico’s economy, NOW that same Socialism (voted in, by ignorant Bush haters, homosexuals, Illegals and Limo Liberals) will destroy the American economy first, then the Americans who supported it. The silent (lazy) majority, who did not vote, will live to see the day they regret it. Their children will live it. Their grandchildren will live to see the gradual White Genocide. America will be one big Mexico, with human rodents trying to survive the dictatorship of drug cartels. Like Mexico NOW.

3 — hugo wrote at 7:07 PM on November 3:

It is important that we get our voice back. And the best way to do that is verbally tear down Obama every chance we get. It is pretty clear that Obama will have a core group around him that will treat him like a Saint, including many in the press. It is critical that we associate Obama with the worst sort of racial politics on the left. By the time his 4 years are up the left will be begging for him to go. The defensive posture of calling everyone who disagrees with him a racist will wear pretty thin quickly. After that it will be a whole new ballgame.


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