On this board, there are a number of folks that basically deny racism exists, and if it does, it MUST be Al Sharpton and the NAACPs fault for continually bringing up racial issues

Nighttimer has repeatedly said that blacks (and other minorities) need to help themselves, but there are institutional roadblocks as well.

I have been doing some comedy research lately- and I find it so interesting about how much REAL information and insight into racial issues comes from comedy- and how some racial progress is made by majority (read- white poeple) watching and accepting some of this humor, that is also very controversial at times.

Mom's Mabley (sp) made fun of black issues, without scaring white poeple

Bill Cosby was non-threatening of white poeple by his everyday life of normal middle class black poeple delivery

Richard Pryor, well, where to start with Richard Pryor? the man was ground breaking in every sense!

Now- we have a plethora of movies and comedy sitcoms that have been accepted into mainstream- and many of them, maybe purposefully, maybe by accident- have educated lots of folks, of any color, about the complexity of the issue- it is not a "black thing" that needs to be fixed- nor do white poeple need to do all the fixing- and the problems are complex and intricate and exist!

Now, the ultimate evolution of racial issues delivered through comedy - the Boondocks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boondocks...evision_series)

Harsh racial issues delivered through the eyes of a 10 year old black revolutionary (somewhere left of Castro) living with his middle class grandpa in the white suburbs. When "ganstalicious" gets shot, Huey says "I know how he can stop getting shot- how about going to college"

It is as about as politically charged as a show can be- and so funny it will make you tear up!

Looking at the racial debates on here, how polarized they are, and how easily these debates get closed on this board- I wander if this is not why we can't have honest debate about race in this country?

So my question is this-

1. Is humor a way to bridge the racial divide?

2. Are you familiar with The Boondocks comic strip/television show? If so, does it work in enlightening us on American racial issues?

I believe humor is effective when it is used effectively. If used universally it can be a nice way too bridge the divide. It has too be used in such a way that it does not cause offense which is very tricky. However it should be used to do so if it is used to promote additional harmony I think.

1. Is humor a way to bridge the racial divide?

No, not necessarily. When I watch black performers in front of mostly black crowds, I find some of what they say is offensive. Humor is an avenue to ridicule and disrespect people and often it's not really a bridge as much as it's a release of hostility.

Also comedians often reinforce negative stereotypes, see the Mind of Menedez. I can't stand his comedy, he talks about blacks and fried chicken, etc. It's cheap humor and relies on ignorant and unwanted stereotypes.

2. Are you familiar with The Boondocks comic strip/television show? If so, does it work in enlightening us on American racial issues?

I'm familiar with it. I don't read it at all, but I see it in the paper. To be honest most comic strips are pretty lame. Aside from Dilbert which is relevant to me and sometimes Doonesbury, I find most of the strips to be forced and not very interesting/funny. I can just picture most of the strip writers sweating a deadline and cranking out something.

My question is, why are "racial issues" so one-sided? It's like "hey white people, are you enlightened about black people's problems yet?".

If you wonder why there's no race debate, I can tell you honestly that "white people" have their own problems. I don't mean to belittle issues of race, but there is a bit of self-absorption when you expect everyone to be worried about YOUR problems.

Again, I don't mean to make light of problems blacks may face but I have my own issues that I get very frustrated that the world isn't listening to. Problems that directly affect me. But there is an understanding that people only care about THEIR problems for the most part. Personally I'd rather see issues of poverty addressed before race.

So that's why I think there's little race debate, because it really is a constant concern for a minority of people. And to add, for a white person the "debate" really seems like nothing more than an excuse to be attacked and for blacks to purge their rage. So regardless if the rage is justified, why would a white person care to subject themselves to such a situation?

1. Is humor a way to bridge the racial divide?
I think its one of the best ways overall.

2. Are you familiar with The Boondocks comic strip/television show? If so, does it work in enlightening us on American racial issues?
Boondocks is a really real cool show, I say everyone should watch it. I think it could help in many ways, such as how much I laughed at black Santa Claus and all the crying children, though really is that something to laugh at? it’s a neat show.

1. Good grief, Charlie Brown, that's a "Hell yeah." Without being able to laugh at ourselves we would have to take everything as deadly serious. Comedians can go places where politicians and ordinary folks fear to tread. From Lenny Bruce to Bill Cosby to George Carlin to All In the Family to Richard Pryor to Chris Rock (and many others in between) the comic turns sacred cows into hamburgers and says out loud what a lot of us only say around the safety of the dining room table.

Humor is a extremely effective way to bridge the racial divide.

2. I The Boondocks comic strip. I The Boondocks cartoon show.

Aaron McGruder, the creator of the The Boondocks, is a brash young man full of anger and canny observations. In the comic strip he articulates it beautifully. The strip can be topical and edgy taking swipes at everyone from BET, George Bush and Al Sharpton's hairstyle.

The television strip has none of that. It just casually throws the N-word around for shock value, revels in bad taste, and lacks any sense of direction or purpose. When the first episode debut on The Cartoon Network, my wife and I sat there in stony silence, not laughing once and barely believing how unfunny the show was.

Trying to give the show another chance, I've watched a couple more episodes including the one where Martin Luther King comes back from the dead and yells how "you niggas" have ruined his dream.

Hilarious. Not.

I'm eagerly awaiting McGruder returning to his comic strip in the fall. As for the cartoon strip, I'll file it under oysters and death metal rock as an acquired taste.

1. Is humor a way to bridge the racial divide?

Oh of course yes. Some of the funniest stuff i've ever seen has been "race based". Witness Dave Chappelle and much of his humor. He pokes fun at racial stereotypes on all sides and its FUNNY! Anybody ever seen an Eddie Murphy or Chris Rock concert video? Some of their best material is when they poke fun at the ridiculousness of racism. As mentioned by CR, Richard Pryor was the king of this kind of humor whether in concert or on Saturday Night Live.

The fact is, humor can bridge the racial divide...all the above had large, multi racial audiences roaring with laughter. As NT alluded to, its a tool that we can use to help break down the true barriers...as long as everyone sees it for what it is....humor.


2. Are you familiar with The Boondocks comic strip/television show? If so, does it work in enlightening us on American racial issues?

Unfortunately, i'm not aware of either so i'm not qualified to speak about them.

First off, let me preface this post with something- I have been a stand up comic for about 15 years, and am frequently invited as the "token" white guy during local and regional shows like def comedy jam- and, as a white guy performing in a predominately black audience- there is a line you must walk, though, if you play your cards right, and set up the laughs right- that line gets moved pretty far into the danger zone!

1. Is humor a way to bridge the racial divide?

Yes- and in some ways that NT might have missed- even in the cartoon (TV) show. You see, one great equalizer is the abilty to laugh at the stupid and ridicluous in ourselves. Humour is all about suprise, the suprise of something not being where it is supposed to be, something that is not what you judged it to be at first.

Boondocks and Dave Chappelle are harder on black poeple that they are white poeple IMHO in thier performances- which is REALLY interesting to me, because, when I see posts in racial debate- there is this assumption that "the black community, blacks et al" don't want to take responsibility for the actions of thier sub-set of our society- when, in fact, they do RAIL against thier own problems in thier own communities- and, Boondocks is possibly one of the best mediums I have ever seen for condemning the status quo for all races and creeds!

I have watched every episode, and bought the DVD season one as well. MLK episode WAS the best IMHO- I am sorry- but that was as funny as *&&*^&* IMHO- they way MLK was reviled as "you must hate america" when he quoted the bible after 9/11, and the way he had finally had it and "I am moving to Canada you ingorant N___" for what had happened in the 32 years he was "in a coma".

Here is a guy (the strip writer) , that claims to be "left of Castro" NOT reviling against "whitey" or "the man"- but against the stagnation of the civil rights movement MLK helped to create- very good stuff indeed!

His lampooning of "enlightened rich white poeple" at the garden party was hilarious- and pointed directly at the current resident of the white house- even though you had to watch carefully to get the dig. "you know, someday, that boy will be president of the US, and he will still be a dumb*&^" is a fantastic line, and Samual Jackson doing the voice of the white Gulf Vet that hangs out with W is pure irony.


2. Are you familiar with The Boondocks comic strip/television show? If so, does it work in enlightening us on American racial issues?

Making fun of something is to lesson the sting of the lesson- you can take a blow to the stomach pretty good when you are in the middle of a belly laugh!

I will tell you a secret about comics in general- most of them have alot of pain in thier past- alot. Like in, really soul killing pain. They develope a very strong defense mechanism in humour. And, what would normally be an angry tirade, a yell at the universe for the horrible existance we lead- ends up as a gut wrenching laugh- perhaps, the most human of all atributes.

And in America- racial issues are the most painful of all. Don't believe me? Look at the emotion that is spilled into the racial debate threads- look how many strikes eminate from that forum, how many threads get locked very early on!

I think it is the most painful thing, the most embarrasing and humiliating, to all races, this constant war we have with ourselves over race, in a country that proffesses to treat all men as equals , as an inalienable right- this freedom thang!

That is why it is so emotional IMHO- we are a country of contridictions- the land of the free, home of the brave, well, for some anyway. Where all men are created equal- just some more equal than others.

Laughter is the only way to blunt the spear of contempt each political side feels against another, and, MOST OF ALL- to remind one side of it's own weaknesses in itself- as in the boondocks.