Are Jokes About Race Racist? They Are In The "Diversity" Environment
There, bizarrely, we're not supposed to notice racial differences or remark on them in an sort of humorous way. (I'm assuming "White man's guilt" expressions are okay, especially if they include chagrinned mentions of "white privilege.")
Josephine Fenster writes at Zocalo:
For seven years of my life, from sixth grade to 12th grade at primarily black and Latino schools in Las Vegas, I was the White Girl. In sixth grade, my classmates assumed I came from money and were shocked to learn that I, too, took the bus to school. In basketball, I was always forgiven for my terrible dribbling, and, when I sank a shot, I was seen as impressive. As the White Girl, I was taken under everyone's wing. My friends never laughed at me for being behind on the newest slang, and they often volunteered definitions for words I didn't yet know--"Not-White Girl Words," as we called them. I grew to love Tapatio and grits. I came to understand the mysterious combination of chicken and waffles. (It's not that they go great together; it's that they're both delicious and, if both are on your plate, you don't need to choose.)In my high school, everyone was aware of race, but no one was afraid of it. We joked about it constantly. When I didn't know a pop culture reference, my friends laughed and said it was because I was a white girl who never watched BET. When there was a dance circle, I wasn't expected to join it--white girls can't dance. We all told Hector, a Catholic Mexican, that we knew he had to have at least 10 siblings. If my half-black friend Carl rolled up in a shiny new car, we all joked that he must have jacked it. With our discussions and jokes, we played with stereotypes and made them non-scary. We joked around so much that school administrators even planned an assembly for my class to talk about our inappropriate jokes and discussions, but when they looked more closely and saw how comfortable we were with one another, they cancelled the event.
In 2010, I moved to Los Angeles and to college. My campus was (and is) diverse, but it included a lot of white girls--like me. So what had made me stand out now made me blend in. I was no longer the White Girl. Sometimes, frankly, I didn't even feel especially white. A lot of my fellow white girls were doing yoga and wearing designer jeans. I wasn't. I was used to people caring more about their shoes than the rest of their outfit. If you were wearing cool kicks, you looked good. That wasn't true in college. I'd brought my cherished pair of Nikes to L.A., but no one cared.
My college, Occidental, is progressive. It prides itself on ethnic and cultural diversity. I'm proud to be a student here. But gone is the relaxed spirit of high school, where race was a fact of life but not a scary one. When I joked to a black college friend that he was whiter than me--I made this observation because he wears boat shoes--the people nearby looked at me in shock and dismay. Some things are Not Said. Diversity now feels theoretical and academic. There is a class here about "whiteness."
Thank You President Obama for Ushering in the New Era of Harmony Among the Races.
dee nile at June 27, 2013 7:38 AM
I am of scots descent. Hubby is Hispanic. I am, and always have been, the Guerra. "Damn Guerra, YOU cooked these beans?" "Shhhh, here comes the Guerra". Apparently I should sue my in laws for racial discrimination.
Momof4 at June 27, 2013 8:43 AM
Oh, pplllbbthht. Just another example of The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same.
Pricklypear at June 27, 2013 9:07 AM
WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?!?!
Christ Jebus I am SICK of PC bullshit."Racist" jokes are only racist if they come with a malicious slant. And c'mon, the good ones are funny! Black people are CONSTANTLY making fun of white people. (Chris Rock anyone?) Why is it only racist when it's the other way around?
I had many native friends, a few black friends because our black population wasn't all that large at the time, and one Chinese friend when I was a child.
We might not have made fun of the differences, but I think that's because we were more curious when they first arrived at school then anything else. My neighborhood was the very definition of affluent WASP territory. Well, we were all Catholic so make that WAC territory. Either way, it was our parents who made a big deal about it, not us.
Racism and terrorism work much the same way. Both are fueled by attention.
Children don't hate, they learn hate. Stop preaching about ways to overcome the divide, it ceases to exist.
wtf at June 27, 2013 9:44 AM
EVERYONE knows when a race joke is racist and when it isn't. There are just a lot of cowards who throw stones then hide their hands when people get upset.
the Strawboss at June 27, 2013 10:30 AM
EVERYONE knows when a race joke is racist and when it isn't.
I wish this were true. Lots of people seem to have no idea -- roughly the same number of people who don't know a funny joke from an unfunny one.
Children don't hate, they learn hate.
Children are assholes. Savages assholes. They learn to be civilized, if we teach them. Kids will pounce on anything, and I've seen it in action, even from kids whose parents certainly didn't teach them to be assholes.
That said, a male friend of mine generally greet each other with:
"Hey, cunt!"
"Hey, spic!"
MonicaP at June 27, 2013 1:03 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/06/27/are_jokes_about.html#comment-3771910">comment from MonicaPLots of people seem to have no idea
Agree. I joke about race because I find our differences interesting and sometimes funny, not because I hate anybody.
I love the way Gustavo Arellano writes about "gabachos," which, I think, is some disparaging term for non-Latinos, and he'll tweet something to me sometimes with some teasing Spanish word about me, and I'll have to go look it up.
Gregg also teases me all the time. When it isn't coming out of hate or something in that neighborhood, it's a form of playful attention.
Amy Alkon
at June 27, 2013 1:13 PM
Gabacho started off as a term from the Spanish to the French, and then during the French occupation of Mexico from the Mexicans to the French. It finally settled from the Mexicans to the Anglo whites who they were coming in contact with.
In Hispanic culture derogatory words aren't really bad. I.e calling someone Negro is a term of endearment and since there is no concept of racial classification like Americans have they have weird words for others. Blacks are called morenos aka Moors. But the term is also used for darker skinned Mexicans. Guera like m4 is called is also used for light skinned Mexicans. I think classification is based on what the Spanish used, which is basically your worth is based on your skin color not race. So gabacho basically means foreigner.
BTW Amy I didn't know you knew Gustavo Arellano I love his work!
On a side note I have worked with racists whites and hispanics and there is a huge difference between jokes. When you tell them what they are saying is not appropriate or funny they whine that others say the same things and everyone at work laughs.
Ppen at June 27, 2013 1:59 PM
Read the comments on the original post ! Everyone loves to be special. I'm starting to hate Zocalo.
KateC at June 27, 2013 3:46 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/06/27/are_jokes_about.html#comment-3772525">comment from PpenI love Gustavo. My first impulse whenever I see him is to want to hug him. I saw him at the LA Press Club Awards Sunday night and did hug him. He was up for Journalist of the Year. He didn't win -- it was very stiff competition -- but he did get a first place award. Sweetheart and talented guy. His paper is doing good work.
Amy Alkon
at June 27, 2013 5:24 PM
OT but related:
The Food Network is throwing Paula Deen under the bus. I don't approve if she did use the "N" word in 2007 but she didn't cop to it. She may have used it in the past. She is 20 years older than me. When I was growing up I would hear my elders use it on rare occasion. It was generally in the "and then a n***** cut me off in traffic." but not a general class.
My generation I almost never hear it and the few who have used it in my presence are no longer even acquaintances.
The "kids" (-20 years from me) I have never heard it used at all other than black standup.
My nephews (teens below 18) were reluctant to tell their mother a fellow student/friend was gay. They truly don't care.
But back to the central OT point.
That the Food Network threw Deen under the bus isn't surprising.
Does anyone remember ESPN throwing Hank Williams Jr. under the bus for his comments about Obama?
Or an even older one of ABC throwing Bill Maher under the bus for his comments post 9/11?
Then most people don't realize the common theme among ESPN, ABC, and the Food Network. They are all tied to the Walt Disney corporation. Or in other words they are all protecting the Mouse with shields at full.
If you work for any of them that is your priority to protect the parks and all association with them.
Jim P. at June 27, 2013 9:07 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/06/27/are_jokes_about.html#comment-3772930">comment from Jim P.Great points on the Mouse, Jim P. I really miss Politically Incorrect.
Amy Alkon
at June 27, 2013 10:04 PM
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