MyRamblingPostRe: Black as the New White aka War of the Words
Ahem (brushing off soapbox before making my noble ascent)
I read a Great post by my neighbor Musicchick2 regarding the use of the word Nigger (or Nigga)… Bitches…and other Terms of EnFearment…(but particularly Nigger) in a comedic, fun kinda way
You know what I saw once? An episode of The 3 Stooges where they end up in BlackFace! Remember Shemp? (Sometime during the course of World War I, Moe and Shemp formed a blackface vaudeville act which disbanded for a brief period when Shemp was drafted into the army. In 1917 Shemp and Moe took their comedy act back to the boards and played on both the Loew's and RKO circuits, managing to work for the rival outfits through a ruse: They played a blackface routine for RKO and a whiteface one for Loew's. They continued with their stage appearances through 1922. Shemp jokingly recalled the blackest moment of his life as the time he was working blackface in a minstrel show and the manager skipped with the payroll and the cold cream. Reference here. )
Did you know that even Blacks had to dress in BlackFace to perform for White Audiences??
BTW: I still use the term Black instead of African Americans…I also use the word Conk when referring to perming my hair.
Used to be a time when Whites making fun of Blacks was…Funny.
And then… the tides turned.
Not sure when it happened…(I’m still a youngin) but I’m thinking late 60’s early 70’s due to the Great Comedic Forces of Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor
Which makes me think of one George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley)…who used the word Honky with a Great Amount of Frequency. And I even once remember Weezie Jefferson saying to George “Nigga Please!” ….on National Television y’all!!!
Some say that his "use of the word Honky added a familiar, less offensive tone to the word, which caused some acceptance of the term when used in the appropriate company." Interesting….you can even buy a T-Shirt with him saying the phrase “Shut Up Honky”…but not one of Weezie saying “Nigga Please!”
You know what’s “funny” now? Blacks making fun of Whites AND Everybody else including other Blacks. I always wonder…if a white person laughs at a Black person telling a joke about White culture/nuances…are they laughing because it’s funny…or out of nervousness...or even shameful (subconscious) obligation…after all, Whites spent a lot of years laughing at those Minstrel shows…and a joke is a joke…right? And one good turn deserves another….right?
You know what’s Not “funny” now? Whites making fun of Blacks. Unless it’s a Black Person in WhiteFace…..Yes there is always The Exception.
Comments
There is a great article I found a few months back about the use of the word honky versus the use of the word nigger, which I'm linking to here.
I do think that White racism (against Blacks) carries a lot more power than Black racism (against Whites). After all, White privilege is still so entrenched in our society. It's the same reason that I think Blacks making jokes about Whites can be about resistance, whereas Whites making jokes about Blacks never can be. It's simply not the same thing, because the political and historical context is so different, as are the present-day realities.
Unfortunately, given the so-called color-blindness that so many people claim today, it's very hard to get many Whites to see how jokes really aren't "equal opportunity". It's the same thing with all of those Blackface and MLK and Ghetto-themed parties all over college campuses right now. Most whites truly believe racism is a thing of the past, so they often can't see the harm they're perpetuating by making these kinds of jokes of throwing these kinds of parties.
Anyway, sorry for the tangent there, but it's so interesting and FRUSTRATING to wade through this color-blind racism sometimes.
Great post as usual!
Meghan thanks for linking to the article. That is a MustRead! The Garrett Morris skit he refers to use to make me pee in my pants...but in the context of the way of the world almost isn't funny...Almost. Comedy is Comedy. *he was the first Black Player on SNL*
I'd never seen the Richard Pryor Chevy Chase Skit...but think it's so interesting how SNL has never been afraid to tackle tough issues...and make us laugh and unite all of us ... in Laughter.
I think we should ALL get over ourselves and just have a good laugh at each others expense! LOL I personally think it's hillarious if a black person makes fun of a white person! I'd like to believe that a black person can think it's just as funny (as on SNL) when a white person does it to them. Laughter fixes a lot of things and brings us all together on even playing fields. We don't need to take ourselves so seriously anymore. Hell, we can all take a certain aspect of each of our lives and turn it into something funny. I'm a very sarcastic and nonsensitive person though so I see a lot of humor in ALL people who take themselves so seriously.
Thanks for the awesome post AGAIN! I had never even heard of the term CONK until now (that's how white I am, hehehe). Love you GEN:)
"I think we should ALL get over ourselves and just have a good laugh at each others expense! "
Me Too! hahahahahahahah
You make an interesting statement about blacks being able to make fun of whites, but not the other way around. In my world view (which, I admit, is rather strange to most people), I see everyone as fair game. That isn't to say I think all attempts at humor are funny or non-damaging. There is a line (though sometimes that line is a little blurred). However, ALL humor is based on making a remark about someone or some group in some situation.
I think it is hilarious when other races make fun of whites (I'm a European-American ...I can't even type that with a straight face) because there are plenty of things that the various white groups do either individually or as a whole that needs to be poked with a funny bone. Humor is the great equalizer, in my opinion, and having a healthy sense of humor helps get us through the worst times and the worst situations. We can broach subjects that bother us under the guise of humor. And the ability to laugh at yourself is a lesson that everyone should learn. :-D
I'm white, and if I'm laughing it's because it's funny ... and there are many funny things to laugh about, about everyone - not just whites.
I feel everyone should be able to make fun of everyone, without the victimised side taking offence, but appreciate that maybe we're not quite at that point yet as there is still a perception that white-on-black humour is done to offend, rather than for humour value.
An Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman walked into a bar. The barman looks at them and says, "what is this? Some kind of joke?"
Touchy subject no doubt.
We are all just human, and to me humans are damn funny.
An Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman walked into a bar. The barman looks at them and says, "what is this? Some kind of joke?"
That's Heelarious!!!
I suppose 'making jokes' about 'whites' is a phenomenon we can view as 'counterpositional integration'(my term) - especially where the incidence of discrimination against the 'whites' is low.
This is where the 'blacks' view themselves as a 'race' APART whilst accepting that they are still a PART of the general community. This may underlie a general acceptance of the 'white' community whilst viewing their idiosyncracies as more of something to smile at as opposed to sneering at - the latter leads to, and feeds on, hatred and disengagement, whilst the former promotes an acceptance of the 'whites' that is simultaneously accompanied by the subconscious acknowledgement that they are both distinguishable communities. Just a thought whilst reading your insightful article.
Btw, i loved watching 'the Jeffersons' and 'Good Times' as a kid.
You might find the following articles pertinent btw,
http://gadgit.vox.com/library/post/nigger-nation.html
http://gadgit.vox.com/library/post/race.html
p.s. what is 'ENFJ'? I'll do a 'hungry like a wolf' ringtone since you like that song so much.
You are INTJ - The Scientist
I am ENFJ - The Sage