We all know that Racism is a sensitive issue. Lest us take the reactions towards the Big Brother rows between Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetti and we have a good idea of the uproar this subject causes. But why do comedians tell racist jokes?? To what extent are these jokes acceptable??
If a white comedian made a joke about Asian people, then people would take offense. However if an Asian person made that joke, it would be acceptable. The best example I can give of this is ‘Goodness Gracious Me’, written by and Asian person and performed by Asian actors. The sketch basicly makes fun out of Asian stereotypes. In the example provided (see second link), it raises the issue of the pressures young Asain people get from their parents and the show uses irony for this comedic effect. Also the fact that the audince can relate to the situation makes it humourous as well. The intent here is to make fun out of themselves as opposed to making fun out of people in their community. So, I guess these sorts of jokes are acceptable. But, I’ve known people who’ve taken offense and there had been critism that the show was racist. However, I think people can be very hypersensitve. The jokes in the show were never told in a malignant manner that showed opposition to someone of a different colour or race. But at the end of the day, everyone has a different idea of where the tabbo line of racism lies.
Personally, I feel there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed. For example, Ann Winterton’s train joke (see link) is very offensive. I’m not of Pakistani origon, but I do think this crosses the line of rascism. Firstly, it’s told by a white woman. And secondly, she states that the “Englishman” throws the “Pakistani” out of the window. How I took it was that the white man has no regards for Pakistanis and that he feels that they aren’t worth living. I also think bigotry like this only encourages racism, which the government had spent years trying to abolish. I find it shocking that some people find this joke acceptable. But despite how much we argue about this, we can never change the fact that what is racist and what isn’t racist is debatable.
If a white comedian made a joke about Asian people, then people would take offense. However if an Asian person made that joke, it would be acceptable. The best example I can give of this is ‘Goodness Gracious Me’, written by and Asian person and performed by Asian actors. The sketch basicly makes fun out of Asian stereotypes. In the example provided (see second link), it raises the issue of the pressures young Asain people get from their parents and the show uses irony for this comedic effect. Also the fact that the audince can relate to the situation makes it humourous as well. The intent here is to make fun out of themselves as opposed to making fun out of people in their community. So, I guess these sorts of jokes are acceptable. But, I’ve known people who’ve taken offense and there had been critism that the show was racist. However, I think people can be very hypersensitve. The jokes in the show were never told in a malignant manner that showed opposition to someone of a different colour or race. But at the end of the day, everyone has a different idea of where the tabbo line of racism lies.
Personally, I feel there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed. For example, Ann Winterton’s train joke (see link) is very offensive. I’m not of Pakistani origon, but I do think this crosses the line of rascism. Firstly, it’s told by a white woman. And secondly, she states that the “Englishman” throws the “Pakistani” out of the window. How I took it was that the white man has no regards for Pakistanis and that he feels that they aren’t worth living. I also think bigotry like this only encourages racism, which the government had spent years trying to abolish. I find it shocking that some people find this joke acceptable. But despite how much we argue about this, we can never change the fact that what is racist and what isn’t racist is debatable.
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