Wearing blackface and dressed as a character in a minstrel show, he noticed a white crew member in the corner, laughing. True, it was a comedy sketch, and it was obviously meant to be funny, but the way the crew member laughed made him uncomfortable. Though Dave Chappelle had been in the comedy business for many years, that moment two years ago “was the first time I had ever gotten a laugh that I was uncomfortable with.”
While undeniably funny and creative, Chappelle, as well as many other comedians, may not always realize the full effect of his or her material. Yes, it has provided many people with a way to relax, to be entertained or to perhaps forget about their problems, but to what extent does inappropriate social commentary justify a hearty chuckle? Today, comedy includes a wide range of subjects such as racism, sexism and politics, combined with a carelessly casual attitude toward problems such as sexual assault, starvation and AIDS – and for many people, this is the norm. After all, these comedians are just joking around; they’re not meant to be taken seriously. And in the name of entertainment and for the sake of laughs, we let it go.
Until Michael Richards decided to have his share of racist comedy on the stage of a Los Angeles comedy club two years ago and let a string of n-bombs drop on his audience. While inappropriate comedy may not have necessarily been the reason why Richards felt it was acceptable to use the n-word, it is the continual portrayal of stereotypes and the use of race as a subject for a form of entertainment that desensitizes many to real social problems. While Chappelle’s racially-based distinction between grape juice and grape drink is pretty harmless, what negative stereotypes are reinforced when Chris Rock explained the difference between a white mall, filled with real stores, and a black mall, filled with nothing but baby clothes and sneakers?
While many defend these jokes because, even I can admit, they are humorous, they also underestimate the subtle effects of such entertainment. When a person hears a joke, they also hear its underlying messages about black and white, rich and poor, rape victim and Holocaust survivor, and implant them in his or her memory. And if you tell enough jokes about any serious topic, it won’t be long before that topic stops being taken seriously.
I am not saying comedy should be held to the politically correct standards we are expected to live by, but there are times when comedy goes too far. I found it very disappointing when Ben Stiller, a man already both wealthy and powerful, dedicated a good portion of Tropic Thunder to making fun of people with mental difficulties. Even Chappelle admitted in an interview with Oprah that some of his sketches made him feel “socially irresponsible.”
While we can’t control what comedians choose to joke about, we do have a say in what we choose to be acceptable humor. There are some issues that are just too serious to be reduced to a simple late-night laugh.
Saron Yitbarek is a sophomore psychology major. She can be reached at yitbarekdbk@gmail.com.
