Now, how does it look when black people diss other black people? It's funny, white people don't know if they should laugh and black people laugh because they see the truth in it. I think Chris Rock is brilliant. Explicit, but brilliant. There are a lot of comics who I think are so smart, and in so many cases in order to be heard you have to fly in under the radar. No one wants to hear this "shit"; but if it comes in a funny package we will listen. Race is not an easy thing to talk about, it's dirty, vague and no one knows where to start. Chris Rock says something like, "I hate niggers," but what he really hates is the people who take advantage of the system, and he is attacking a view of the black population. He makes a distinction between black people and niggers, black people are just human beings, trying to make a decent living and make a better future for themselves and niggers are the people who fulfill this stereotype of the "typical black male," broke, deadbeat, and dumb. Rock is using humor to point out that this is a stereotype brewed from a media enriched society. We often don't see the black man working two jobs to support his family, we see the "nigger" stealing shit from the local convenience store. What's there to love about that?
As a black female I don't want people to assume that I am going to be pregnant before I'm married, on drugs and taking advantage of welfare. I also don't want people to think I'm going to steal stuff from a clothing store. (I actually cringe as I walk through detectors because although I have never stolen anything in my life I am always certain those dumb things are going to go off.) Stereotypes don't know minds or people and that's what makes them deadly. Dave Chappelle talks about stereotypes as well in his stand-up. He goes into a restaurant and the waiter assumes he wants fried chicken. This is simple enough and even a little funny, but it's a stereotype. Chappelle makes light of the situation because it's a silly thing, chicken, but it's not always that innocent. He is a young black man, and the assumption he wanted chicken could easily be the assumption that he's planning on robbing the place or going out back to sell drugs.
Chris Rock on Black People: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7b2oCYgfik
Dave Chappelle on Chicken: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ4B7G8Rw3Q
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I must say that I totally agree with you on this. Stereotypes are probably the worst thing out there. They definitely help to promote rascism and prejudice in the world. The best thing that can be done, in my opinion, is to strive beyond the stereotype and prove people wrong enough times that they will forget about the stereotype.
ReplyDeletet n word doesnt make sense to me, its offensive if white people say it but when blacks say it to each other on a regular basis its fine
ReplyDeletehaha. that's old news.
ReplyDeleteI think Rock is genuis because the way he present his act just highlights the obsurdity of the things he is discussing. When he used the word nigger, he uses it in a way that chips away at its meaning and impact. I consider the word nigger to be a giant boulder. As time goes by and we progess toward accpetance and diversity the boulder get chiped away at one piece at a time. I think that we just have to keep plugging along and chipping away at that boulder so eventually we can break-through it. I don't think it will be too long now, I hope.
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