Is Racism Laws

[Rtaxron]

not as strict in the USA as the UK?

I watched the stand up black comedian Cris Rock on TV on Sunday, filmed at a theatre in New York.

His first words out of his mouth when he came on stage were, '' what's the problem with the white kids theses days?''

He carried on slagging white people off for about about 20 minutes.

If a white comedian talked like this about black kids in the UK he would be classed as racist and probably done for it.

[funnygirl]

Well this is not the uk is it!!

Well he ain't white is he??

Why did you not say, "if a black man got up on stage and slagged of white people....." then he would have gotten lynched!!!

It seems that in USA, all the black comedians are like this.

Did you not ever hear Richard Pryor??!!

[Ethel]

Yes, Richard Pryor is very fond of the N word too in his stand up routines.

[Octavius]

But Bernard Manning and Jim Davidson did this for years and invariably 'got away with it'. The only recourse for them was a decline in their perceived 'comedy' and a decline in people finding anything about them funny any more.

[andy-hughes]

Chris Rock does a long - and extremely funny - routine about n*g*ers and their differenceces with black people, and the predominently black audience adore it.

Racial attirtudes in America vary depending where you are - a sophisticated club audience in New York will appreciate this type of humour, a central state like Virginia, and inedeed CR would be in aserious trouble, which is why he probably never goes there!

[firetracie]

Hi there rtax

I've think I've seen the show you refer to and watched it because I've seen Chris Rock in a couple of films that I've really enjoyed. But I switched off after 5 minutes and haven't watched it since.

There are still entertainers - and it is mostly 'comedians' - who blatantly use many forms of bigotry - in this case racism - in their acts. The caveat 'contains material likely to offend' seems to be widely used to deflect the outrage of audiences.

As Octavious points out, the popularity of these people wanes as their 'audience' becomes more aware and increasingly embarrased at the subject matter.

Bigotry in any shape or form is, at the least, indication of ignorance and lazy thinking, at worst, a result of institutionalised brain washing.

Either way, it's up to the individual to 'wake up' and take personal responsibility for the way they act, think and speak. Vote with your actions - don't watch it again. If it doesn't get an audience it won't stay on the air for long.

[Rtaxron]

Thanks Andy, I did find him very funny by the way, didn't know he didn't perform in States like Virginia, etc.

funnygirl, what do you mean, this is not the UK, its certainly not France or Spain?

[funnygirl]

Sorry, I meant

This is the uk, isn't it, meaning things are different here.

The black comedians spout this stuff to get their own back on the white folks!!

Because don't forget the blacks in the USA have had to put up with a lot over the years and racism is still rife in the US of A.

[Octavius]

er.. Yes, quite.

Anyhow, I think US comedy is a bit stuck in the deep and dark clich� stereotype era of comedy where these things are still considered �funny�. Fortunately our era of such things has passed, and although the �comedy� of Bernard and his ilk were indeed a crime against humour, it was funny back when �..it was funny and there was (presumably) not much else to laugh at � consider also the likes of It Aint Half Hot Mum, Love Thy Neighbour and Til Death Us Do Part.

Modern British comedy of course retains its usual, �have you noticed that I m black/Asian/not from around here� run of the mill gags for instant audience rolls of laughter, but in the main we have progressed to a more intelligent observational humour without the racial stereotypes.