Title: Racial humor: not a laughing matter – The Aragon Outlook
Headings: Racial humor: not a laughing matter
Racial humor: not a laughing matter
Posted by Jack Herrera

Content: Just as one must appreciate the harmful potential of carcinogens in cigarettes, one must realize the harmful potential of racist jokes: stereotypes. Stereotypes form the basis of every racist joke. But racism has a double standard: stating, or even alluding to, a stereotype is considered offensive—but making a joke about that same stereotype is allowable. For instance, saying “All Americans are fat” is not a joke. But saying “Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance” is. This double standard has three very serious repercussions. The first most obvious effect is that it perpetuates racism. When a stereotype is made in a joke and goes uncontested, it is subtly being enforced.