Racial humor: a nasty double standard

I made the mistake of watching The Cleveland Show tonight, not really because it's a horribly unfunny show, but because I happened to have heard a very appauling joke. I heard Cleveland Brown say, "I have never hated white people more." I got disgusted and just turned off the show. I'm trying not to be upset at this, but I just am. If Peter Griffin were to say "I have never hated black people more", then the show would be branded as racist and be taken off the air. But it's not just The Cleveland Show; it's in movies and music as well. It seems to be generally accepted that it's ok for a black person to make fun of a white person, but if it were the other way around, then it becomes racist. This social stigma needs to go away.

I wonder how many black people can openly admit that they laugh when a white person makes fun of their ethnicity by stereotyping them as gangsta rappers or criminals. I'm sure some of you have great senses of humor and are able to laugh at everything, which is awesome. We all need to have that ability as far as I'm concerned, but this double standard just drives me nuts. I want to make a black joke without feeling like blacks are going to mob me for it, not that I would go around spreading black jokes, but it would be nice to know I have that right.

This is why I appreciate South Park. They don't hold anything back. They make fun of EVERYONE. You can't call Trey Parker and Matt Stone racist, because they've dealt it to everyone. To be fair, I haven't watched The Cleveland Show long enough (not even a third of an episode) to really see how broad their humor is, but I'm sure it's no where near the same level as South Park. Can't be, because it's network.

A part of me did really want to laugh at what Cleveland said, because I do believe that if you can't laugh at something offensive, you shouldn't laugh at anything offensive, but the other part of me just can't get past the double standard. I don't know who wrote that episode, if it was McFarlane himself, or someone else, but did he really need to include that line? Was this person not aware that one of the main character's friends just so happens to be white?

Anyway, what's your stance on racial humor? Are you bothered by the double standard? Are you able to laugh at everything? Discuss.

Yes, Double Standards are not good.

What was the context in which Cleveland said the statement?clayron

Racial humor is not for the easily offended; I consider good racial humor to be the type that makes light of(rather than embraces) long-standing stereotypes and misconceptions. As for double standards like the one you described, they exist due to the social history of our nation. I'm not justifying them, but it's not as if blacks and whites have been on equal footings throughout American history, lol.

And yes, the Cleveland Show is absolute garbage.

while i do agree that the double standard exists to varying degrees i don't think thats the best show to exemplify it. the humor is pretty much exactly the same as family guy. speaking of, i recorded those i should go watch'em and see for myself.

Play on xbox live much? O.oBaconbits2004

Agreed. Double standards suck.

EDIT: Excellent OP Justplainlucas

we need to do away with double standards.

Unfortunately I dont think it will ever go away

[QUOTE="Baconbits2004"]Play on xbox live much? O.oJustPlainLucas

Lucky, Most of my friends don't play MW2 or anything that I play. :(

It's pretty funny hearing the "N Word" get tossed around so much by both black and white people. People from England and Germany too :P

I agree with the OP 200%. All of these racial double standards against whites need to GTFO.

Yup, the powers that be have decreed that certain groups are to be considered to have been wronged in perpetuity and nothing derogatory must ever, EVER be said about them. Certain other groups (namely white males) are to be the ones to bear the blame for all that is bad in the world and are fair game.

[QUOTE="JustPlainLucas"][QUOTE="Baconbits2004"]Play on xbox live much? O.oSnipes_2

Lucky, Most of my friends don't play MW2 or anything that I play. :(

It's pretty funny hearing the "N Word" get tossed around so much by both black and white people. People from England and Germany too :P

I love racial humor. But your right Peter can't say that because it is offensive. Even I would feel offended. Your right there is a double standard. First of all you can't compare South Park to family guy. South Park was built on crude and racist humor that is why I laugh. But Family Guy was not so that would not be necessary. Second why are you so offended by what people said on the Cleveland show if it sucks? Last this social stigma will not go away there is too much history behind it to be stopped. Even after slavery there were still mounds of racism until at least the 70s. MgamerBD

while i do agree that the double standard exists to varying degrees i don't think thats the best show to exemplify it. the humor is pretty much exactly the same as family guy. speaking of, i recorded those i should go watch'em and see for myself.

z4twenny

I agree with the OP 200%. All of these racial double standards against whites need to GTFO.

gamerguru100

Agreed. Double standards suck.

EDIT: Excellent OP Justplainlucas

coolbeans90

we need to do away with double standards.

Unfortunately I dont think it will ever go away

Colin1192

Lucky, Most of my friends don't play MW2 or anything that I play. :(

It's pretty funny hearing the "N Word" get tossed around so much by both black and white people. People from England and Germany too :P

Snipes_2

don't worry, the guy who voices Cleveland is white.......JonnyEagle

But his character is not.

hmm youre right. if they had said "I had never hated black people more" it would make national news. but replece black with white and its fine. its a sad state when we can all be made fun of equally, at least south park has founds the correct balance.

don't worry, the guy who voices Cleveland is white.......JonnyEagle

Totally agree! 150%! I'm someone who knows how to kick back and laugh at myself in life once in awhile. So i don't take it personally, but it is such a double standard honestly

[QUOTE="JonnyEagle"]don't worry, the guy who voices Cleveland is white.......MgamerBD

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"][QUOTE="JonnyEagle"]don't worry, the guy who voices Cleveland is white.......IZoMBiEI

I'm sick of it, but hey, watchya gonna do, right? >_>

I'm sick of it, but hey, watchya gonna do, right? >_>

supa_badman

You make some very fine points, Lucas. The double standard does need to go away.scorch-62

agreed, it is a double standard

[QUOTE="JonnyEagle"]don't worry, the guy who voices Cleveland is white.......Snipes_2

But his character is not.

yeah see thats the thing, the character is black....however, if the guy who voiced it is white, we cannot blame African-Americans for this, its some stupid remark made by a white guy, so its those responsible at network who should be blamed for poor decisions.

I'm sick of it, but hey, watchya gonna do, right? >_>

supa_badman

More and more people are going to "wake up" to these bull crap double standards....something could eventually happen...something SHOULD be done about it...gamerguru100

yep, i hate racist jokes

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]

[QUOTE="JonnyEagle"]don't worry, the guy who voices Cleveland is white.......AFBrat77

But his character is not.

yeah see thats the thing, the character is black....however, if the guy who voiced it is white, we cannot blame African-Americans for this, its some stupid remark made by a white guy, so its those responsible at network who should be blamed for poor decisions.

But if it was a White Character and a Black guy was voicing it would it still be the same if he said He hates Black Men? I think it would definitely make the news.

[QUOTE="clayron"]What was the context in which Cleveland said the statement?JustPlainLucas

So, you are just appalled by the statement but have no real clue what was happening with the show? Not saying the statement is justified or appropriate under any context, but to flip your **** from just one small statement seems silly.

Not to be a prick But family guy has no double standard, they have things that could be easily considered "racist" or playing a negative stereotype towards other ethnicities/religions. Plus, I believe that Family Guy, and its spin offs, is written by a series of white men, so the jokes really are not racist. I could see if a Tyler Perry show had said that -- then I would be on your side. But, its a cartoon developed by people who want to make a living by playing on stereotypes and making jokes.

I personally love racial HUMOR. Racism sucks. But racial humor is hilarious.

Just as an example I found some forums online where people were particularly offended by the following:

One.

Two.

Three.

I can not find a clip, but apparently there was a joke in a recent Family Guy Episode: "Dial Meg for Murder" that people the internets have called fairly racist. If I find the clip I will edit it.

yeah see thats the thing, the character is black....however, if the guy who voiced it is white, we cannot blame African-Americans for this, its some stupid remark made by a white guy, so its those responsible at network who should be blamed for poor decisions.

AFBrat77

Decrying something simply because it is a double standard isn't much of an argument, you have to examine the implications of whatever it is those standards apply to. Tax brackets can be considered double (even multiple) standards, as can be affirmative action and physical requirements for male/female soldiers in basic training. A reasonable case can be made for certain double standards, so make your arguments more substantive.

[QUOTE="AFBrat77"]

yeah see thats the thing, the character is black....however, if the guy who voiced it is white, we cannot blame African-Americans for this, its some stupid remark made by a white guy, so its those responsible at network who should be blamed for poor decisions.

JustPlainLucas

[QUOTE="AFBrat77"]

yeah see thats the thing, the character is black....however, if the guy who voiced it is white, we cannot blame African-Americans for this, its some stupid remark made by a white guy, so its those responsible at network who should be blamed for poor decisions.

JustPlainLucas

That happens all the time and its ******* stupid, as for the cleveland show its weak and pathetic, family guy and american dad are entertaining but cleveland show is just poor.

Btw are they gonna keep making family guy?????

[QUOTE="AFBrat77"]

yeah see thats the thing, the character is black....however, if the guy who voiced it is white, we cannot blame African-Americans for this, its some stupid remark made by a white guy, so its those responsible at network who should be blamed for poor decisions.

JustPlainLucas

Yeah, this whole racism deal is whack. Just on these here forums I was moderated for saying "Black people are stupid" while in the same thread a mod, and many other people said "White people are stupid" without moderation.

I don't really think black people are stupid, I was just testing to see if the response to my post would be different than it was to the others. Of course, it was.

a mod, and many other people said "White people are stupid" without moderation.

I don't really think black people are stupid, I was just testing to see if the response to my post would be different than it was to the others. Of course, it was.

Duxsox56

Surprisingly Family Guy got away with a very racist joke, I have no idea, I was in disbelief when I heard it.

Stewie was thinking of leaving his wife and he was talking to Brian.

Stewie: "What kind of man would I be if I just walked out on her?"

Brian: "Well you would be a black man."

My facial expression = :shock:

Anyway I agree the the double standard regarding racial humor should be done away with, it in itself is only promoting racism, it isn't solving the problem at all.

[QUOTE="Duxsox56"]

a mod, and many other people said "White people are stupid" without moderation.

I don't really think black people are stupid, I was just testing to see if the response to my post would be different than it was to the others. Of course, it was.

gamerguru100

Well.... he wasn't modded for a while, and only because people made a fuss. I was modded in literally under 5 minutes.

Surprisingly Family Guy got away with a very racist joke, I have no idea, I was in disbelief when I heard it.

Stewie was thinking of leaving his wife and he was talking to Brian.

Stewie: "What kind of man would I be if I just walked out on her?"

Brian: "Well you would be a black man."

My facial expression = :shock:

Anyway I agree the the double standard regarding racial humor should be done away with, it in itself is only promoting racism, it isn't solving the problem at all.

DarkGamer007

Yeah, this whole racism deal is whack. Just on these here forums I was moderated for saying "Black people are stupid" while in the same thread a mod, and many other people said "White people are stupid" without moderation.Duxsox56