What Comedy Taught Me About Race And Politics

I always thought it was a gimmick.

Just joke after joke about race.  Why did standup comics find it such easy fodder?  It seemed like the jokes were as shallow as the skin they were talking about.

And it didn’t matter what race the comics were, there was always a way to work it in.  Black, white, Asian, there always seems to be some reference to race during a standup show, whether it’s the entire show or just part of it.

I guess it seemed a bit like joking about politics: it’s there, right in front of you, it seems like an easy thing to get laughs out of.

But why did they keep doing it?  If it was so gimmicky, why have these topics engaged audiences for so long?  I never understood that.

Then I decided to try out a dream I had been chasing for a while: I wanted to be one of those standup comics.

 

For more than a year, I had thought about it pretty regularly, trying to get the courage up to just sit down and write down some jokes.  But the comfort of already having a groove and audience in writing online had made it easy to ignore.  It’s so much easier to feel creative when people already enjoy what you do, when you’ve gotten into a pattern of production that makes you feel like you’re satisfying your inner voice.

But there is a reason creatives tend to want to push into other forms: soon we start to see that our voice has things it wants to say that might not be expressible in our current medium.  Not as effectively, at least.

A song says things a painting never can, and vice versa.  Fiction says things nonfiction can’t, and vice versa.  And so it is with comedy as well.

I wasn’t sure what it was I wanted to say on stage, just that I knew there was something there waiting to be expressed.  I didn’t even really understand what it is that standup comics themselves found to be worth expressing on stage that couldn’t just be expressed through writing.  But I knew there was something.

Finally, two months ago I got myself to sit down and start writing.

I had tried to plan it out ahead of time before, but every time it seemed to die.  Now I was committed to just letting it flow.

“Just write what comes to your mind.  Trust yourself.”

It was advice I had given myself as a writer, and it seemed to work out.  Why not apply it to comedy?

I tried writing about farts, which will always be the most eternally funny thing to me on earth.  And it was like seeing in front of my eyes what this new form could offer me.  I could never really write about farts without feeling silly.  But being silly is kind of the point with this form, or so I hear.

But there was something more, and I was about to discover it.

Almost immediately, I veered into writing about how I think brown guys like me get unfairly blamed when people smell a fart.  They always blame us first!  Not white girls!

(Please give me a break, it was my first time okay?).

And then I proceeded to write a whole page of absolutely horrible standup comedy, but it was a full page, and that was what mattered.

And when I looked back at it, I realized that as much as I enjoyed the fact that I’d soon be standing on stage talking about farts, I was absolutely blown away by how much I had just written about race.  Almost as much as I had written in my entire time as a writer online.

What had just happened?  Was I falling for the same gimmick I thought other comics had gotten sucked into?  Was I being lazy?

But it felt so good, so real!  And I had that buzzing feeling I get after writing, that feeling that I’ve expressed a piece of my soul that has been hidden away from the world.  It couldn’t just be the fart jokes, could it?

No, there was something deep here.  Maybe not deep to the world, but deep to me.

 

I have only done five open mics since that first attempt at writing, and they were all last week.  So I ain’t no expert.  But I was immediately able to pin down why race was such a wonderful issue for me to approach through comedy.

It’s utterly absurd.  Not race itself, I guess, but the way the world looks at you and judges you based on the way you look.

I guess it has always been a bit of a confusing topic for me because I have this self-perception, and it has very little to do with the way I look.  I’m a brown dude who grew up in white areas, and my parents are Sephardi Jews who grew up in an Ashkenazi town in Israel.  Since I was young, I felt super white bread.  And yet, the world refuses to look at me that way, and even I have learned to sort of own my brownness, and my Sephardiness especially, as something to identify and be proud of.

But it’s weird, it’s bizarre, and it’s confusing to have a self-perception that the world doesn’t accept.

I imagine being a victim of serious racism is much more bizarre, alienating, and confusing.  And I imagine, for the first time in my life, that it is the very superficiality of the whole affair that is what makes it deep when expressed through comedy.

And that was the ultimate revelation of it all: that something that seems superficial, “political,” or even gimmicky is often deeper than we care to realize it.  It is so deep that we can’t even express it through logical means without boring our audience or sounding preachy and annoying.

 

Around the same time I started this whole standup thing, I got into a debate (to put it mildly) with Brad Hirschfield, the person who runs Clal, the organization I work for.  I was arguing that his choice to do a video about George Zimmerman selling his gun was not good for our site, The Wisdom Daily.

We were about rising above the news.  That was our mission.  Why on earth were we writing about this topic that seemed to only attract an audience of angry, polarized, and nonsensical people?  It made no sense, we should be reaching out to the people who aren’t embroiled in these silly arguments.

And he looked at me very seriously.  He said, “Because I refuse to give up on them.  Because they matter just as much as anyone else.  And because people like us letting go of these discussions is exactly how they get so polarized.”

At the time, I had trouble accessing the wisdom (haha) of what he was saying.  But that same week, I was confronted with the deepness of superficiality, and suddenly I found my stubborn heart wavering.

 

I’ve noticed that as our country gets more and more polarized, the “good” people (i.e. the balanced, less polarized, and angry folks) tend to avoid topics that seem superficial.  Everything from the election to Israel to race to transgender bathrooms to people freaking over a gorilla getting shot.

These are my people, I love them.  I hate the polarizing nature of the world, and it deeply disturbs me that empathy is so lacking from our national culture.

I think this is why I so often waver between writing about these larger conversations and just writing personal essays.  I so deeply want people to understand that there are deeper truths in the world, that the anger they feel is often superficial and causes needless cruelty.

But there’s this voice whispering within me, always, that I try so hard to stop listening to.  The voice says, “People freaking over gorillas matters.  Politics matters.  Racism matters.”

I thought for a long time that it essentially matters only when it affects our lives.  When racism causes societal ills, we need to speak up.  When gorillas getting shot is a sign we care more about animals than humans, we need to speak up.

But that is a superficial way of looking at it, and now I see that the voice is deeper than I cared to accept before.

Comedy opened the key to that door.  I went to two open mics on Monday, when the gorilla story was heating up.  And almost everyone had at least a few jokes about it.  It was so absurd, so crazy, so superficial, that the fact that it caused so much outrage was a sign that there was something much deeper going on.  The way we lash out about small things when there is a deep pain inside us that gives life to all that anger.

In other words, it isn’t the topics that matter, it is the people reacting to them, just as Brad said. He refused to give up on the people because he understood that their emotion was real, even if the topics they were talking about weren’t worth spending a minute on.

 

Race shouldn’t be an issue.  We should be who we are, understand that it’s a part of our identity, and just move on.  But we can’t.  We’re obsessed.  And that matters.  There’s something much larger going on, something we’re hitting our heads against but can’t put into words.

It’s the same absurdity that has caused Trump to rise in the world, has caused this very lack of empathy that so bothers people that continually avoid larger discussions, that sends our world into a tizzy when gorillas get shot.

But all of that absurdity is not something to be avoided.  It means we should, rather, delve.  That is the lesson of comedy, and it is the lesson Brad taught me.  That in reality, yes, part of it is that we want the practical effect of these absurdities to change.  But more important, that there is an inherent worth in the discussion itself.

Because people are deep.  Their emotions are deep.  And both matter more than we can imagine.  And so we can never give up in diving into them.


Posted

in

,

by

Comments

38 responses to “What Comedy Taught Me About Race And Politics”

  1. Nechama Avatar
    Nechama

    Let me make sure I understand you. What determines whether a topic is superficial or not?

  2. hermes outlet online Avatar

    My spouse and i were really fulfilled when Jordan managed to finish off his survey because of the precious recommendations he gained from your very own web site. It’s not at all simplistic to simply choose to be making a gift of tips and tricks which often the others have been making money from. And now we fully understand we need the blog owner to thank for this. The type of explanations you’ve made, the simple site menu, the relationships your site help create – it’s mostly fantastic, and it is making our son in addition to the family recognize that that concept is satisfying, which is unbelievably pressing. Many thanks for the whole thing!

  3. palm angels clothing Avatar

    I wanted to post you the bit of observation to help thank you very much as before with your pretty advice you have documented here. It was unbelievably generous with you to convey unhampered all a lot of folks might have offered as an electronic book to help with making some profit for their own end, certainly since you could have tried it if you ever decided. The ideas in addition acted to be the easy way to be aware that other individuals have a similar interest just as my personal own to learn good deal more in respect of this issue. I am certain there are a lot more pleasurable sessions ahead for those who view your blog.

  4. off white Avatar

    I actually wanted to write a small message to thank you for the fantastic points you are posting on this site. My time consuming internet research has at the end been recognized with excellent insight to talk about with my friends. I ‘d declare that most of us site visitors actually are really fortunate to exist in a superb place with many wonderful individuals with great guidelines. I feel pretty privileged to have seen your website and look forward to some more brilliant minutes reading here. Thanks once again for a lot of things.

  5. ggdb shoes Avatar

    It抯 arduous to find knowledgeable people on this matter, however you sound like you recognize what you抮e speaking about! Thanks

  6. giannis antetokounmpo shoes Avatar

    I wanted to post you this very small remark in order to give many thanks once again for your personal beautiful views you have discussed in this article. It’s really seriously generous with people like you to give without restraint what a number of people might have distributed as an e-book to make some dough for themselves, specifically given that you might well have done it if you ever decided. Those good tips as well served to be the great way to fully grasp that some people have similar passion like my own to see much more related to this problem. I am sure there are several more pleasant instances up front for folks who read carefully your site.

  7. supreme clothing Avatar

    My wife and i got fulfilled that Emmanuel could complete his preliminary research while using the ideas he was given from your own web site. It is now and again perplexing to just happen to be making a gift of guidance which some others have been making money from. And now we remember we’ve got the website owner to be grateful to because of that. These explanations you’ve made, the simple website menu, the relationships you assist to instill – it’s most great, and it’s leading our son in addition to us feel that that matter is exciting, and that is quite indispensable. Thank you for the whole lot!

  8. off white Avatar

    I want to express thanks to the writer just for bailing me out of this incident. As a result of browsing throughout the the web and coming across tricks which are not pleasant, I was thinking my entire life was done. Living minus the approaches to the problems you have fixed by way of your good posting is a crucial case, and ones which might have in a wrong way damaged my career if I hadn’t noticed your web page. That knowledge and kindness in dealing with every item was helpful. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not encountered such a solution like this. I’m able to at this point relish my future. Thanks very much for the expert and results-oriented guide. I won’t be reluctant to propose the blog to any person who ought to have direction on this situation.

  9. off white Avatar

    I wish to express my appreciation to you just for bailing me out of this type of circumstance. Just after browsing throughout the the web and seeing proposals which were not powerful, I was thinking my entire life was gone. Living without the presence of answers to the problems you’ve fixed through your article is a critical case, as well as those that would have in a negative way damaged my career if I hadn’t noticed your web blog. Your own personal understanding and kindness in dealing with all things was excellent. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not discovered such a step like this. I am able to now look ahead to my future. Thanks so much for this reliable and results-oriented guide. I will not think twice to recommend your web page to any individual who should get guide on this problem.

  10. spongebob kyrie 5 Avatar

    Thank you for your whole efforts on this web site. Betty loves setting aside time for investigations and it’s easy to understand why. We all know all concerning the powerful method you make useful tactics on this blog and as well increase contribution from some others on that matter then our favorite simple princess is truly discovering so much. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the new year. You are performing a stunning job.

  11. hermes birkin Avatar

    Thank you for every one of your labor on this blog. My mom loves going through internet research and it’s really easy to understand why. I learn all concerning the compelling ways you provide practical tricks via the blog and in addition recommend contribution from other people on that area of interest then our favorite girl has been discovering so much. Have fun with the rest of the year. You’re conducting a fantastic job.

  12. golden goose mens sale Avatar

    Hiya! I just would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the good info you’ve got right here on this post. I shall be coming again to your blog for more soon.

  13. steph curry shoes Avatar

    I simply wanted to develop a brief note to appreciate you for these stunning guidelines you are placing at this website. My time consuming internet search has at the end of the day been paid with reliable tips to go over with my classmates and friends. I would say that many of us readers actually are rather lucky to be in a good place with so many marvellous professionals with beneficial plans. I feel really blessed to have used your entire website and look forward to many more cool minutes reading here. Thank you once again for all the details.

  14. black golden goose sneakers Avatar

    WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. ?

  15. golden goose sky star Avatar

    There is noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made certain good points in features also.

  16. nike sb dunks Avatar

    https://starlightpr1.com/blog-detail/26360/The-Year-Of-The-Slap:-Pop-Culture-Moments-In-2022/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/StarterPackage/

  17. golden goose sky star Avatar

    you’ve got an awesome weblog right here! would you like to make some invite posts on my weblog?

  18. golden goose shoes sale Avatar

    This really answered my drawback, thank you!

  19. yeezy boost 380 Avatar

    Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!?

  20. golden goose outlet Avatar

    Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!?

  21. jordan retro Avatar

    Spot on with this write-up, I really assume this website needs much more consideration. I抣l most likely be once more to learn much more, thanks for that info.

  22. golden goose leopard sneakers Avatar

    Thank you for all your valuable effort on this blog. My niece loves doing internet research and it is easy to see why. We know all relating to the dynamic method you offer priceless guidelines through your web blog and even strongly encourage response from some others on the area so our own girl is without question becoming educated a whole lot. Enjoy the remaining portion of the year. You are always performing a great job.

  23. bape hoodie Avatar

    I抦 impressed, I must say. Really rarely do I encounter a weblog that抯 each educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you will have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the problem is one thing that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very completely happy that I stumbled throughout this in my search for one thing regarding this.

  24. bape outlet Avatar

    There are certainly a number of details like that to take into consideration. That may be a nice level to deliver up. I supply the ideas above as common inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you bring up the place the most important factor can be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around issues like that, however I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both boys and girls really feel the impact of only a second抯 pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.

  25. jordan outlet Avatar

    You should take part in a contest for the most effective blogs on the web. I will recommend this web site!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *