The Official "Ask A Brotha" Thread

[E-Man]

I've never gotten sunburn, and I've spent a ton of time out in the sun in the past. All it did was temporarily give me a case of Reviitaligo for a little bit, but once Autumn hit I was back to my normal skin tone.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

If I watch a racially charged comedian like Kevin Hart, is it ok for me to then tell those racially charged jokes with my white friends or just my black friends? This has always bothered me.

I've never seen a white person repeat racially charged jokes to other whites unless it was overt racism.

A white person repeating those jokes to blacks is usually taken in stride unless the white person is annoying or suspected of holding racist beliefs.

In my past, I've seen whites repeat sets from Chappelle or Chris Rock and I was usually just glad they apprecieted the routine as much as I did.

 

[Boy Scout]

I've never been sunburned. I always assumed it was ether impossible or just very, very hard. I can "tan", though, which is annoying.

 

[charl_huntress]

I remember my mom and uncle getting burnt up once, but they are both much fairer. Never had to face sunburn...and I hope I never have to.

I am very fair. Many people tell me I don't even look black, but both of my parents are fair skin, but 100% black. Their parents are just fair skin and so on.

I had a lot of misconceptions about my blackness when I was young. I didn't think I could get sunburned and I didn't think I could get lice because I pressed my hair... t: I'm still not sure about the lice thing.

If I watch a racially charged comedian like Kevin Hart, is it ok for me to then tell those racially charged jokes with my white friends or just my black friends? This has always bothered me.

Personally, I don't think it's okay for anyone to tell racially charged jokes, regardless of race. I don't really like comedians who do this, but at least in their case they are in a venue telling jokes. Everyone is expecting to hear jokes, offensive or otherwise. Outside of that I don't think it's appropriate.

 

[Manic]

You're less likely to get lice with coarse hair. Lice prefer thinner, straighter hair to move around in. That's not to say black people with coarser natural hair can't get lice, but them ****ers ain't gonna thrive.

 

[chamber-music]

A couple of great aunts on my mothers side got skin cancer but they probably had some European genes in them as well.

I thought most black people 'tan' unless your Sudanese in which case the sun ain't nothing but a flashlight to you. Myself and other members of my family get darker after extreme sun exposure.

 

[E-Man]

You're less likely to get lice with coarse hair. Lice prefer thinner, straighter hair to move around in. That's not to say black people with coarser natural hair can't get lice, but them ****ers ain't gonna thrive.

Lice aren't too fond of conks, Soul Glo, and S-Curl. We'll either burn them, drown them, or make them hang their heads in shame.

 

[charl_huntress]

Lice aren't too fond of conks, Soul Glo, and S-Curl. We'll either burn them, drown them, or make them hang their heads in shame.

t: That's how it was explained to me. I use grease and heat... Burn baby burn!

 

[Warhammer]

The interesting thing about black people and the sun is that due to our skin being darker than mostly everyone else's, we don't get enough natural vitamin D from the sun. I went to my school's clinic once for allergy medicine and the doctor told me that it's a nice idea to take vitamin D supplements since nobody gets nearly enough from food.

 

[blknrdcllctv]

Personally, I don't think it's okay for anyone to tell racially charged jokes, regardless of race. I don't really like comedians who do this, but at least in their case they are in a venue telling jokes. Everyone is expecting to hear jokes, offensive or otherwise. Outside of that I don't think it's appropriate.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this. Why are you opposed to racially-based humor? I think if done well, it's much more than humor - it's commentary, it's enlightening, etc. I'm not a fan of racially-based humor that puts others down, but rather puts things into perspective. I think Chappelle was a master of this.

I am a big Louis CK fan. It's amazing to me that a white, male comedian will tackle issues like slavery, white privilege, and even gender based issues as well (rape culture). He used the n-word in a set once...not even referring to a black person, and I was surprisingly okay with that. I think again saw him on a show with Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfield, and Ricky Gervais, and he discussed using the word in his material. I'm not sure how I really feel about that.

Now I'm just rambling...

 

[Warhammer]

It honestly doesn't bother me when white people joke about other races. Though, I will say that minority jokes are the best said by a comedian of that minority. An Asian dude saying a black joke can be funny, but it's best when Kevin Hart says it, you know what I mean?

 

[charl_huntress]

I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this. Why are you opposed to racially-based humor? I think if done well, it's much more than humor - it's commentary, it's enlightening, etc. I'm not a fan of racially-based humor that puts others down, but rather puts things into perspective. I think Chappelle was a master of this.

I'm opposed to racially-based humor because even if it's funny it's going put someone down. The line is too fine between laughing at someone and turning them into the butt of a joke for others to laugh at with you. I understand comedians doing this because jokes are usually based on social commentary, but outside of that it's not really appropriate. Interestingly, people always mention Chappelle as a master of this form, but the comedy itself sent the comedian on a self-reflective trip to Africa...then no more Chappelle Show.

I am a big Louis CK fan. It's amazing to me that a white, male comedian will tackle issues like slavery, white privilege, and even gender based issues as well (rape culture). He used the n-word in a set once...not even referring to a black person, and I was surprisingly okay with that. I think again saw him on a show with Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfield, and Ricky Gervais, and he discussed using the word in his material. I'm not sure how I really feel about that.

There are times and places for those discussions, and comedians do serve a place for that discussion. I'm just not a fan of it outside of that. The line is too fine and most really don't have the finesse to achieve it. The case could be made some comedians don't have the finesse for it either. Michael Richards anyone?

 

[Hal_Jordan]

I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this. Why are you opposed to racially-based humor? I think if done well, it's much more than humor - it's commentary, it's enlightening, etc. I'm not a fan of racially-based humor that puts others down, but rather puts things into perspective. I think Chappelle was a master of this.

I am a big Louis CK fan. It's amazing to me that a white, male comedian will tackle issues like slavery, white privilege, and even gender based issues as well (rape culture). He used the n-word in a set once...not even referring to a black person, and I was surprisingly okay with that. I think again saw him on a show with Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfield, and Ricky Gervais, and he discussed using the word in his material. I'm not sure how I really feel about that.

Now I'm just rambling...

Louis CK is hilarious. I don't know if this will make a difference to you or not, but Louis CK is actually Mexican.

 

[blknrdcllctv]

Louis CK is hilarious. I don't know if this will make a difference to you or not, but Louis CK is actually Mexican.

I thought his father was from Mexico and his mother was white.

Which brings up another question...how is something like "race" identified and classified in this country? My mom was telling me that at one point, the U.S. would determine a person's race by the mother. I mean, there are arbitrary things like this, but also how one self-identifies. Louis CK considers himself white, no? My biracial mom considers herself black, as has most biracial folks I've met (who have had one black parent).

 

[Hal_Jordan]

I thought his father was from Mexico and his mother was white.

She is white. He is still a Mexican citizen and lived in Mexico until he was 7.

Which brings up another question...how is something like "race" identified and classified in this country? My mom was telling me that at one point, the U.S. would determine a person's race by the mother. I mean, there are arbitrary things like this, but also how one self-identifies. Louis CK considers himself white, no? My biracial mom considers herself black, as has most biracial folks I've met (who have had one black parent).

I'm not positive what he truly identifies as, because he doesn't really bring it up a lot. But when I've heard interviewers ask him about it, he always says he's Mexican.

 

[Warhammer]

I'm biracial and I consider myself both. I guess that in itself qualifies me as my own custom race since in my neck of the woods and in the media, there are only so many half-Black/half-Korean mutts running around.

And damn, I always thought Louis CK was 100% white. I had no idea his father was Hispanic. Now I am watching a video of him fluently speaking Spanish. That's crazy.

 

[blknrdcllctv]

She is white. He is still a Mexican citizen and lived in Mexico until he was 7.


I'm not positive what he truly identifies as, because he doesn't really bring it up a lot. But when I've heard interviewers ask him about it, he always says he's Mexican.

Yeah, I knew he lived in Mexico for a bit as a kid. Maybe it's just my own mental block. LOL

 

[blknrdcllctv]

I'm biracial and I consider myself both. I guess that in itself qualifies me as my own custom race since in my neck of the woods and in the media, there are only so many half-Black/half-Korean mutts running around.

And damn, I always thought Louis CK was 100% white. I had no idea his father was Hispanic. Now I am watching a video of him fluently speaking Spanish. That's crazy.

I work in HR, and I've seen tons of forms (from applications to other compliance things) and I see "two races or more" be included more and more now.

Do you ever feel pressure to identify with one culture over another? It seems sometimes that cultures like "claiming" people.

 

[charl_huntress]

It's the government that wants claim. If they weren't asked most wouldn't self identify.

 

[Warhammer]

I work in HR, and I've seen tons of forms (from applications to other compliance things) and I see "two races or more" be included more and more now.

Do you ever feel pressure to identify with one culture over another? It seems sometimes that cultures like "claiming" people.

Honestly, my problem isn't so much the pressure to identify with one or the other since in my head, I tend to identify with both equally. The problem is the feeling of belonging. I can't speak for all biracial kids, but for me, I never feel like I belong in a room of Koreans or a room of black people even though I'm definitely more accepted in the latter. The majority of immigrant Koreans (or immigrant Asians in general) can be some stuck up and prejudiced people.

 

[charl_huntress]

Honestly, my problem isn't so much the pressure to identify with one or the other since in my head, I tend to identify with both equally. The problem is the feeling of belonging. I can't speak for all biracial kids, but for me, I never feel like I belong in a room of Koreans or a room of black people even though I'm definitely more accepted in the latter. The majority of immigrant Koreans (or immigrant Asians in general) can be some stuck up and prejudiced people.

I hear this a lot my best friend is Chinese and Black. She identifies most with black, but wants to have some tie to her Chinese heritage which is through her mom.

 

[Warhammer]

^That's a nice mix.

Speaking of which, I want to see a relationship where the Asian one is the guy and the black one is the girl. Walking around two or three college campuses as well as a few big cities, I've never ever seen that before.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I'm not positive what he truly identifies as, because he doesn't really bring it up a lot. But when I've heard interviewers ask him about it, he always says he's Mexican.

Louis CK is white. His unnatural love of Cinnabons confirms that.

 

[blknrdcllctv]

^That's a nice mix.

Speaking of which, I want to see a relationship where the Asian one is the guy and the black one is the girl. Walking around two or three college campuses as well as a few big cities, I've never ever seen that before.

I actually saw this pairing once...I stopped dead in my tracks.

Would it have been rude or unwelcome to have gone over and given them a high five or fist bump?

 

[charl_huntress]

^That's a nice mix.

Speaking of which, I want to see a relationship where the Asian one is the guy and the black one is the girl. Walking around two or three college campuses as well as a few big cities, I've never ever seen that before.

She's beautiful inside and out.

As for the bolded, you need to move to CA. I see this often. My former neighbors were mixed and the man was Asian and the woman was black.