Our 34th prompt comes from Pumpkin. They ask:
Is it possible to be too woke? Are we becoming too sensitive? Say comedians, should they have to apologize for fat people jokes?
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Pumpkin,
Hello! I’m assuming that this question was prompted by this post: #18: Is being woke a blessing or a burden? In which case, it is a great follow-up question. It has been asked by comedians, politicians (usually conservative/right leaning ones) and many other people who abhor political correctness.
Political correctness is the principle that we should avoid utterances and actions that marginalize or offend groups of people that tend to already be marginalized/discriminated against in our society (recommended read: #33: Can Affirmative Action and Meritocracy exist side by side?). People who are against political correctness say that it is against their right to free speech (I get to say what I want!), that it is condescending (under whose authority is something politically correct?), that it is biased (against traditionally powerful groups), that it is selective (why aren’t the feminists frothing at the mouth because of this!!!!) and that its supporters are too sensitive (relax, why do you have to get offended? Sheesh!).
Let’s take comedy, for example. For a long time, groups of people that are marginalized have been the butts of comedians’ jokes. During slavery, Jim Crow and colonialism, it was perfectly fine to have a laugh at the expense of black people. It was perfectly fine to call them “niggers” and denigrate other people of colour as well. And when told that it was terrible behaviour, comedians would say “it’s just a joke, lighten up!” Yet black people continue to experience racism and be treated as lesser people. They continue to be killed because of their colour. How are racist jokes funny?
The same applies to women, who are made fun of to the point that some comedians think that rape jokes are perfectly fine. Rape, an encounter in which someone has sex with you without your consent. In which you may contract an STI, get pregnant, be injured or even killed. An encounter whose trauma never really goes away. To whom is this funny?
How about jokes about fat people? Fat people can’t nourish themselves without someone having a problem. When they sit next to thinner people on public transport, they are usually treated like rubbish. Everyone thinks it’s okay to give them unsolicited advice about their weight and assume that they are unhealthy. They get kicked off flights or get asked to pay for multiple seats, and if ever they should ask to be treated like other people, they are told maybe they should lose weight first. No matter the situation. At the doctor’s office being checked for a sore throat? Maybe you should lose weight. In line for a decaf coffee? Should you be drinking that, how many calories does it have? Heck, even in the gym they are shamed, which is quite daft since they are there literally trying to keep fit/lose weight/do whatever the hell else we’ve told them they should do. Put yourself in their shoes. Does this sound funny?
Such jokes can only be funny to people who are part of privileged groups, and are blind/insensitive to the experiences of others that are not part of those groups. It takes a cruel and malignant person to make jokes at the expense of others who do not have as much power as they do. Imagine for a moment a room of rich people getting together to laugh at jokes about poor people. That is just in bad taste, and would have people up in arms. Yet imagine these same rich people saying: “Gosh, poor people are so sensitive! Why can’t I laugh at the way they can no longer afford ugali while eating caviar? Ugh!”
I find it ironic when comedians complain about people being too politically correct and sensitive, because they forget their predecessors in Kings’ courts – court jesters. They were employed to make the king and his guests laugh, and many times, jesters made them laugh at themselves. They could tell the King news that no one else would even dare to utter, and get away unscathed.
They show us the very important work of comedy, which is to punch upwards. We cannot pretend that humour is not powerful. Many times, it is the best way to bring out the absurdity/injustice of a situation. So what happens when we take the power of humour and make fun of marginalized people when we are not a part of these groups? The poor, black and brown people, women, queer and trans people, fat people and so on? We punch downwards. We disempower them. We contribute to negative stereotypes about them. Is this the best use of our power? Had we rather use it to disempower others, or had we rather empower them?
Comedy does a great job at critiquing power. Comedy is beautiful when it is used to help people question themselves and their beliefs. When it is used to hold powerful groups to account. Look at shows like XYZ, Zambezi News, The Daily Show, Full Frontal, Saturday Night Live and so on. It’s also important to note that people in these marginalized groups can also critique themselves through comedy, and often do a great job at it. Again, look at the above shows when they do this. Fat people are more than capable of making comedy about themselves. They already do. Black and brown people have been laughing at themselves for years. So have women and queer people. And they do a great job at it.
We are expanding the social space. We are saying that everyone deserves dignity. That we should have equal rights. That we should not step on others’ heads to get ahead, or for LOLs. If that bothers you, you need to ask yourself why.
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This post is part of a daily writing experiment that I’m running for a year. I’d love it if you took part! ?