First off, let me say that I can take a joke. I really can. But whenever I sit down to watch a DVD, YouTube sketch or Vine video made by a young black comedian, I expect to be insulted at any given moment.
Gay jokes can be funny. Really funny actually. As stereotypical as it was, the Men on Film sketches from In Living Color were really funny. And white stand up comedians like Louis C. K. and others make Gay jokes an art form.
The difference between white comedians and black comedians though is the obvious disdain and fear black men have for Gays. Seriously, black male comedians are very hateful to Gays in their comedy. There’s a very fine line walked in whats “just a joke” vs “I really hate these faggot mothafuckas.”
I recently watched the Comedy Central Roast of actor James Franco. It featured the likes of Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live) and Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live) mocking James Franco for the ever flowing rumors of his sexuality. There were tons of Gay jokes. The difference here is that the gay jokes were vulgar yet not insulting in some weird way. Many of the white comedians seemed to low-key compliment Franco for being able to pull off Bisexuality with his stunning good looks. But the sheer number of Gay jokes became so overwhelming that Indian-American comedian Aziz Ansari had to comment:
Black comedians, on the other hand, HATE gay people. They seem to despise them. True there are exceptions like The Wayans, Dave Chappelle and a few others. But for the most part, when you see “gay” depicted in black comedy, it’s seen as something disgusting, abnormal, hidden and kept on the “down low”. From Eddie Murphy to Martin Lawrence to The Kings of Comedy… Homosexuality is not made fun of like white comedians where it’s seen as a “wink-wink” kind of thing. It’s depicted as gross, disgusting and “Ewww, nigga you gay, get away from me.”
Take one of my favorite comedians, Kevin Hart. Watching his stand up comedy film, Let Me Explain, with a male date we initially laughed when Hart went into the “gay” section of his act. Very quickly it devolved into borderline abuse and homophobia.
Kevin Hart started the jokes with the statement, “One of my biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay.” Whoa. Okay, I initially thought he was going to go into a bit about his fearing the pressures his son would have to face from society for his sexuality. But that was all wishful thinking.
Nope, Kevin feared his son becoming a flaming faggot. Oh, he tried to cover himself by saying, “I’m not homophobic” but they all do that. That’s like when a racist says, “I’m not a racist” right before he tells a “black-man-is-a-spear-chucker” joke. Saying, “I’m not a rapist” right before you forcefully violate a woman doesn’t make it so.
But seriously…What if that were a white comedian talking about not wanting his son to be around a little black kids?
No, I get it, it’s just a joke. A joke about little kids humping on each other. Nothing inherently disturbing about that. Relax, Delmacy. True, Kevin’s jokes were pretty tame compared to many other black comedians.
Take Saturday Night Live/30 Rock comedian Tracy Morgan for example. He “joked” onstage that he would stab and murder his son if he found out the boy was gay. Comedy gold. It was so funny that people in the audience began booing him and his response was to insult homosexuals even more!
To a lesser extent, let’s take a look at relatively unknown actor Page Kennedy. For all those who don’t know who he is (which is likely most of you), Page is what is called a “Day Player” actor on many network television shows. What this means is he usually comes in for one day to play a drug dealer or thug on Cold Case or Law & Order: SVU. Recently, he’s made use of the free time created by his lackluster acting career by uploading a series of popular comedy sketches on YouTube and the video app Vine.
One of his favorite default comedy gimmicks is seen in a series of short sketches where he secretly films “tests” to see if any of his black male friends are gay by randomly feeling on them in intimate ways. If they don’t push him off fast enough, they are laughed at and ridiculed as being “gay” to the entire room full of black homophobic frat-boy acting men.
I remember boys doing this when I was in high school. But in that case they were immature children, not grown ass men.
The most disappointing thing about these videos is one of our favorite upcoming black comedic actors Andrew Bachelor is in on the homophobic humor as well. He’s even filming most of these “sketches” and is seen laughing at the end of each of them.
Are heterosexual black men really that paranoid about even slightly coming off as gay in a time when even the first black President of the United States of America is pro-gay? Most of my friends are heterosexual and NONE of them have acted like this past their teenage years.
SIDE NOTE: 100% of the high school boys that I saw engage in these “gay tests” ended up being revealed as insecure down-low gay or bisexual men themselves as the years went on. Just putting that out there. Page Kennedy might be trying to tell us something about himself. Maybe.
If these “tests to see if my friend is gay” sketches were the only gay bashing that Page Kennedy participated in, I may have just dismissed them as adolescent attempts at humor from a grown man. But Page is OBSESSED with gay men. Seriously. He thinks about gay shit more than I do, and I’m VERY gay.
He is fascinated by finding anything perceived as gay in seemingly masculine heterosexual men. He even started an ongoing series of heavily researched YouTube comedy videos called “That’s So Drake” where he acts as a “homosexuality detective” to expose anything black male celebrities do that appears unintentionally “gay”.
Let’s not even talk about the fact that this “That’s So Drake” Page Kennedy gay video has nearly a million views. Instead, let’s discuss why it’s always the most unattractive black men who are always worried about “the gays.”
Reminds me of the very first Misconception that Straight Men have about Masculine Gay Men. PAGE KENNEDY, US GAY MEN ARE NOT CHECKING FOR YOU, AT ALL! PLEASE BELIEVE THIS! We like “sexy” men just as much as you like “sexy” women. You sir, are not “sexy”.
I can’t blame this mediocre black actor entirely though. There is a culture of homophobia spread throughout the black culture from local barbershops to mainstream Hip Hop music/media that infects all like a virus.
Take another popular black show, The Boondocks. This show has mocked black gay men quite a bit. Their satiric take on the rumors about Tyler Perry was actually pretty brilliant. But underneath that witty writing is still the same disgust and disdain for any and all things “gay”, especially when it comes to black men.
On the Boondocks, black gay/bisexual men are depicted as shameful predatory deviants that should be avoided at all costs. Take one of the two main characters Huey, for instance. This is one of his ON-GOING catchphrases.
Yeah the first couple times can be funny…but after about 8-10 blatant insults in a single season, a black gay man starts to wonder if Aaron McGruder is subliminally telling us that we’re not wanted. Methinks the Lady, Ms McGruder, doth protest too much.
Again, I can take a joke. Especially a gay joke that I can relate to…I’ve seen MANY straight white comedians make gay jokes where they imply they are gay themselves just for the sake comedy. That is totally fine. It’s seen as “white boy humor.” But this is a key point. Another observation I’ve made is the black comedians who primarily interact with white people seem to be less judgmental when it comes to homosexuality.
Take one of our favorite actor/rappers Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino). Before he landed his role on the NBC comedy Community, he performed as the sole black Amercan with the Derrick Comedy sketch comedy crew. Here’s one of their hilariously creative “gay -themed” sketches from 6 years ago spoofing the film “Memento”.
Donald Glover’s character doesn’t purport to love engaging in a gay act, but you still don’t feel the weird disgusted aversion that the aforementioned black comedy actors display even merely pretending to slightly engage in gay intimacy.
So clearly I’m not accusing ALL black comedians of homophobia. But enough of them are that if I take a male date to a comedy club, It’s a good chance that we’ll hear more than a few extremely homophobic gay jokes. Hell, we may even be singled out by the comedian on stage for being two attractive men sitting at a table alone together, sharing a basket of wings and fries.
Is this just par for the course? Will the black community ever get to the place where the white community is when it comes to calling out homophobia in comedy? White audience members QUICKLY shut Tracy Morgan down when he started his homophobic “comedy” rant. Even when Seinfeld actor Michael “Kramer” Richards got racist at the Laugh Factory, the white people in the audience quickly turned against him as soon as the word “Nigger” left his lips.
I highly doubt it…but maybe the ultimate joke in that situation is expecting anything different. It turns out they’ll always be laughing at us but never with us…and unless we start standing up for ourselves, we’ll likely always be the brunt of the joke.
Nick Delmacy
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Everytime I think about maybe leaving…ya’ll go and pull me right back. This is just a good essay. Everytime my folks go in about the gays silencing comedians who don’t agree with them I always bring up Kramer and they go on and on about how it’s somehow different. I don’t think half of Eddie Murphy’s Raw (or was it Delirious) could even be performed today without GLAAD and the HRC simultaneously exploding. I may be the only one that remembers when Joe Tory did a routine once where he talked about beating the gay out of his nephew…and everyone laughed.
Sidenote: How could you leave off Page Kennedy’s brilliant portrayal of U-Turn on seasons 2 and 3 of Weeds. You can call him mediocre but he did that…and was sexy doing it.
I don’t take stand-up too serious.. I feel like most people are not gay so they don’t know. I love Boonducks I saw this and I purchase that season for my collection. What he was trying to convey was to stop acting like your straight when you gay. I was rolling when I saw this. I can of feel like Tracy Morgan if you can take a dick you can take a joke!!! And yes I am a homo.. Comedy should not have limits its just a reflection of society. African Americans just need to catch up with dealing with homosexuality. Really its not that serious.
Peoples sensitivity levels are different; however it seems like many blacks turn a blind eye to anti- homosexuality language and its byproducts (anti-homo jokes) but are quick to acknowledge and speak out against racism. Yes for me race and sexuality are not the same; however in certain situations, intolerance is intolerance.
I kinda give a pass to st8 blacks for not being sensitive concerning this topic but to black gays….I question you.
“I kinda give a pass to st8 blacks for not being sensitive concerning this topic but to black gays….I question you.”
What does this mean? How do you “kinda give a pass” to the homophobia of straight black people? That’s the problem: black gay men have always and continue to give passes to straight black people’s homophobia. Straight blacks will continue to be overtly and viciously homophobic until black gay men stand up for themselves and do something about it.
Black comedians too often cross the line of a good natured joke to hate speech dressed up as humor. They will keep doing it until black gay men challenge them.
I was at a comedy show last Thursday and I had this issue. I can take a joke but it got to the point where the biggest laughs in the show were about homosexuality. That is when you know it’s a problem in the black community for acceptance of homosexuality still. I even texted my friend that I have mixed emotional feelings for as of late and told him I don’t like comedians because they don’t know how to draw the line on a joke versus sensitivity and being understanding of what homosexuality is, how those who are homosexual deal with society’s views on their love and sex lifestyle. It gets to a point where it just isn’t really all that funny at times. There is a way to tell a joke where people will laugh at you and there is a way to tell a joke where will people are laughing with you, hopefully more black “homophobic” comedians can find that line and make better comedy for ALL.
As far as The Boondocks…I think Riley’s character is acting out the hyper-masculinity that is portrayed by the black men in the hip hop community and the community at large. In my opinion Aaron McGruder is highlighting and poking fun at the ignorance of it all.
Outside of that trivial point, this article is on point.
Something is to be said about a “heterosexual” grown ass man obsessed with homosexuality. Seems to be some insecurity at play.
Again, this was very eye opening and a great conversation starter. Kudos.
@Ocky I disagree with you concerning the boondocks. I tried for many seasons to find the “brilliance” of that show’s anti gay propagation. Quite frankly, if the show’s true intent was to showcase the ignorance of homophobia and overall stupidity within the black community, it does a piss poor job of pulling it off. And it’s average viewing demographic would be too damn dumb to pick up the subtle message if it did.
I agree the Boondocks is calling out all of the stupid things in African American culture including homophobia. Unfortunately where the Boondocks fails is in driving home the message that there is a better way.
Stereotypical weren’t we just talking about comedy and you bring up hip hop and black people I like alternative rock and I’m black you have to give respect to earn it and being racist isn’t the way
And another thing…directed at the videos from Page Kennedy. Usually people don’t like other people touching them in intimate ways unless it’s the person they sexing. As a gay dude I don’t like strange dudes touching me or dudes I know that I am cool with grabbing my ass or caressing my hand. Really…this is your gay test?
That is not a straight thing idiot.
As far as the “That’s So Drake” thing, again for me there is something strange about a heterosexual grown man obsessing to the point of making a YouTube video series about possible homosexuals or “suspect” negro actions. Looking at the video, I mean who is this angry and aggressive over a dude’s “suspect” homo actions? Really? Naw dude that aint comedy, that’s repressed emotions and insecurity.
I hope this is all an act but if it is, it still feeds the anti-homosexual beast in the black community.
The reason why blatant homophobia and bias is so prevalent in black comedians acts and black entertainment and discourse in general is because black gay men are silent in our daily lives when we a verbally and physically attacked by our families, friends, churches, barbershops, media on and on. The word is out in the black community we are easy targets. One can attack and insult a black gay man in ways white gay men would never tolerate. Until we grow some balls and stand up for ourselves this won’t change.
Perhaps Page Kennedy’s youtube gay schtick has to be viewed within the context of him playing prison gay gang member Jamal in his episode of “My Name Is Earl”
Given this, his gay schtick might be one of two things: 1) He’s played overtly gay before and that gives him the credibility to use the gay schtick as a parody (or else, why swap ‘gay’ for ‘Drake’?) designed to complicate the negative use of that word or 2) these videos are some sort of over-compensation for the fact that he’s played overtly gay before. If it was #2, I doubt whether gay-friendly Hollywood would continue to employ him, and I doubt whether he’d have done the episode of Earl if he was truly homophobic.
Page Kenedy kissed another man Twice and bobbed on a Push-up pop! I thinks he’s overcompensating because his boys are still fucking with him about that! I think he’s sexy ( i like ’em thick) but that shit turned me off! I call that lazy comedy!
Black men who hate gay men are gay. How many of us in here have found that the black men who treated us the worst as kids wanted to hook up with us later. Eddie Murphy will never talk about gay men again after his tranny episode and neither will Eddie Long. Black comics suck, they are ignorant and ghetto. The exception to the rule is Chris Rock.
Your standing up for gays but look you’re being racist you just took the most stereotypical assumption of blacks and used it how am I supposed to say your right if you’re offensive. So I’ll end mine like yours all gay people find joy out of makeup anal sex and lady gaga except for cam and Mitchell from modern family
Sadly, gay people just expect to be treated badly by blacks. Comedians or just your average black folks.
You know. Kind of how blacks have come to expect bad treatment from whites.
I just gotta wonder white blacks would want to pay this kind of hurt and pain forward instead of becoming better people from their own struggles.
I took time out of my day to read a article of someone voicing his opinion and I have mixed emotions I feel like yea you’re right some gay jokes go to far. But I found it a little disturbing that the fact that you compared homosexuality to racism. Racism and homosexuality are completely different things. Sure they’re both characteristics we have no choice over but the gay jokes aren’t as bad as racial jokes. Some Gay jokes aren’t funny. Some are but I have a feeling your a bit racist lol. Because you constantly said how black comedians are more offensive than white ones but you showed 1 side of the story. And even though boondocks has black characters white people create and put work into that show. White people are more extremist when it comes to getting rid of gays. Have you seen the protest against gays with a tsunami of whites yelling. I respect your opinion but I’d have to kindly disagree because you made it homosexual to racist.
I just saw the Donald Glover thing…It was the funniest thing I’ve seen all week.
I was watching Aries Spears on Netflix, and really enjoying his set. Then he starts into what I guess was the ‘gay section’ of his material with the words “I wish they’d stop acting like what they do is normal.”
I’ve never hit the “off” button faster in my fucking life.
TBH, Aries is one of those guys who isn’t on the short list of men most dudes trying to get at.
It really gets on my nerves when the not so attractive guys act like dudes want them. Not saying that the attractive ones are any better but they at least have credibility.
I don’t like to revel in anyone’s misfortune, but it looks like karma may have caught up to Tracy Morgan. Not just the accident, but now he may possibly have permanent brain damage, no more gay jokes out ya mouth, my dude.
i agreed with much of this post. but you were too easy on hart (who isn’t funny to me.) he’s straight up homophobic. so is chappelle (even though he is sometimes funny)
i don’t think boondocks is homophobic at all. the video you posted is of riley who is supposed to be an annoying asshole. it’s satirizing the stereotype of homophobia in black communities.
Wow… What a piece of work… Another gay person calling Straight people immature when they disagree with their flamboyant lifestyle…
The very term ‘Homophobic’ is immature… It’s gay folks way of saying “He who smelt it dealt it…” or “I know you are, but what am I” (In this case I know you are and so am I) … It’s Childish…
Not even halfway through the article and this self-proclaimed ‘Very’ Gay guy accuses these comedians of being childish and immature, then immediately (I assume with bent wrist) types
SIDE NOTE: 100% of the high school boys that I saw engage in these “gay tests” ended up being revealed as insecure down-low gay or bisexual men themselves as the years went on. Just putting that out there. Page Kennedy might be trying to tell us something about himself. Maybe.
Wow… I must say again… Gay version of “It takes one to know one” and then stick out your tongue…
You just got done scolding some comedian for ‘outing’ straight guys as a joke, but here you are ADMITTING that you know some ppl that are insecure and gay… yet you find it appropriate to ‘Out’ them after giving them a pass for being ‘Just High School Kids’…
But you had to throw your O-so-Gay “… But, um… like yeah… so these guys, I found out later… were like totally gay… uh, soooo…. uh huh…”
YOU are a grown (very Gay) man, and you can’t help but make up lies about ppl that you prolly never knew, because its part of the Gay tactic to do so… calling anyone who disagrees with where you CHOOSE to stick your genitals a FAG basically…. “Homophobe” is nothing more then a gay mans way of calling a Straight man a FAG without offending other politically correct gay-moes…
Seriously… Maybe… Instead of telling normal straight men to grow up… How bout YOU guys quit dressing in chick clothes, referring to one another as top/bottoms (Obviously wouldnt be an issue if you were sleeping with the appropriate sex) and being all limp wristed, and flamboyant and GROW the HELL UP your selves…
Just saying, homos
Omg, you are obviously gay!!! Mwahaha!!! How’s life in the closet, David?