How Do You Handle a Racist Joke? | Decoded | MTV News

Racist Jokes can happen anywhere. And more than just being offensive racist humor can actually be oppressive. So how do you handle these awkward moments without just blowing up? Watch the episode to find out.

Need more ammo on how to handle Racist Jokes? Check out "See That, Say This”:

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[chescaleigh]

Confession time! On the topic of oppressive jokes, I'm calling myself out here for the "Hitler" on the "racist-o-meter." 0:57 Someone flagged it on our first episode and it should've been removed from this episode. I apologize for the oversight and to those I've hurt with this error. Your feedback is important so please don't hesitate to let us know where we've succeeded and fallen short. Everyone can't get a response, but we do read every comment. I'll be the first to admit it's hypocritical to talk about learning from mistakes without acknowledging my own. Thanks for holding me accountable!

[jeffsong]

Back in college, a guy from my project team says, "You're pretty good looking for an Asian guy". I guess that was a compliment so I said. "Thanks, man! you're not so bad looking for a white guy yourself". We laughed and moved on!

[KittyxGrimm]

I've used the "playing dumb" card with racist jokes and it works like a charm. The best part is that it doesn't just work for racist jokes. It works for all kinds of oppressive jokes!

For example, I was having a family dinner a couple of years ago and my cousin told us a really sexist joke. Very few of us laughed and while everyone else remained silent, I had to ask him why that joke was funny because I didn't get it. He tried to explain and as he did, I could actually see the light fading in his eyes when he realized what he had actually said. It was glorious!

[Glisean]

I think a lot of the people in these comments missed a key point in this video.
If you wanna crack racist jokes or jokes at a group of peoples expense, go right ahead and be bold. Say whatever you want, heck Trump does it.
But also don't complain if people call you out on it, in the same way you have the freedom of speech to say what you want people have the freedom to check you on it and respond to it. Be ready to stick by your words and justify yourself because you said them. It's really funny because I know a lot of people who complain about pc police only make these kinds of jokes when the punchline of the joke is not present. They won't crack their joke about black people when black people are present, so really it just boils down to you wanting to get away with getting stupid shit and not wanting to be embarrassed by your own stupidity.

[becathist]

The "political correctness" or "free speech" argument always cracks me up. "Susan (what I call those people), free speech protects you from the government stopping you from saying poorly constructed racist humor. What it doesn't protect you from, however, is the rest of us telling you to shut the fuck up."

[pinkhyacinth]

I usually act like i don't get it and see them trying to justify it which makes them look even more racist

[masterbonzala]

"How Do You Handle a Racist Joke?"
The same way I, an autistic person, handle autistic jokes.
Just laugh at them. They are not trageted towards you, they are targeted towards the cultural idea of what just so happens to be your identity. Here is a real mindbreaker though:
You are a person. You are not your identity. Therefore jokes are justified and you are not justified to get offended by the jokes that are not intended to offend you.

[marsharupe]

I'm white, and I don't like racist jokes. I just look at people who tell them and say, "Oh, did the Klan meeting just let out?" It's a nice way to put racists on the defensive.

[JengusRoundstone]

How to Deal With a Racist Joke:
Step 1: Laugh if it is funny
Step 2: If it is not funny do not laugh
👍

[MarkDice]

D) You laugh, cuz they're funny!

[pfc]

My childhood best friend is black and I'm white. We would tell racist jokes ( in the 1980s ) to each other all the time but only when it was just us. Even back then we knew that not everyone found them funny.

[Ashe-Dawn]

I posted a picture with my dog on instagram one day. Somebody left the comment: "One day when da boss get hungry, guess who gon' be on da plate." That comment left me in tears. I haven't laughed that hard at a comment in so long.

Seriously though, some people have a dark sense of humor. Why do you think games like Cards Against Humanity are so popular? I don't care about jokes. The only thing that would offend me if when the comments are hateful.

[Walnutcase]

This video was helpful to me because I am asian and go to a predominately white school and hear racist jokes around every corner. I never really knew how to handle it and the few times I said something, I felt like the "pc police" or the bad guy at the end. So it's comforting to know that there are other ways to handle it besides trying to correct these people.

[demoskunk]

Between this chick and Laci Green, MTV should just change it's name to SJW already.

[chescaleigh]

Considering the hot water Amy Schumer has found herself in with some of her jokes about race, this week's episode is right on time! So what's wrong with making racist jokes? When is a joke not "just a joke" and what are some ways you can respond when/if someone's joke crosses the line?

[rae_diant]

Went to hang out with my boyfriend and his friends and several of them (including my boyfriend! D:) told racist jokes. It just made me super uncomfortable and uneasy. I sorta just shut down and covered my ears and screamed "I hate racist jokes!" They seemed to get the picture.

[Cleyde]

I had friends using the N word to describe black people and made jokes about it. thinking they were open minded in some subjects I thought they would be in this one too. So I used the "I don't like that type of joke so don't make it around me... or anyone" and I lost those friends. It led to a huge argument about racism and their ignorance just started to show. I think i'm better now

[NightCrafted]

"These people wanna tell you how to talk, don't let them!"

-George Carlin

[SamBskate]

The reason we tell jokes is to make fun of or satirize our different cultures in society. Laughing at ourselves and out own cultures/stereotypes is good and funny. People get offended too easily. It's important too laugh.

[vonelgamer]

Sometimes racist jokes are funny but most of the time they make me feel bad