Humor can set back a movement? Did Richard Pryor set back the Civil Rights

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

Poll question: Humor can set back a movement? Did Richard Pryor set back the Civil Rights

Movement?

[redqueen]

1. YES!

OUTRAGE! WE NEED MORE OUTRAGE!

IT HELPS, REALLY!

[name not needed]

24. YOUR OUTRAGE DEFICIENCY OUTRAGES ME!

OUTRAGE!!!!!!1

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. As always, it's going to depend on who you ask. So this can't be

answered. :hi: You should have a spot for that, and then I'll vote.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

3. Explain more and I will. I'm not sure I get you

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. Some people are going to say that he did, and some people are

going to say that he didn't. So, it depends on who you ask. That isn't definitively answerable IMO.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

10. Well I'm asking you

Isn't that the point of a poll?

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. And I'm telling you, because of that....my jury is out. Can't be answered.

Should have that option. :hi:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Yes, actually, it can.

I don't know if Richard Pryor did or did not set back the civil rights movement, but humor, by its very definition, takes the seriousness away from a subject. If it's not viewed with the proper severity, its importance becomes diminished. It's actually why ridicule is one of the best political tools there are. Look at what it did to someone like Al Gore.

[Cadence]

6. But Al Gore wasn't a movement.

Ridicule is different in my opinion than humor. Ridicule as a political tool is effective because it belittles and mocks another's views. Humor, particularly self deprecating humor, can be used to shed light in a relatable way to a person's personal struggle or the struggle of a certain cause.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. Al Gore wasn't a movement?

What else do you call millions of people pushing for a common cause?

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

14. Al Gore was a movement?

I disagree. My support for him was a display of my dedication to the cause, not to him.

Oh yeah, and I think humor is a great way of dealing with important issues. You can spit the truth if you make it funny. I think Chris Rock is a great example of someone who speaks VERY candidly on a variety of issues, saying things everyone thinks but is afraid to voice in public. I'm not saying he's gonna "solve" a problem for us but he brings the issues to the fore and helps open things up for further discussion.

[Cadence]

23. I don't call it the Al Gore movement

he was one of many in the movement fighting for a cause.. he himself is not the cause.

[northzax]

9. ridicule and humour are different things

and humour, frankly, is one of the best ways of humanizing an issue, making it acceptable to people. If you cannot laugh at something that is funny, even if it gently pokes fun at you, then you will never win.

and if you do win, people will despise you for it.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

13. But it's so subjective. What offends you, I may find humor in...

:shrug:

[northzax]

21. well there you go-

should the fact that almost everything will offend someone be cause for all to curtail their speech?

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

22. If you ask SOME people, yes. I say - FUCK NO!

[blondeatlast]

26. So we shouldn't be finding the humor in the current administration?

Eegads, then I need to get out of DU quick! God help us all if we can't laugh.

[xmas74]

7. If humor is done well, it can get a message across

better than anything else.

[tigereye]

12. no

Pryor was commenting on things that people did not want to talk about. I would think that would be a benefit to, for and from the Civil Rights movement.

[xmas74]

17. That's the idea.

Sometimes people become more open to an idea that is presented in a humorous context. I have always found the best type of humor to be the type that makes you think afterward.

[merh]

15. I am curious, was "In Living Color" successful and did it set

the civil rights movement back any? I mean that show was full of sterotypes and ridicule. Was it seen as demeaning to African Americans?

:shrug:

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

16. Homey the clown

was an inspiration to all of us. Mostly 'cause he "didn't play that" but also because he hit people with a sock. We need more positive role models like Homey.

[prolesunited]

18. Yes, in the same way

Archie Bunker hampered the cause of boorish, angry white males everywhere. :-)

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

19. Heh!

good one!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

20. See - humor. Priceless.

:loveya:

[Aiptasia]

25. I prefer a sense of humor to a lack thereof...

So back up off of Richard Pryor. The very first dick jokes I ever heard came from Richard's party albums.