It seems to me that Comedy Central has been giving the idea of race, particularly that of being black, a great deal of attention, at least in their fake news programs. It's the main theme in The Nightly Show, hosted by black comedian Larry Wilmore, but it's also evident in The Daily Show with how correspondents react to issues of the day. There's nothing wrong with showing black pride, as it has not been responsible for oppression the way white pride has, and when there are real issues of racism, bringing it up is entirely appropriate. But it seems that the writers are trying to shoe-horn race into every crevice they can fit it in.
Take the coverage of hydrated salts on Mars. Roy Wood Jr. spent the entire segment lamenting how black people would not be going to Mars, even though NASA has sent over dozen African-Americans into space. Passing the physical and intellectual challenges to becoming an astronaut isn't easy. If someone is capable of handling them, why the hell would a government agency deny them a job simply because they're black? Certainly, there are economic disparities that affect black Americans more than whites--one of those oppressions white pride has created--but to imply a social aspect to it strikes me as off base.
There was also the recent coverage of the Democratic debate, where Roy Wood Jr. said that America is ready for "another all-white president". As if having a black president these past 8 years ended racial problems....What needs to be done to address issues like police brutality are policies that expose racists and a will to prosecute them, as well as an examination of current policy to determine if they disproportionately affect minority groups. This can be done through police body cameras and reforming the prison-industrial complex, things said "all white-president" has made a point of addressing in his campaign.
You would think, after Bill Nye explained how different "races" came to be, and that they really don't exist [http://www.salon.com/2015/05/05/bill_nye_on_the_science_of_racism_were_all_the_same_from_a_scientific_standpoint/] on their program, CC wouldn't keep hammering such an idea into us. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking what's supposed to be a half hour of poking fun at the news. Still, many people DO rely on these shows for at least some of their information, and while CC does a good job highlighting racial problems when they arise, I just can't see them contributing to a solution for these problems.
What do you think about Comedy Central's portrayal of race in their programs?
Take the coverage of hydrated salts on Mars. Roy Wood Jr. spent the entire segment lamenting how black people would not be going to Mars, even though NASA has sent over dozen African-Americans into space. Passing the physical and intellectual challenges to becoming an astronaut isn't easy. If someone is capable of handling them, why the hell would a government agency deny them a job simply because they're black? Certainly, there are economic disparities that affect black Americans more than whites--one of those oppressions white pride has created--but to imply a social aspect to it strikes me as off base.
There was also the recent coverage of the Democratic debate, where Roy Wood Jr. said that America is ready for "another all-white president". As if having a black president these past 8 years ended racial problems....What needs to be done to address issues like police brutality are policies that expose racists and a will to prosecute them, as well as an examination of current policy to determine if they disproportionately affect minority groups. This can be done through police body cameras and reforming the prison-industrial complex, things said "all white-president" has made a point of addressing in his campaign.
You would think, after Bill Nye explained how different "races" came to be, and that they really don't exist [http://www.salon.com/2015/05/05/bill_nye_on_the_science_of_racism_were_all_the_same_from_a_scientific_standpoint/] on their program, CC wouldn't keep hammering such an idea into us. I don't know, maybe I'm overthinking what's supposed to be a half hour of poking fun at the news. Still, many people DO rely on these shows for at least some of their information, and while CC does a good job highlighting racial problems when they arise, I just can't see them contributing to a solution for these problems.
What do you think about Comedy Central's portrayal of race in their programs?
