I am not too much into comedians (the only two comedians I have considered as keeping it real were the late Richard Pryor and the late George Carlin).
But, Mr. C.K. had some interesting things to say about race in America and how its denial still shapes the lives of both Blacks and Whites even into the 21ST Century. He talks about how many Whites complain about slavery during Black History Month (but, strangely, very few complaints are heard about Jane Crow segregation which on paper ended a mere 45 years ago).
He is spot on in how slavery is considered as something that happened centuries ago when at the end of slavery life for recently freed enslaves became a living hell on earth (during Reconstruction and the era known as segregation.)
“Every year white people add 100 years to how long ago slavery was. I’ve heard educated white people say, ‘slavery was 400 years ago.’ No it wasn’t. It was 140 years ago…that’s two 70-year-old ladies living and dying back to back. That’s how recently you could buy a guy.” Comedian Louis C.K., Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Today his little daughters are given much recognition for their humanity because they are white.
Black Americans, on the other hand, are often afforded very little acceptance of their humanity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD6Rjyo77NY
Oh, and the uncomfortable jittery behaviour of Jay Leno’s responses. . . . .priceless.
Ann
