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Obama Brings Radical Change —for Black Comedians

Hope infuses acts built on raging at system

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 10, 2008 2:41 PM CST
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(Newser) – The 2008 election was a game-changer for many facets of US society, and not least for black comedians, the LA Times reports. Many have made careers out of lampooning and railing against a system that seems stacked against them. “Now, there’s this self-made black man, and they don’t want to undermine the possibility of hope,” says a professor.

Many are using stage time to vent anxieties about Barack Obama’s future. One comedian, for example, announced he was doing a sketch on Obama’s inauguration, then fell as if shot. But everyone is stepping gingerly. “We have a new responsibility,” said one comic. “You don’t want your sound bite to be the one that brings Obama down.”

Chris Rock played a black presidential candidate in 2003's Head of State, giving comedic treatment to possible assassination attempts.
Chris Rock played a black presidential candidate in 2003's "Head of State," giving comedic treatment to possible assassination attempts.   (AP Photo)
This is the first time in history that a black man beat ... a white man and didn't get locked up for it, one Los Angeles comedian said of Barack Obama's election victory.
"This is the first time in history that a black man beat ... a white man and didn't get locked up for it," one Los Angeles comedian said of Barack Obama's election victory.   (AP Photo)
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I love it. Here's a black president who hit the ground running. He's appointed a Jewish chief of staff. You just know the Ku Klux Klan is having a big meeting right now. - Mario Joyner

We have a new responsibility as comics. You don't want your sound bite to be the one that brings Obama down. - Rodney Perry

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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
inky
Nov 11, 2008 2:25 AM CST
"President Elect" has been the vocabulary for 100 years or more, braniac. Were you too busy counting your white sheets to consult a book or something?
Guest
Nov 10, 2008 11:27 PM CST
Yeah, now blacks can make jokes about thier joke of a president "who made up a non exsistent office haha! "Office of the president elect!" there are millions of Americans rolling in gut splitting agony at the joke of Obamas new made up non existent office, we can wait to see what other jokes Obama comes up with. and the only person the black comedians can blame now for all their families asses on welfare is another black man. It's great. Funny. Haha.

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Barack Obama • race relations • black community • black • comedian • President Obama

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