“Many a truth is told in jest.” 

What the above quote means is that sometimes a fact or opinion (more often the latter these days) is felt to be safer to express if it is told in the guise of humor rather than stated in perfect seriousness. This is why some jokes are felt to be so funny and relatable: The comedy plays to experiences and observations that occur. However, this doesn’t stop certain POVs from playing to general bigotry and stereotypes. These are opinions that are held about other groups or persons that somehow are supposed to get a universal pass because they weren’t said with a straight face.

When persons “joke” about how they feel about black women as people and how black women are (insert whatever trifling and disrespectful term has been implied), we are expected to assume there was no harm or foul. And a number of black women fall for this BS, telling themselves and others that there is no need to take whatever stupid remark was made to heart because the ignoramus in question was only kidding.

First, can you say that for absolute certain? Second, what does it matter that the person was joking? This is something that must be understood: Not all jokes are funny.  Not every topic is funny. Not every subject can be made into a joke. Well you could try, but you’ll only make yourself look ridiculous. Just ask Michael Richards. And like him, you should look ridiculous. Because not every attempt at humor should be lauded. You can’t laugh at everything or everyone. And if you want to laugh at me for being a black woman of a certain skin tone, I have to ask myself what it is you are really trying to communicate.

Comedian Kevin Hart is a repeat offender when it comes to disrespectful comments towards black women who spend their hard-earned money on him. One colorist not-too-funny quote from him went:

“#handsdown Light-skinned women usually have better credit than a dark-skinned woman…Broke as dark hoes…Lol”

He apparently later backpedaled with claims that offended black women were too sensitive and could not take a joke.

Black women, it’s not about being able to laugh at yourself. Don’t be fooled. These people love laughing AT you, not WITH you. They love putting you down. They love hating your dark skin. They love praising every kind of woman that isn’t you. And they don’t care whether or not you laugh with them. That’s because as the butt of a joke, the humor is meant for someone other than yourself, be that the joke-teller or the other members of the audience who are also meant to laugh at you.

These persons get upset at you not because you can’t take a joke, but because you are spoiling their ability to share with everyone how much they really hate you and benefit from the unconditional love and support they continue to receive despite knowing darn well they aren’t worth it. They don’t like it when their wallets are threatened.

You want to talk black women being able to take a colorist, racist joke? Let’s look at the “Censored Eleven”. Enough people made it clear that racist and stereotypical jokes just weren’t funny and had no business being circulated. The cartoons were pretty much put out of commission as a result. If people were willing to stand up against animation for being unfunny and bigoted, there’s no reason black women can’t stand up against flesh and blood persons for the same reason.