Racial Jokes by older people...
By stejhas
@stejhas (209)
United States
December 26, 2008 11:23am CST
My step-dad, who is in his 60's, was telling a racial joke about U.S. President-elect Obama the other day... The 'joke' was something like this, "I wonder where Pres. Obama is going to live" - our response was, obviously, "well, the White House, duh... that's where all the presidents live". Then he said, "oh, are they going to change the name of it?"
Right after he said that, I thought WOW, what difference in generations! I'm in my upper twenties and would NEVER say something like that out loud. I guess my generation doesn't think in terms of skin color, etc. But obviously people his age might feel differently?
Regardless... the kicker is, the other day, my seven-yr-old daughter asked me if they found a house for President Obama yet... I had forgotten about the joke and asked her what she meant... she resonded, "Well, Grandpa said they won't let him live in the White House" URGH!
The best response I had for her was to tell her the truth about why Grandpa said that and explain to her that he wasn't being very nice and there was nothing funny about any part of the "joke" he was telling.
2 people like this
3 responses
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
29 Dec 08
The age gap shows really huge cultural difference. I think it extends from what they consider as "proper" and what they count as "improper" - racial discrimination isn't one of the latter. It's really frustrating that they're old and they feel like their age is enough reason for them to say anything they want.
Thanks for the comment on my discussion!
1 person likes this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
30 Dec 08
My father in law used to joke about coloured people, saying do you know why he is black. I said no. He replied he fought with the baker and put him in the oven. Although it is a racist "joke" one has to understand the era that they lived in . My father in law is over 65. We are a homogenous island. So if you see a coloured person it is going to be more noticeable. I am glad that finally there is a black president. Hopefully he will be beneficial to all people regardless of their colour skin.
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Unfortunately in today's society there are always going to be racial jokes none of which are that funny. Ignorance still seems to run too rampant. I think that a lot of times that prejudice and racial jokes are just coming from people that are afraid of change and afraid of those that are different. 