Dave Chappelle on Indians

Dave Chappelle takes on Native Americans with every conceivable stereotype. The role of a stand-up comedian is often to point out these preconceived notions and turn them on their heads - which begs the question: is it as hurtful if done in a comedic manner? Surely, these jokes would not be as well received if they were not told in such a joking manner but all of the humor is paired with a bitter bite.

Some of the stereotypes covered: the protector of the Earth, the historic figure (aren't you extinct?), the naturalist with the tee-pee . . . And in order to potentially offend the modern American Indian, the drug addict is added to the list. Perhaps the only stereotype not listed is the casino worker.

One role of comedy is to poke fun at certain issues by testing the way most people view the topic. There are distinct formulas that many comedians adhere to in order to achieve a successful laugh - but where is the line drawn? I contend that Chappelle's routine would not be considered funny if it was a different race/ethnicity as the but of the joke. If the Native American group was substituted with Hispanics or Asians people may be more offended, but because American Indians make up little of the population it is "okay".