location of the less than 10 people who responded on here says something?????

I am sure you were not offended. I will remember that the next time one of my aging Southern Illinois neighbors uses the word "Colored". I am sure he or she will get a kick out of it. I am also sure that those of you who find it funny have a Black, (or is that "Colored") friend that will just love it to death.

Where is the harm? For one thing it seems the bar is still set very low when it comes to acceptable racial humor. So far as a Black man, I have yet to find this funny. There is nothing tasteful about it as well. If I saw this joke being told to a group other than Black, I would be more offended, not by the dimwits laughing, but by the fool who told it. One could hope that the days of pandering around as an ignorant speaking "Colored" person for a laugh from White people would be over. Then again, one could hope that fat people could get past making fat jokes and understand that what may be funny to them is probably not funny to many other fat people. I doubt many Hispanics think much of a wetback joke, just because it was told by someone who claimed his Dad swam across the river to get to his field job. Hey, how many of you Germans get a good chuckle out of a funny Nazi joke when told by a German?

As far as it being written by a Black person, either that person was some ignorant Southern field hand given his dielect or he was a Black that was pandering. On the other hand, we just have someone's word that it was written by a "Black" and that makes it all right. How about a simple test? What if the joke was written by a White person who took on stereotypical mannerisms like the "Rochester" character? Is it still funny? How about if I tell one of those "wetback" jokes that goes over so well when the Hispanic guy lets it ripped at some non-Hispanic audience?

When I was born, I was black,
when I grow up, I will be black,
when I go in thr sun, I am black,
when I am cold, I am black,
when I am scared, I am black,
when I am sick, I am black,
and when I die, I am still black.

Edited-Steve, I posted the exact thought just after you did, and hadn't seen yours.

To Wudman, if it is the use of the word "colored" that is offensive, that is a difficult one for me. I am 48 years old. Over that span, I have tried to be non-offensive by using terminology that is non-offensive. However, that has been a moving target. Over my lifetime, I was supposed to say negro. Then negro was offensive and it was supposed to be colored. Then colored was offensive and it was supposed to be black. Then black was offensive and it was supposed to be african-american.

So if you know what the acceptable terminology is supposed to be as of Nov. 19, 2003, could you please post it?

P.S. You can't see facial expression or hear tone of voice in print, so I am writing it out. I'm not upset, accusatory, argumentative, angry, etc. I seriously want to know because I continue to want to not offend people if possible. thanks.

Well, in time I am sure many geograhical locations will eventually be represented. To further that, I will be glad to bump this up to the top while I sit here working on the computer. Since I forgot to mention Indiana, let me give you, "ditch" special notice. Since you are up close to Chicago, take a short drive to the Cabrini Greens area, just west of downtown, tell me how that joke goes over, please! Surely if it is okay for a Black man to allegedly poke fun at himself, you can poke fun at him as well in front of a group of his grammatically challenged peers?

By the way, I noticed that it is okay for a Black to act a fool in front of certain groups, but when I express my opinion on how it isn't funny, I am a moron, etc, etc. Clearly if the double standard hit you upside your head, many still don't get it. I will have to try one of those selp depricating jokes about Caucasions at the next Klan rally held in my area, (they have them regularly up the road) and see if they
think it is funny. I can do a pretty good hillbilly!

Primarily the stereotyped grammer is patently offensive. Then again, I thought the morons that tried to teach Ebonics as a language in the Oakland Public School systems, were morons and offensive as well.( http://www.cal.org/ebonics/)

The other part of this joke that is of dubious comedic value is that IF it was written by a Black, to illuminate a word that in my opinion is just a few steps above the "N" for a laugh, it represents a step backwards. It plays on tired stereotypes on several levels, obviously to the delight of many, at least on this board.

It is clear that in this country, many just don't get it and as the majority of those fade into old age, a few still profit to keep the ignorance on the horizon.

This is understandably an emotional issue for you, so if my comments offended you, my apologies.

I grew up here in Northern California, surrounded by people of every conceivable color, race, religion and philosophy. I guess we have a different view of race out here. Not perfect, but very tolerant and open minded. FYI, I was born in Chicago, as were my parents. I have relatives there, and they have displayed moments of racial intolerance, so maybe it's a regional thing.

Great. Let's hear it! As a displaced Southerner I wouldn't mind it a bit.

You seem to be uncomfortable in your own skin Wudman. Didn't Martin Luther King jr. dream of a day when a man would be judged by the content of his character instead of his skin? Well? Don't you think that strong character involves being able to laugh at yourself a little. I'm Southern and I love a good redneck joke. I'm half Italian and love a good one of those too. I feel secure because I know people judge me by my character and think nothing of my heritage.

Speaking of Italian Jokes here is one:

What is the shortest book ever written. The great big book of Italian War Heros.