Dangerous Minds
By The Elahater
I often find myself pondering who are these people who enjoy watching “Mind of Mencia,” Comedy Central’s half-hour makes-me-want-to-stab-myself-in-the-eye-athon.
Just to brief those blessed individuals who don’t have the distinct displeasure of being acquainted with Carlos Mencia’s work, in which he spews out every nauseating stereotype imaginable about women/Latinos/Blacks/South Asians, and his new favorite, Arabs—-Welcome to the Jungle:
Thank you, come again?
I ask, “who’s watching?” not just because this show is pretty bad, but also because it’s so damned popular. I mean, I know there are tons of hackneyed comedians out there who tell racist jokes for a cheap laugh, but this guy is about to begin his fourth season on Comedy Central, and the show gets consistently high ratings.
“The sophomore season of the show became the network’s second highest rated program, with only exceeding South Park its viewership. The show continued to reap success as it got renewed for a third season and ultimately, a fourth season.”
Anyway, I finally figured out who is watching this show.
This guy and his frat brothers
Don’t believe me? Comedy Central reported that the show is “the No. 1 basic-cable show in its half-hour among men between 18 and 24.”
**Disclaimer—I know that many people have blogged about how terrible of a comedian Mencia is, which is true, or how he steals Bill Cosby’s jokes (you know it’s bad when Joe Rogan calls you out), or how he had to “Mexican-up” his name (real name–Ned) so he could call his own people “beaners” or “wetbacks” with more ease (according to him, they don’t mind). But let’s examine what this show’s popularity means:
The biggest issue I have with Mencia—he makes whites and people not belonging to certain groups feel comfortable hearing or using racial slurs and to, well, laugh at just straight-up racist shit. The audience at his showing tapings is also diverse, which even adds to the comfort. Not only is a brown man being racist to brown people (“Mexico is pretty close to India, right?”) but there are others to back him up.
Mencia makes being racist hilarious. That’s different than pointing the irony of racism. Irony is funny, in a clever kind of way. Being racist is funny, in a Jim Crow kind of way.
The fact that so many people watch his show says a lot about America.
Paramount is currently in post-production
Mencia says he doesn’t care if people thinks he’s racist and that people focus too much on racism. Well, thank God they do, otherwise you’d be out of a career! This is a great clip that shows his contradictions:
His “comedy” is so inflammatory and makes no point whatsoever. I’m sure his Latino brothers and sisters who have to deal with crap like this are real thankful for the great strides his helping to make. Nothing says, “Let’s celebrate our culture!” than having other people laugh at you and calling you wetbacks.
And despite the popularity of “Mind of Mencia,” I have yet to meet someone who has openly said they like the show. But the show renewals, high DVD sales and racist Budweiser ads featuring Mencia mean the fans must exist. Maybe I haven’t met any of you because I’m 1) a woman, 2) a minority and 3) you like this show, therefore you’re too afraid to talk to me, but feel okay with laughing about me and my people behind my back.
For example, listen to this—
And the audience reaction?
It’s funny because it’s true! The Arab doctor who delivered my first born was Dr. KKhhhuuuKhuuu!
If you can stand any more of it, watch this last clip, especially the last part.
The last segment makes me want to stone Mencia. But he’s telling us something here—see, these people are used to being stoned and suffering. It’s no biggie, it’s hilarious actually. So what’s a couple more bombs dropped on them, right? Is he on the government payroll or something?
But anything for a buck, right Viacom? I mean it’s what the masses want. Who are you going to give a sketch comedy show to next?
Season Three now out on DVD!
I should probably change my posting name to “Devil’s Advocate.”
Perhaps I’m too concerned with my own doom and that of others to get fired up about racism. Somehow I’ve been desensitized. For example, one night I was downtown trying to catch a cab in the pouring rain. I would say about 15 passed me by before I got the idea to go to a hotel where they couldn’t refuse me. I was furious at the time, but the next day thought “Wow, 24 years in this city and this is the first time I’ve had a hard time getting a cab. Looks like I’m doing pretty well.” True story.
Historically speaking, it would be pretty damn hard, maybe even impossible to find a heterogeneous society that hasn’t experience racism or similar discriminations. Something about us just makes us want to hate. (Your blog is called Hate on Me!) Racism is a human phenomenon that will never go away so I choose to fight against injustice rather than racism. During 9/11, if the terrorists had screamed “This is for MLK!” would we (Americans) have been any less blood thirsty? Should we have been any less blood thirsty?
I think trying to nitpick at racism obscures the grander issues. Racism will NEVER EVER go away. I think Mencia is a match in the bonfire.
A much weaker argument is that 18- to 24-year-old men are really stupid people. Actually 12- to 35-year-old men are stupid. That’s why there’s an age requirement on the presidency (I’m going to take the high road on the jokes about that one.) It’s not a holier-than-thou thing either. I’m 24 and very stupid. I may be mature for my age and have good sensibilities, but as a young person, I’m just sort of dumb about the world. I don’t even really smoke, but when I do I think it makes me look cool. If you’re show is directed to these guys, you’re not exactly influencing voters or even people who are civically active. Most of them probably aren’t even gainfully employed. Not an excuse, yes I know.
Bottom line, the world has bigger problems. Racism is behind a lot of them, but it ain’t goin’ nowhere.
I guess the biggest difference here is what you said—you view racism as obscuring bigger issues of injustice. When it comes down to it, I don’t think you and I differ that much in that we hate injustice.
I guess my purpose with this entry, and the blog in general, is to point out where we’re failing as a country, to say something about it, instead of just accepting it. Your story makes good points—yes, you’re justified in being amazed that after 24 years, that was the first time you couldn’t catch a cab. Given how messed up everything is and the context, it is something. But my point is this—that’s still not good enough. I think I understand why you and others feel this way, that there are bigger battles to pick, and it’s partly a matter of survival. Perhaps I’m an idealist and I still demand more, and I won’t be satisfied until I do see equality.
A huge contradiction is that although as a country we’re generally obsessed with not offending others and being super PC, at the same time we’re used to seeing a lot of subtle racism that it doesn’t even trigger anything. The Mencia stuff isn’t subtle, but some of the other posts are.
I guess the point with the Mencia post is not so much that this guy sucks but that it does say something about our country, and our future leaders, and the fact that so many people like him. These young men, albeit stupid, still have opinions and will one day have a lot of power. I also don’t like how we’ve become so desensitized to some of the skits, especially that last one, where the women were being stoned. As a Middle Eastern woman, that one absolutely appalled me. Can you imagine him doing something similar with black men being lynched, or indigenous people in Central and South America being executed? Maybe. But when it comes to Middle Easterns, he himself says he doesn’t care at all. He never says one redeeming thing. And given how ignorant many Americans are about Middle Easterners, and how many people watch him, he’s doing a huge disservice and spreading hate. Young men can commit hate crimes now, you know.
the Elahater,
Carlos Mancias offensiveness is so obnoxious and absurd that nobody likes him. Well, it’s not that it’s the fact that he stills other comedian’s comedy, has poor delivery and is the most horrible shit to hear, let alone watch-ever. I don’t think you have to worry about this guy poisoning peoples minds with racist garbage. Reason being: nobody watches his horrible tv show or whatever it is. The only reason Comedy Central still airs him is to pull in the growing potential Hispanic viewers. And since Dave Chapelle is gone, they need something rile people up other than South Park. My point is the Mancia imbecile is not rustling many tail feathers other than those of activists who watch his show simply to complain about his behavior that is every bit offensive and not funny at all. He’s preposterous.
Hmmm…
I am Latino.
Of course, yes, Mexicans, Chicanos, and blacks are racists out there, too. You all blame on white people for only racism…stop it!