Otherwise We'd Cry: The Mexican American, Chinese American, and Indigenous Roots of Racial Comedy

Marisela Martinez-Cola, Morehouse College
Xiomara Castro, Utah State University

The history of race and comedy in the United States is filled with the contributions of Jewish American and African American comedians. Born out of tragedy and hardship, many of these earlier comedians provided solace to marginalized audiences hungry for distraction and validation. A significant gap in the literature, however, are the contributions of Mexican American, Asian American, and Indigenous comedians. In this paper, the author explores the historical roots of today's Mexican American, Asian American, and Indigenous stand up comedians in the United States.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 196. Coping with Racial and Ethnic Inequalities