Attitudes of whites and blacks towards ethnic humor: A comparison

This research examines the public's attitudes about racial-ethnic humor, es pecially that which demeans or insults a particular group. A general purpos e random survey of residents of Georgia was used, and the analysis covers r esponses of 727 blacks and whites to items on ethnic humor in general and t heir feelings about a well publicized controversial case of racial humor (t he "Ted Danson incident"). Results indicate that while some interracial dif ferences exist, black and white attitudes are not polarized, and move marke d differences emerge when data are examined in race/sex categories. Sentime nts on ethnic humor are correlated weakly with socioeconomic status and dem ographic variables, and cannot be predicted from the indicators of liberal/ conservative attitudes used here. Ethnic humor sentiments, however, are rel ated to attitude as regards changing the official flag of Georgia: those in favor of removing the Confederate symbol on the state flag hold more negat ive attitudes towards ethnic humor.