For a while now, race has been a “touchy” topic in America, where most people simply refuse to talk about it and wouldn't even think making fun of racial stereotypes in public, even if they are funny, depriving themselves from classic innocent humor that, in my opinion, is not offensive at all if you don’t refer to it with that intention. One could argue it even helps us realize how similar we are, in spite of our differences and sometimes it could even be an ice breaker (I wouldn't use it as my first option, though). Games like “Cards against humanity” have showed whites how funny racist jokes can be, but many times I feel some get uncomfortable when the “black people” card comes out…

I am from Costa Rica, but as far as anyone’s concerned, I am just another Mexican. I remember the first time I realized people here (California) could assume I was Mexican, just because I am short, brunette and look “different” (whatever that means), and because it would simply be a good guess from a probabilistic standpoint. I didn’t like it. Then I realized that I label pretty much any non-white person as Mexican, and it all made sense: I am Mexican (no, I’m not!).

My dad had a great sense of humor and he made fun of everything: our neighbors, all races, old people, women, priests, kids… you name it, there was no such thing as a forbidden topic, It was all in the name of fun. It was like this parallel reality where you can make fun of everything and everyone, but then your relationships and actions remain the same. He never discriminated against anyone due to race nor was that the message we got from hearing such jokes at a very young age, and maybe that’s why I think it’s ok to make fun of stereotypes linked to race but would never consider that racism or discrimination…

Another reason why I feel I can say these things: I’m not white.

Unless you are a very confident person that can say anything (like Louis C.K.), you are not going to make fun of people base on their race, not even in a kidding kind of way in public if you are white.

I love Hispanic jokes: how we don’t have two coffee mugs that look the same, how we are lazy and dark and short… how we reproduce uncontrollably, how women have mustaches and how we are all dirty and poor. A lot of those are based in reality, so why would anyone bother?

Could white people be more open about this without fear of being called racist? No.

Note: please don’t take this or anything too seriously.

Thanks!