If I had a nickel for every time a White male comic explained to me what “real” comedy is, I’d remain crushed in lower-middle class under the weight of the institutional systems of oppression that limit Hispanic females’ earning power to that of 62 cents to the dollar. In other words, White male comics have become the self-appointed ambassadors of maintaining the sanctity of comedy. They wax poetic about how stand-up comedy today is too politically correct, too serious, too analytical, “[If I wanted to learn something], I’d read a book.” In fact, the backlash against one of the most popular stand-up comedy specials of all time, “Nanette,” centered on the argument that it was not “technically” stand-up. Critics agreed that Hannah Gasdsby can pontificate on comedy’s limitations and society’s moral failings in a humorous manner at her leisure, but don’t classify it as “stand-up comedy”–separate but equal…hmmm, sounds familiar.
I revel in schadenfreude every time a White male comic shouts from the mountaintops, “Stand-up comedy is dying!” First, I find it entertaining to point out when anyone is wrong: stand-up comedy today features more and diverse voices that reach a wider audience thanks to social media and streaming platforms. But most importantly, I sense justice in that White male comics, who have dominated the industry since its inception, finally encounter a…
