Donuel, Good point. The jokes are in bad taste and are in themselves demeaning of a people but you're right in not condemning the teller who in all probability didn't view them as such.

I was at a story/song circle once a couple years ago and someone told a very involved version of a racist joke I had heard many times here in the States (this incident happened overseas) Now here's a question I've been meaning to ask for awhile. I found the joke to be just as offensive coming from someone who was of the race being belittled as I would have if it had come from another. I felt that by telling this story and belittling his own people and, since it was coming from someone of that culture, he was giving the white folks in the group permission to laugh at his own race. What do you think - is it okay to put your own people down for the sake of humor? Is it still racist if it comes from someone of that race? Just wanted some feedback. Take care, Dan