Like all people who enjoy laughter, I am a great appreciator of Groucho Marx. Nobody else before or after had a sense of timing quite like him. Nobody else had a sense of words quite like him. He always seemed to know exactly what to say and exactly when to say it. His skill astounds even today. Turn on Duck Soup (1933) to see what I mean. Not only is the theme of rampant incompetence in government still relevant, but watching it today clearly shows that not even 91 years could make it any less of a great comedy.
But seeing this video reveals a different side of him. He is asked about his thoughts on blackface minstrel shows, once a popular form of entertainment that is now rightly viewed as a thoroughly racist form of entertainment. Groucho's response demonstrates the kind of attitude that I wish some comedians and comedy fans would adopt today. Sometimes the things that were acceptable in your time are offensive now, and it's a sign of being an upright human to accept that and try to be sensitive. Don't get me wrong; I love edgy, politically incorrect comedy. But I do not love comedy that punches down or demeans people. Believe it or not, there is a way to make politically incorrect comedy without being a jackass.
In today's world, comedians often push buttons for the sake of pushing buttons. Here, Groucho shows humility, and a willingness to be sensitive and adapt to new times. As his friends attest, Groucho's wit never dulled, not even as he reached the end. This story proves that the "you can't make jokes anymore" crowd is wrong. You can make jokes, they just can't be demeaning anymore. And I am immediately skeptical of anyone who aches to make demeaning jokes so bad they complain about how decent people won't let them.
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