Racism Through the Lens of Stand-up Comedy: Digital Ethnography of Netflix Specials

Abstract

Comedy scripts the monotony of life in a language that humours all and mirrors the disruptive social reality of private life. Today, stand-up comedy is a multibillion-dollar entertainment business, and its practitioners are revered figures in popular culture. The article compares the performances of two American celebrity stand-up comedians, D. L. Hughley and Kevin Hart, through their respective Netflix specials. Their content is drawn from the lived experience of growing up Black in America, yet they differ in comic style. While D. L. Hughley traverses the highs and lows of African-American lives in the States, presenting a satirical take on social issues, Kevin Hart paints a self-deprecating portrait of his personal life. He is animated and free-spirited and exaggerates anecdotal familial episodes to humour the audience. Their performance sheds light on the significance of humour in Black lives and highlights the importance of comedy beyond the realm of amusement as a public communication tool.