Dr Zuleyka Zevallos

The best comedians speak truth to power - I notice how anyone who claims to be on the 'edge' of comedy never seeks to confront white people.

Many #POC comedians in Oz speak to this: they are only allowed to make a niche for themselves making race jokes - but only to a point...

...You can make fun of your own group or other #POC or "mean" racists. But joke about White people in general & you won't get much work.

MANY years ago I was at a show by popular #POC comedians. Audience in stiches over race stereotypes in their community ("uncle this...LOL")

Joke on ANZAC Day shut drew audible gasps and almost everyone stopped laughing. They remarked on this, making audience more uncomfortable.

White people don't like comedy that challenges the taken-for-granted, everyday & sacred aspects of their superiority in race relations.

I notice how comedians like Lilley precondition us to lateral violence as well.

Why does Rachel Dolezal come to mind?

Yikes! She's probably one of the most famous minstrels of recent times given White people find her so "fascinating."

The fact that people can choose who they want to be makes is a point of privilege. POC are not afforded the same privilege

Same goes for Blackface. What is Chris Lilley saying as a White comedian in Blackface about race that he can't say as a White character?

We Can Be Heroes was affectionate (even to Ja'mie in its own way) of all characters EXCEPT Ricky Wong; Lilley in yellowface.

So again, question is, why does a White man need to dress as an Asian character to negatively comment on race relations & multiculturalism?