In the last century, we have seen a progressive climb out of the reaches of racist antics in our entertainment industry. However, like with every nation, there still exists racial discrimination and the constant ethnic stereotyping in many fields of entertainment, especially in comedy. This is something that will seemingly never go away but as an audience, how do we feel about the constant ethnic stereotyping in films, stand-ups, etc.? Are we still as sensitive as the past about what’s being said or are we getting closer to the point where we’re able to sit back and laugh at ourselves? Are these artists simply belittling other cultures or are they purposely trying to ease the tension on the barriers by showing that if we’re able to laugh, then we’re able to see past the hate? Or are we only making matters worse by making ourselves the butt of the joke?

There is no question that many of us find a bit of fun and pleasure when it comes to comedians and actors poking fun at specific ethnic groups, especially when they’re poking fun at the groups that they themselves are apart of. Fellow comedians and actors Bobby Lee (Mad TV), Russell Peters (Indian Canadian stand-up comedian), Dave Chapelle (Chapelle Show) and John Leguizamo (Summer of Sam, Freak!) are some relatively well-known members of the American entertainment industry who have thrived on making people laugh with racial/ethnic discriminatory material--whether light or heavy. Russell Peters is an emerging comedic artist who pours the ideas of multiculturalism into his work--when he’s making fun of his Indian ancestry or the accents of Jamaicans and the Chinese. Dave Chapelle, John Leguizamo and Bobby Lee are artists who mainly like make fun of their own racial/ethnic background with depictions of ethnic stereotypes as well.

On the third Monday of January each year, we commemorate a true pacifist who chose to stand up against the status quo and fight for the greater good for all Americans during a time when speaking out against racial injustices could and did have severe consequences. This man, who endured jail time, oral protests and physical abuse, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. This great man that I speak of is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His first public demonstration of protest for racial discrimination was the organization of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. This was the catalyst for his humanitarian efforts.

Dr. King's efforts to end racial segregation and discrimination through civil disobedience such as sit-ins and other non-violent means rewarded him by becoming the youngest person to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. Now, the thing that makes this year's celebration of Dr. King's accomplishments even more memorable is that it transitions right into January 20th, the date every newly elected president will be inaugurated. As we all know, this year our first non-white president, Barack Obama, will be sworn into office. So, while we exude joy for this historic inauguration and remember the life of Dr. King, let's take a look back at some of Dr. King's famous words. An excerpt from his I Have a Dream speech, reveals some of the things he hoped to one day see:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.