Humor in Negro and White Subcultures: A Study of Jokes Among University Students

Abstract

This study surveys the types of jokes told and the social settings for joking among Negro and white university students. The data indicate no significant difference between Negroes and whites in the extent of joking and there is a sex difference only among the Negroes. Neither were there any significant differences between the race or sex groups in the telling of jokes with sexual subjects. Negroes told proportionately more anti-Negro jokes based on traditional stereotypes than did the whites. A national fad for cruelty jokes, however, became established only among the white students. When both sexes were present or when other than close friends were present whites were somewhat more inhibited than Negroes and females more inhibited than males in telling jokes.