Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Tim and Tom on the Election of Barack Obama and the Politics of Racial Humor

Tim and Tom reacted to the election of Barack Obama as president the way much of the rest of America did--with amazement and the feeling that it's about time. This proves we're not a racist country, Tom says, and while Tim doesn't go quite that far he agrees we've come a long way since the days at Norfolk State where he and a lot of other students risked their health and safety in the civil rights movement.
They also have some strong views on what the Obama family occupying the White House will do to racial humor. It's time to get past the old stereotypes, and the new ones, too, Tim told D.L. Hughley on his new CNN comedy show, time to cut down on the pointless profanity and the mindless denigrating of black women. Tim and Tom were so caught up in this topic, in fact, that they expounded on it in an article for the CNN.com Web site that drew a great deal of reaction. (To read the article click here.)
Tim and Tom also appeared recently on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, who reminded Tom during a break that they had met before, at a restaurant when Ferguson had just arrived in the country. Tom encouraged him and wished him luck. "That really made me feel good," Ferguson said. "I've never forgotten it."
Next up on the Tim and Tom publicity tour is a date with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show Dec. 5.

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