Comedy’s long been a space where the marginalized have had an opportunity to have candid conversations about their outsider status, and, ideally, connect with and educate the audience.
Historically, that’s been especially true for black and Jewish comics, but these days, it’s also true for “brown comics” – Indians, Iranians, and Pakistanis, among others. These brown comics are carving themselves a space in the world of stand-up comedy, lampooning stereotypes and the frequently ridiculous interactions they have with the uninformed (Hari Kondabolu, for example, tells a story of a man who he encountered who thought Hinduism and Islam were “the same thing”).
“The Big Brown Comedy Hour,” one of those new spaces, seeks to showcase that diverse crowd of comics. CNN has a great piece by comedian Dean Obeidallah – host of the show – as well as video interviews with several of its performers. Check it out!
