Three comedians of different faiths united to use stereotypes to their comedic advantage Wednesday night in Annenberg Hall.
They’re a rare bunch, it seems.
“There are only 12 Arab comedians in the country — I’m the only one trying to put the fun back in ‘fundamental,'” Ray Hanania told a group of about 45 students at the event sponsored by the Middle Eastern Student Association.
The Muslim comedian, a featured guest of “Arab Comedy Night,” joked with a diverse audience in Annenberg Hall, focusing on typically serious issues such as religion and terrorism.
Hanania, dressed from head to toe in black with a yellow tie to accent, focused part of his routine on his experiences growing up as an Arab American.
“When I was young, kids would ask ‘What’s your nationality?'” Hanania said. “When I was 7 years old, I asked my dad. He said, ‘Don’t tell them you’re Palestinian. Tell them your Syrian and Lebanese.’
“So I told them I’m cereal and my parents are lesbians.”
Hanania left his job as a journalist after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to become a comedian. He said comedy can help break down stereotypes.
“After 9/11 people got so angry, and humor is a great way to break through bigotry,” he said. “There are no Arab comedians standing up breaking stereotypes. If I could laugh about my stereotypes, why should you take them seriously?”
Although some comedy clubs will not book his routine, Hanania said he is dedicated to bringing understanding and tolerance to different communities across the country.
Another one of the featured speakers, Aaron Freeman, who is Jewish and black, focused part of his comedy routine on his unique religious and ethnic background.
“Israel is a great place to be,” said Freeman, a frequent guest on National Public Radio. “Great thing about it, it’s the only place on earth where you can see a 22-year-old black man carry a semi-automatic and say, ‘How are you doing?'”
The emcee for the event, Phil Offil, an Irish American, also discussed issues some people are hesitant to address.
“I should be an Arab comedian, because even when you bomb you’re a martyr,” he said.
MESA President Tim Ahmed said the student group, which normally brings political speakers to campus, wanted a more entertaining event that would continue to educate students.
“I think comedians can explore issues in a different way than political speakers,” said Ahmed, a Weinberg senior.
Omar Akbik, a Weinberg sophomore, said the comedy routines were not what he expected.
“I thought it was going to be more political,” he said. “(Hanania) made a lot of jokes about Arabs that Americans would find funny. I found it funny too, but he didn’t clarify anything.
“He played on a lot of stereotypes. It wasn’t really groundbreaking.”
But graduate student Kris Becker said he thought the event dealt with issues in a refreshing way.
“It’s interesting to pair a black Jewish American and Arab American,” he said. “That’s already a political statement.”
