More recently, comedians like Dave Chappelle have taken racially charged satirical humor to a whole new level. The pop cultural dialogue on race is changing, and we’re experiencing a simultaneous evolution, devolution and a revolution of the conversation.

Since the untimely demise of “Chappele’s Show,” a new crop of comics is carrying the torch for over-the-top politically incorrect humor. Lisa Lampanelli, Carlos Mencia (my least favorite celebrity), Sacha Baron Cohen, Greg Giraldo and many other lesser-known comics are showing society its own ugly bits.

Love her or hate her, Sarah Silverman is one of the most popular comedians pushing this brand of humor. Despite recognizing her as one of today’s most relevant comedians, I tend to fall somewhere in the middle. She has the humor of a 12-year-old boy, but it comes out of the mouth of a pretty’ish 37-year-old woman. I catch her show sometimes, but my reason for watching is akin to rubbernecking after a bloody freeway accident.

Last night’s episode, “Face Wars,” was perhaps the most insensitive, politically incorrect and offensive work Sarah has done to date.

During the episode, Sarah dresses up in blackface to prove to her waiter that being black is easier than being Jewish. She wears the makeup and a plaid headscarf, and the black waiter wear’s a giant nose, side curls and a T-shirt that says “I love money.” As the episode proceeds, Sarah has a supposed skirmish with a police officer and is thrust into the media spotlight. Whackiness ensues.

Obviously Sarah’s intention was to offend. Perhaps the only thing more insensitive would have been to use a noose. I’m sure she would have, but the show likely taped before noose stories were suddenly on CNN virtually everyday. “Shock and awe” is always her plan of comedic attack, but last night I mostly felt sorry for her.

I think Sarah’s “Face Wars” episode was new low for her. And that’s saying a lot considering she licked her dog’s ass in last week’s episode. Although I fear many people laugh at her and similar comics for all the wrong reasons, the crux of her comedy was revealed in a brief sequence in the show. While at the police station after being arrested as a “black woman,” her supporters dressed in black face chanted:

“What do we want?”

“The freedom to explore issues of race in American culture through the use of post-modern dramatic irony.”

“When do we want it?”

“We think it’s fairly obvious.”

I’m still not a fan of Sarah’s brand of bottom-of-the-barrel humor. But I’m an admirer of her end goal of biting social commentary, regardless of her questionable means.

What do you think? Does shaking up the proverbial melting pot with insensitive, satirical humor help? Or is the joke lost on most people, merely solidifying previously held stereotypes and fueling hate mongers?

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