But Carlos Mencia isn't worried.
Indeed, weeks before the election, a skit on "Mind of Mencia," the comedian's Comedy Central show, parodied how Obama would be perceived -- with "Obama" in black face, dancing before a pistol-toting white man.
In a stand-up routine, the Honduran-born Mencia said black people will no longer be able to play the "race card" under an Obama presidency, then he shoved his own race card -- a photo of Obama -- at a black person "bitching" about racism.
In HBO and Comedy Central specials, on tour and on his DVD "Carlos Mencia: Not For the Easily Offended," the comedian has, in the words of the Comedy Central Web site, "relentlessly taken on topics such as ethnic stereotypes, race relations and immigration."
Mencia's current "At Close Range" tour comes Thursday to Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. During a tour stop in Baltimore, Mencia took time out to talk about freedom of speech and the limits of comedy.
Q. Some commentators speculate comedians might tread lightly around Obama, for matters of race and others. But you've found plenty of fodder so far.
Ha Ha Ha (loud, deliberate laugh). You can't claim institutional racism today when America voted in a black president. That could not happen if white people did not vote for him.
Our kids want to catch the ball like Terrell Owens. Our kids want to play basketball like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. Our kids want to be a president like Barack Obama.
I don't think you can say America doesn't like black people. If that's the case, then we can make fun of anybody now. Literally, "the Man" is black now. If a black guy goes, "The Man is keeping me down," that's black on black crime, bro.
Q. After the Don Imus "nappy-headed ho" incident, you did a man-on-the-street session about that incident and freedom of speech. Are you ever concerned you might find yourself in a similar situation as Imus?
The problem with Imus is that he apologized. He never should have apologized. He should have come out and said, "Hey listen, I told a joke. If you don't like it, don't listen to my show."
But I live in America, where soldiers are dying for freedom of speech. So if you want to take my job because you think what I say is offensive, then (those soldiers) died in vain. You have the freedom not to listen to my show or watch me perform. But you do not have the right to tell me what I can and cannot say (in) regards to humor.
Q. Has there been any one routine on "Mind of Mencia" that provoked the most controversy, that had a watchdog group on you?
Nah, because these groups know what my answer's going to be. They know I'm not that guy who's going to be (goes into a groveling voice), "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." They know I'm the guy who's going to say, "You didn't like it? Change the freakin' channel."
Q. How much do you self-censor? Do you ever abandon an idea that you think is funny but too controversial?
I'm naive. No, I'm serious. Like right now, I'm not going to say what I'm thinking because it's regarding a president, and I know that even jokes like that are not tolerated. I know I can't say "Fire" or "Hey, it would be cool if somebody beat the crap out of this guy."
I get that that's not freedom of speech. That's me telling somebody to act and do something that can be harmful to another human being.
But you tell me what part of "nappy-headed ho" said kill black people or women are stupid so go punch them in the face. That's purely a stupid joke, regardless of what you think. I'm naive enough to believe that in this country, that's what we're all about.
It's the same as burning books, and I don't get it.
Q. Would, or does, your comedy play in your native Honduras? Or, when you talk about ethnic stereotypes, race relations and immigration, is there something distinctly American there?
It's American, because of its freedoms. I've performed in Mexico. Honestly, I can't get away with the same stuff over there. Not even close.
Q. Ever performed in Honduras?
No. It's even more conservative. Won't do it. Nope nope nope nope nope.
If You Go
WHO: Carlos Mencia
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd., Daytona Beach
TICKETS: $40 plus service charge, available at the Peabody box office and Ticketmaster
INFORMATION: 386-671-3462
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