Hey Mon: The Jamaicans vs. The Koreans

Tags: immigration/citizenship, organizations/occupations/work, race/ethnicity, comedy, model minority, stereotypes, 00 to 05 mins
Year: 1991
Length: 4:25
Access: YouTube

Summary: This "Hey Mon" comedy skit from the 1990s hit show "In Living Color" features the hardest working Jamaican family vs. the hardest working Korean family in their battle to outdo each other. The skit highlights and makes fun of the model minority stereotype often applied to West Indian Americans and Asian Americans. It also makes fun of the ways in which each group is stereotyped regarding speech and dress. In addition to showcasing how comedy functions to draw attention to and problematize the various stereotypes, instructors might also point out the social context in which this comedy sketch was created, using the conflicts between African Americans and Korean Americans leading up to and during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots as a social-historical touchstone (see also scenes from "Do The Right Thing" regarding those conflicts in NY).

Submitted By: Kendra Barber

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