Yo Mama Jokes - A Sad History

Most of us perceive jokes as inconsequential elements which are mainly derived from our day to day activities to add some humor to our dull and busy schedules. Interestingly, very few of us realize that jokes form a realm of their own that is governed not only by morality, ethics, the art of narration, sense of timing and most importantly the ability to relieve our tangled mass of nerves; but also boast a unique history of their own. This is especially true for a category of jokes known as the" Yo Mama jokes" which thrive on an aggregate of occupying and sad events.

To give a slight perspective of how Yo Mama jokes originated, it would be beneficial to mention an African American practice of long-standing which may be termed as an oral custom of hurdling insults on to the other person, usually an acquaintance and taking turns until the opponent was left with no witty and critical comebacks. These insults varied in intensity and are generally termed as "playing the dozens". While the custom may sound to be absurd and nonsensical to many, the age-old tradition on the contrary, requires the contestants to be apt enough to combine their witty conceptions with facetious expressions so as to produce the desired effect. The retorts had to be unpredictably witty and satirical in order for an individual to win.

This custom of "playing the dozens" is said to have originated from the practice of selling old and deformed slaves in an auction. The slaves were generally sold by the dozen. Undoubtedly this mocking and deriding event was a great blow to the Black slaves who were grouped together in lots of "cheap dozens" and then sold to the slave owners.

So how do Yo Mama jokes link to something so disrespectful and contemptuous? This custom of ridiculing their opponents led to the emergence of a new category of jokes called the Yo Mama jokes which helped slaves survive in harmony among themselves and maintain their tolerance while adding joy to their lives with these trivial jokes and witty remarks. This oral custom is said to have been developed by the elderly male slaves to increase the acceptance level among their younger friends. Sadly, as slaves were treated with great contempt and cruelty in those days, a great many young slaves lost their lives while fighting or protesting against the abusive treatment they received.

The basic idea behind these jokes was to enable these young slaves to develop a tolerance against the jokes concerning their mothers, thus enabling them to withstand and endure the cruelest and provoking remarks.

As humor has a way of seeping into our lives as a source of happiness and joyful emotions, it would be safe to conclude that "Yo Mama jokes gave these slaves a way of ridding their minds of their troubles and duties while enjoying some good time with each other.

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