Part 2/8:
The speaker reminisces about a time in the early 2000s when race relations seemed more harmonious. From 2001 to 2013, surveys indicated that roughly 60-70% of Black and White Americans viewed race relations positively. This period was also reflected in the realm of comedy; iconic moments like Robert Downey Jr. in blackface in the 2008 film Tropic Thunder and Martin Lawrence performing in whiteface demonstrated that audiences could understand parody and satire, grasping the difference between offensive racetrack satire and genuine racism. The society of that era was more forgiving and more accepting of humor that crossed racial boundaries, as long as it was rooted in mutual understanding and respect.