We're all a little bit racist

A few of my readers might be familiar with one of my favorite musicals... Avenue Q. It had a great run on Broadway, was an extremely new-age raunchy humor type of musical. Oh, and it was performed entirely by puppets. There is something just so awesome about how they take some topics that are very risky, and not only perform them through what is mainly considered a childish means, but also to some of the catchiest and most entertaining musical numbers I've ever heard. In one phrase I'd describe it as "Sesame Street all grown up".

My favorite song in the whole musical embodies the strange mishmash of grown-up themes and puppets singing is "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist". I mean, no doubt racism is a huge issue and it definitely was a tragic thing throughout history. However, the point of this song is that every race discriminates against every other race. No one is blameless. It becomes a question of whether it hurts people more to freak out on them for saying something slightly racist or to just relax and realize it is meant lightheartedly.

What I like about the song is how cheery it is. It is happy and fun, while still talking about racism. It's that weird mishmash of childhood and adulthood again. As the song develops, different characters from the musical join in from many different races such as Asian, Black, Polish, and Monster (Monster is the name of a race of the puppets). Until everyone just learns to relax and they join one another in a final grand chorus, joining hands, singing together, and advising people not to be so worried and just relax. As long as everyone accepts one another's differences its ok to notice those difference. Ok sorry I lied earlier when I said the play is performed by puppet characters. There are also some human-played characters like Brian the failed unemployed comic or Gary Coleman the buildings superintendent.

This song just embodies exactly why I enjoy this musical so much. It has a well meaning message, with hilariously off-color topics, performed in a great way. It is such a new age play that uses some of my favorite new elements of entertainment, such as breaking the fourth wall (The actors beg for money from the audience to raise money for the school). Nothing like this would have been accepted even twenty years ago. The entire main opening number is an argument about whose life sucks the most. The fact that we can listen to this play without making immediate judgments on things like "why are there puppets" or "this topic is unacceptable" is kinda the whole point behind "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist".

Thanks so much for listening, and I hope everyone can relax and accept one another.