"someone in the audience asks the man promoting his new book on humor what makes something funny. his answer is what you expect—context. after a pause he adds that if someone said something, like about someone, and you were with your friends you would probably laugh, but if they said it out in public where black people could hear what was said, you might not […] only then do you realize you are among 'the others out in public' and not among 'friends'."