5 Ways Eddie Murphy’s Jokes About “White People” Still Define American Comedy In 2025

Few comedians have wielded observational humor with the precision and cultural impact of Eddie Murphy, and as of December 2025, the conversation around his most iconic stand-up material remains as relevant and insightful as ever. While his career has seen a massive evolution from the raw, unfiltered energy of the 1980s to his recent resurgence in films like Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, it is his pointed, hilarious commentary on racial and cultural differences, particularly his jokes about "white people," that continue to be studied and celebrated by comedy historians and fans alike. This deep dive explores how this specific body of work—from the legendary *Delirious* and *Raw* specials to his groundbreaking SNL skits—serves not just as humor, but as a critical piece of American cultural anthropology.

The enduring power of Murphy’s material lies in its ability to flip the script, using satire to expose the unspoken rules and privileges of the dominant culture. By focusing on the quirks, fears, and behaviors of "white people" from an outsider's perspective, he created a universal language of comedy that cemented his status as a global superstar. We look at the key routines that shaped this legacy and why they still resonate today.

The Complete Profile: Edward Regan Murphy Biography and Career Highlights

Edward Regan Murphy, known simply as Eddie Murphy, is an American actor, comedian, writer, singer, and producer whose influence on modern comedy is immeasurable. His career spans over four decades, marked by record-breaking stand-up specials and blockbuster film roles.

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• Born: April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York.
• Breakthrough: Joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 1980 at the age of 19, becoming one of the show’s youngest and most successful performers.
• Iconic Stand-Up Specials: Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983) and Eddie Murphy Raw (1987). *Raw* remains one of the highest-grossing stand-up concert films of all time.
• Film Debut: 48 Hrs. (1982), followed by a string of massive hits.
• Key Filmography (Selected): Trading Places (1983), Beverly Hills Cop trilogy (1984, 1987, 1994, 2024), Coming to America (1988), The Nutty Professor (1996), Dreamgirls (2006), and Dolemite Is My Name (2019).
• Accolades: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor (Dreamgirls), Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2015), and a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album (Eddie Murphy: Comedian).
• Recent Work: The 2024 film release of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F on Netflix brought him back into the spotlight, alongside his reflections in the documentary Being Eddie.

1. The Cultural Shock of “White Like Me” (SNL)

One of Eddie Murphy’s most famous and enduring pieces of cultural commentary is the Saturday Night Live skit "White Like Me." The segment, which aired in the early 1980s, is a masterful use of satire to illustrate racial privilege.

In the skit, Murphy disguises himself as a white man using makeup and a wig. He then goes about his day, immediately experiencing a world of unearned privilege and opportunity.

The core joke is the sheer absurdity of the privileges he encounters. As a "white man," he is suddenly given money for free on a bus, is offered a party, and finds that bank managers are openly giving away loans.

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This skit was a powerful, visual representation of systemic inequality, making the invisible visible. It wasn’t just a joke; it was a profound piece of social commentary that forced the audience to confront the casual, everyday nature of white privilege long before the term was mainstream. The brilliance lies in its non-aggressive, yet undeniable, truth.

2. Analyzing the Horror Movie Trope in ‘Delirious’ and ‘Raw’

Murphy’s stand-up specials, *Delirious* (1983) and *Raw* (1987), are time capsules of his high-octane, fearless style. A recurring theme that generates massive laughter is his observation of how different races behave in horror movies.

The classic routine, which has been widely quoted and shared for decades, centers on the idea of a ghost or a monster in a house. Murphy argues that in a horror film, a Black family would immediately recognize the danger and leave the premises, prioritizing survival over curiosity or property.

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He contrasts this with the common cinematic trope of a white family, who, despite overwhelming evidence of supernatural danger—the lights flickering, a voice from the attic—insist on staying, investigating, and saying phrases like "I'm going to check it out!"

This joke is a perfect example of his "cultural differences" comedy. It’s not about intelligence; it’s about a cultural skepticism and a historical awareness of danger that he posits is inherent in the Black experience, contrasted with a perceived naiveté or sense of security in the white experience. The joke works because it’s rooted in a recognizable cinematic pattern and a genuine, relatable cultural divide.

3. The Evolution of His Comedy and Recent Reflections on Race

As Eddie Murphy has matured, so has his perspective on his own controversial material. The 2024 context, driven by the release of the documentary *Being Eddie* and his return to film, has led to a re-evaluation of his 80s work.

In his younger days, Murphy's comedy was often criticized for being too edgy or offensive by today’s standards, particularly jokes about marginalized groups. However, his jokes about "white people" were largely seen as a necessary, corrective satire—a way for a Black comedian to comment on the majority culture from a position of strength.

In recent years, Murphy has reflected on the nature of his early material, particularly the controversial elements. He has made it clear that while he doesn't regret the material, he recognizes the context has changed. He has also spoken about the racism he faced in the industry, suggesting his comedy was a direct response to a segregated and biased Hollywood system.

His commentary on being "blacklisted" after speaking out about racism at the 1988 Academy Awards underscores a deeper, more serious layer beneath the jokes. His comedy about race, including his observations on white culture, was a form of professional and personal resistance.

4. The Enduring Power of the “White People Can’t Dance” Trope

Another staple of Murphy's stand-up, particularly in *Raw*, is his observational humor about dancing. The routine that features him imitating a "white person dancing" is a masterclass in physical comedy and cultural stereotyping.

The joke is simple: it contrasts the fluid, rhythmic movement often associated with Black culture with a stiff, awkward, and overly enthusiastic style he attributes to white people.

While a clear generalization, the joke lands because it taps into a widely observed social phenomenon regarding comfort, rhythm, and public performance. It’s a gentle, almost affectionate ribbing that became a cultural touchstone, often imitated and referenced in popular culture.

This joke, like his others, works by isolating a behavioral pattern and exaggerating it for comedic effect, making the audience—regardless of race—laugh at the commonality of the human experience through the lens of cultural difference.

5. Topical Authority: Key Entities and Themes in Eddie Murphy’s Racial Humor

Eddie Murphy’s specific brand of humor on race and culture is rich with recurring themes and entities that solidify his topical authority. His work is a continuous exploration of the Black and white American experience, often highlighting the fundamental disconnects and misunderstandings between the two.

Entities and Themes Central to Murphy’s Commentary:

• Cultural Differences: The primary engine of his jokes, focusing on contrasting reactions to fear, music, and social situations.
• Systemic Racism: Addressed both directly (in his Oscar speech) and indirectly (in the "White Like Me" skit).
• Hollywood Bias: His reflection on being "blacklisted" and the racist joke made by David Spade on SNL.
• Stand-Up Specials: Delirious, Raw.
• Key Skits: "White Like Me," "Mr. White."
• Racial Tropes: Horror movie behavior, dancing, financial privilege, and the concept of "being out on the town."
• Comedic Influencers: Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby (whom he famously joked about after a long stand-up hiatus).
• Film Entities: Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, 48 Hrs., SNL.
• Modern Context: Netflix documentary Being Eddie (2024), Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024).

Eddie Murphy’s observational comedy about "white people" was revolutionary because it shifted the comedic gaze. He used his platform to define, analyze, and satirize the majority culture, a move that was rare and powerful for a young Black comedian in the 1980s. His material didn't just generate laughs; it generated conversations, making him a critical figure in the ongoing dialogue about race in America. His legacy is not just in the jokes themselves, but in the cultural permission he granted for a more open, honest, and often hilarious discussion of our differences.