'How to Make White People Laugh': A crash course

As a stand-up comedian, Negin Farsad gets two kinds of laughter at her shows. First comes the wave of uncertain chuckles.

"That's the first moment when they're just confused that there's an Iranian-American Muslim lady talking to them in the first place," Farsad joked, "It's a laughter of: 'Oh god, are we allowed to laugh? What's happening? We don't see this very often.'"

After a few minutes, she breaks them down.

"Then there's just the laughter that comes with not being ashamed to talk about different issues, not being ashamed to talk about identity in a world where just the mere mention of the word 'Muslim' is considered political and heated," Farsad told MPR News host Kerri Miller.

Farsad has made a career of skewering social stereotypes and wringing humor out of her Palm Springs upbringing, her family and her social life. It's a humor that catches many people off guard.

"To come out and say that you're Muslim, but now let's talk about how I was drunk on a dance floor — those two things can be in the same breath," she said. "An audience has to get out their nervous laughter so they can ease into it"

Farsad, who produced and directed the documentary "The Muslims are Coming!" about Muslim-American comedians on tour, now has a new book: "How to Make White People Laugh."

She sees her book and her comedy career as a way to challenge expectations, especially in the current political climate.

"I'm five foot three and a half and I dress like a cartoon character and I'm a woman. So, at the end of the day, I'm not the most threatening presence — you know what I mean?" Farsad said. "If someone is going to break down stereotypes and build a bridge with mainstream Americans, it's going to be a short person wearing vibrant colors."

Her book is filled with observations that aren't even necessarily jokes — they just capture the humor of reality. Sometimes just "truthfulness is so disarming that you laugh."

That includes the list in her introduction of "things white people control":

• The Government
• The Economy
• Outer Space
• HBO's "Game of Thrones"
• The career of Tom Hanks
• International currency valuation
• Professional hockey
• iPhones
• The breeding of small dogs
• War
• Printer ink
• Peace
• Monogrammed towels
• Culture

If the list makes someone laugh, mission accomplished, Farsad said. "If they're laughing, maybe they'll start fewer wars. It's funny — but it's just the truth."

For the full conversation with Negin Farsad on "How to Make White People Laugh," use the audio player above.

How to Make White People Laugh How to Make White People Laugh