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Crosscurrents

Comedian Irene Tu: "Why do white people get to be the best AND the worst?"

Travis Jensen
/
Irene Tu

If you like going to open mic nights in San Francisco, chances are you’ve seen comedian Irene Tu hosting one. Man Haters, Hysteria, The Mission Position — those are just some of the places you'll find Irene telling jokes, and trying to make better, safer spaces for women and queer comics to perform.

 

TU: Mao doesn't get the credit that he deserves. He killed 60 million more people than Hitler, he did a way better job at his job, why is everyone talking about Hitler? I feel like that's racism.

Irene spoke with KALW’s Jen Chien about how she became a comedian, and why she thinks her perspective is important. We’ll start with a clip of Irene at the Set Up Club in San Francisco.