Extant research considers humor integral to the Black experience. Previous work on the topic, however, mainly focuses on humor among lower-class Blacks and remains disconnected from broader sociological research on humor and small group culture. Drawing on semistructured, in-depth interviews with 29 members and over 30 months of participant observation this article explores humor in an elite Black men’s social club. “Talking shit” is central to sociability among members, signaling belongingness (having “tough skin") and cementing cohesion on interpersonal and group levels through the deconstruction of egos. By finding amusement in the ambiguities of social identity members interpret its boundaries and articulate feelings in the process of creating and sustaining a culture of hilarity. Ultimately, the analysis illuminates how social identity shapes the content and processes of humor within small group culture.

中文翻译：

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谈论狗屎，自负和坚韧的皮肤：精英黑人之间的幽默

现有研究认为幽默是黑人体验不可或缺的一部分。然而，之前关于这个话题的工作主要集中在下层黑人的幽默上，并且与更广泛的关于幽默和小团体文化的社会学研究脱节。本文利用对 29 名成员的半结构化深入访谈和超过 30 个月的参与者观察，探讨了精英黑人男性社交俱乐部中的幽默。“废话”是成员之间社交的核心，通过解构自我来传达归属感（拥有“坚韧的皮肤”）并巩固人际关系和群体层面的凝聚力。通过在社会身份的模糊中寻找乐趣，成员解释其界限并表达感情在创造和维持欢乐文化的过程中。最终，