ethnic humor

Ethnic humor is comedy that draws on stereotypes, cultural traits, or perceived characteristics of particular racial, national, or ethnic groups.

It ranges from affectionate in-group jokes to offensive material that demeans or ridicules.

Whether such humor is considered acceptable often depends on who's telling it and to whom—jokes that work within a community may land very differently when outsiders tell them.

His ethnic humor about his own Italian family got laughs, but the same jokes from a non-Italian would feel wrong.