Paul Mooney doesn’t care if he offends whites. “I ain’t sugarcoating shit, because white folks didn’t sugarcoat shit to me,” he says. Mooney’s material on race in America has earned him top writing jobs with shows such as In Living Color and Saturday Night Live. In one bit, he explains the not-so-subtle changes in race relations over the years. “Ain’t that funny that they don’t want us in their neighborhoods; when they owned us we were in their house,” he says. “When they owned us we had 12 and 14 jobs; now that we free: ‘I’m so sorry, there’s no jobs.’”

In another bit, Mooney tells a story of a white kid who said he was a big fan. “‘I love what you do, man,’” Mooney says, impersonating the boy, “‘but you make me feel so guilty. Must everything be race?’ I said, ‘Yes, everything.’ ‘Then you must think I’m the devil.’ I said, ‘No, but you’ll do until the real one gets here.’ I don’t know what to say, I can’t help white folks.” 8 and 10:30 p.m. The Improv, 7620 Katy Freeway. Mooney performs Thursday, April 24, through Sunday, April 27. For tickets and a complete schedule, call 713–333-8800 or visit www.improvhouston.com. $20.

Thu., April 24, 8:30 p.m.; Fri., April 25, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., April 26, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., April 27, 7:30 p.m., 2008

This article appears in Apr 24-30, 2008.