Lenny Bruce Is Not Afraid (1962)

It’s December 5th. This day in 1962, comedian Lenny Bruce is arrested in Chicago during a performance at a nightclub. His arrest is ostensibly because of underage patrons at the club, but Bruce had been targeted and arrested a number of times for his use of obscenity, and for making jokes about religion, big business, and more.

Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss Bruce’s legacy and the way in which norms and laws around speech, comedy, and profanity have been negotiated over the years.

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Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Julie Shapiro, Executive Producer at Radiotopia