I've been thinking lately that humor is to some degree inherently anti-empathetic. This can be valuable, because we don't always want to be fully in touch with our feelings--if I had to re-experience the things I felt during my first labor every time I think about labor, for example, I'd be in therapy. But it can also be damaging, when used in ways which inhibit empathetic connections with other people--say, racist or sexist jokes. Many people have reacted to people being offended at offensive things with, "It's just a joke!" Well, finding it funny depends on not empathising with the subjects.

Speaking of blackface.