The internet is a treasure trove of unexpected delights, and one such gem I recently discovered is the Twitter account @KidsWriteJokes. The concept is simple: people share jokes told by children. While the humor is often unintentional, the sheer volume of not-quite-funny jokes becomes ironically hilarious. Scrolling through, you encounter gems like:
Why do wolves howl? / Because they have no idea what they are doing.
Knock knock / Who is there? / Love / Love who? / Exactly.
What is my sister and her friends? / Stupid.
Amidst the innocent absurdity, two recurring themes emerge. Firstly, scatological humor reigns supreme (anything with “poo” is comedic gold to a certain age group). Secondly, chickens are surprisingly frequent subjects of these youthful comedic endeavors.
Some of these kid-generated jokes follow the classic knock-knock format, while others cleverly insert chickens into the familiar “Why did the [someone] [do something]” structure. Unsurprisingly, a significant number revolve around the age-old question: “Why did the chicken cross the road?”. While I haven’t conducted a formal data analysis of @KidsWriteJokes, my anecdotal observation suggests chickens are mentioned more than any other animal in these user-submitted jokes.
Alt text: A collage of tweets from @KidsWriteJokes showcasing children’s jokes, highlighting the prevalence of chicken and scatological humor.
This prevalence, particularly the enduring “chicken crossing the road” joke, points to a fascinating phenomenon. Thanks to the sheer ubiquity of this classic joke, chickens have, for many, become synonymous with humor itself, especially among younger generations.
The Unexpectedly Long History of a Simple Joke
The first recorded instance of the “Why did the chicken cross the road?” joke dates back to 1847. It appeared within a lengthy “Editor’s Table” section of The Knickerbocker, a magazine of the time. This section was a miscellany of curious facts, letter excerpts, and observations. Were it not for a few unassuming sentences buried within this eclectic collection, the “Editor’s Table” and perhaps the magazine itself would likely be long forgotten. These sentences posed a question that has echoed through generations:
There are ‘quips and quillets‘ which seem actual conundrums, but yet are none. Of such is this: ‘Why does a chicken cross the street?[‘] Are you ‘out of town?’ Do you ‘give it up?’ Well, then: ‘Because it wants to get on the other side!’
The phrasing suggests that even in 1847, the joke was already circulating and recognized. Indeed, according to an insightful article by theater professor and author Matt Fotis, the joke’s origins can be traced even further back to Christy’s Minstrels. This minstrel group, formed in 1843 and notorious for its blackface performances, is credited with popularizing the joke as part of their three-act minstrel show format.
Alt text: Image depicting Christy’s Minstrels, a blackface minstrel group from the 19th century, highlighting their role in popularizing the chicken joke in their performances.
Within these minstrel shows, the joke unfolded as a comedic exchange between characters Tambo and Bones and the Interlocutor. The Interlocutor, a seemingly sophisticated figure, served as the straight man and authority figure, projecting an image of intelligence in contrast to the rest of the troupe, though still performed in blackface. Fotis explains the joke’s setup in this context:
TAMBO: Say, boss, why did the chicken cross the road?
INTERLOCUTOR: Why, I don’t know, Mr. Tambo, why did the chicken cross the road?
BONES: To get to the other side!
Humor and Harm: The Minstrel Show Context
Fotis further elucidates in his book, Satire & The State, that the joke’s purpose within the minstrel show was to undermine the Interlocutor. The answer’s sheer obviousness was designed to expose the supposed intellect of this character as a facade. The Interlocutor’s inability to grasp such a simple concept served as “proof of his inauthenticity,” suggesting that despite his educated airs, he was no more insightful than Tambo and Bones in the eyes of the predominantly white audience. This was, in essence, the punchline – a joke at the expense of the character intended to represent intelligence and authority.
This comedic mechanism is related to the anti-humor that makes the joke humorous even today. However, within the minstrel show context, the Interlocutor’s ignorance was weaponized. It reinforced a harmful narrative, suggesting that even with education, this character was inherently inferior to the white audience. The humor, therefore, was deeply intertwined with racism. As Fotis points out, the joke’s harmfulness, like much humor, resides less in the words themselves and more in the teller and the audience’s reasons for laughing. In the context of Christy’s Minstrels, everything about the chicken joke, and indeed the entire minstrel show, was steeped in racist ideology.
Alt text: A historical illustration of a minstrel show performance, visually representing the context in which the chicken joke gained early popularity and its connection to racist entertainment forms.
From Minstrel Shows to Dad Jokes: The Joke’s Enduring Legacy
Fortunately, over time, the “why did the chicken cross the road” joke became detached from its problematic minstrel show origins. This uncomfortable history has largely faded from popular memory. By the 20th century, poultry journals were using the joke to advertise their chickens. Newspapers would often use it as column filler. Through sheer repetition, the joke persisted, embedding itself within American culture and, particularly, children’s humor for nearly 180 years. Could this simple chicken joke be the original “Dad joke”? It’s certainly a strong contender.
Alt text: A vintage advertisement from a poultry journal featuring the “why did the chicken cross the road” joke, illustrating the joke’s adoption into mainstream culture and advertising in the early 20th century.
Parents continue to tell the joke to their children today. It has been a staple in joke books throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. In 2006, children’s book illustrators, including the acclaimed Mo Willems, collaborated on a book titled Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?, offering a collection of absurd and imaginative answers beyond the classic, straightforward punchline. Chickens, it seems, remain reliably funny, even when – or perhaps especially when – the joke itself isn’t particularly sophisticated. The enduring appeal of “Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road Jokes” lies in its simplicity, its unexpected history, and its ability to connect generations through shared laughter, even if that laughter sometimes stems from the wonderfully unfunny.
Alt text: Book cover of “Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?” by Mo Willems and other illustrators, showcasing the modern adaptation and continued popularity of the joke in children’s literature.
