From left, moderator Stephen Morrison, Kitty Bruce, attorney Paul Cambria, Jr. and comedian Lewis Black laugh in remembrance of Lenny Bruce, who was a trailblazer for protecting first amendment rights in the world of comedy. P-J photo by Eric Zavinski

Because comic Lenny Bruce stood up for his first amendment rights in the world of stand-up comedy decades ago, modern artists in the craft like Lewis Black don’t have to think about whether his content will offend people.

That was the final point in a detailed discussion about the legacy of Lenny at the Robert H. Jackson Center’s Cappa Theatre on Thursday. “Comedy and the First Amendment: How Far is Too Far and Who Decides?” brought together Black; attorney Paul Cambria, Jr.; Kitty Bruce, daughter of Lenny Bruce; and moderator Stephen Morrison, who executive produced CNN’s History of Comedy series, to reflect on Lenny’s impact on comedy and the first amendment in the mid-20th century and how rights have evolved since then.

As the first amendment was often part of Jackson’s jurisprudence, the center announced they were glad to have partnered with the National Comedy Center to bring this discussion to life. Journey Gunderson, comedy center executive director, said Lenny was both a pillar of comedy and the first amendment. The comedy center also partnered with the Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation, which Kitty founded to combat alcohol and drug addiction.

Cambria opened talks by noting that the first amendment is first for a reason: to protect people’s liberties against the government. The amendment, safeguarding people’s rights to free speech, press, religion, petition and assembly, has evolved in its implementation throughout time, seeing as how Lenny was prosecuted for “mere words” on charges of obscenity for his comedy acts.

Lenny would eventually receive a posthumous pardon in 2003 for his obscenity conviction. Black said Lenny obliterated boundaries during his life and afterwards. Lenny commented on subjects such as racism, church corruption, unrealistic expectations for women and the taboo of sex.

“Normally people laugh to what they can relate to,” Kitty said. “He was talking about things in everyday life that he could not understand.”

She said her father joked about his adulthood, childhood and “in-between-hood.” His more risque subjects covered often got him into trouble, but his material was found to contain social value increasingly throughout time.

Cambria mentioned that Lenny’s impact helped allow satirical humor and political commentary to be integral to future comedians and as a protected form of speech. Morrison reacted with enthusiasm to an important distinction that Lenny only told jokes that had been considered obscene to adults who had chosen to appear for his performances.

Comedian Michelle Wolf at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner said that anything should be allowed to be said if it’s in the form of a joke. But Thursday’s panelists argued if anything even needs to be in the guise of a joke. Black said that doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for total free speech and that the world of the internet and social media helps to protect first amendment rights but also holds people more socially accountable than ever before.

“There can be a punishment for free speech,” said Cambria, noting professional, commercial and social consequences.

For Lenny specifically, his legacy still lives on in the comics that were described by the panelists to stand on his shoulders and the shoulders of others that came before and in the National Comedy Center. Bruce’s typewriter, trench coat and gubernatorial pardon are being presented in the comedy center.

“In the end, they still can’t shut him up,” Kitty said.

Further discussion focused on the interworkings of censorship and free speech in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission argues that television is pervasive and must be censored to a point for children, a fate streaming services and internet platforms have avoided.

“We keep pushing back that line, but remember that line is always drawn by the people in power,” Cambria said.

Obscenity has a legal definition has become flexible over the years. The panelists agreed that what has been considered acceptable to the average adult for viewing and listening has changed over the decades. Cambria joked that George Washington might like Black’s stand-up routines but might knock his head off afterwards. Lenny helped assure comedians like Black would not be jailed like he was more than 50 years ago.

“(Lenny) had something he wanted to say, and he said it,” Cambria said.