For many years high profile American comedians have infiltrated African TV sets with their bawdy brand of humour, yet for many years the continents slew of comedic arts could never catch a break in pursuit of the American dream.
Popular South African comedian, Trevor Noah, changed that this month by raising the stakes, not to mention many an eyebrow, with his appearance on the American late night show, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”.
source @trevornoah
Noah’s six minute slot was a hit with local supporters and African Diasporans globally. We certainly don’ t deny that Noah’s stand up set had us standing up at the end of it, cheering him on as if we were part of the audience and giving him a standing ovation. However, it transpired that the humour that many of us loved was not a sentiment shared by many others, as evidenced by some comments from You Tube and Twitter users, as well as, those left on the “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’s” site.
One commenter accused Noah of being “racist” for his routine, which made fun of African-Americans speech and punctuation usuage. He also rubbed a few viewers and commenters the wrong way when he jokingly implied that the label of “African-American” was ironic as their connection to the motherland was non-existent, or tenuous at best.
We thought Trevor’s act was anything but racist and to quote him “we are very very proud”, but before we rush completely to his defence, we would like to know what YOU think?
Do black Americans have a right to be upset that his jokes about them in front of a mainly white audience were in fact racist and perpetuating a stereotype?
In case you are yet to watch his routine, click here
Website: http://www.trevornoah.co.za/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Trevornoah
Facebook: Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah himself has said that by virtue of who he is, he cannot be racist
– one may or may not agree with him. Personally, I don’t think he was racist at all, and his mention of the connection between African-Americans and Africa is shared by many people.
He touched a nerve, the truth hurts – but the trend towards dubbing people as racist has actually become, as my Southern Africans would say, boring. Maybe a little classist but i would take that over the very uncouth and rude comedy the US is used to.
I dont believe it was racist of him. Just watch how African Americans like Eddie Murphy, Steve Harvey and Chris Rock have dissed Africans in their comedic routines. Trevor dishes it mildly compared to them. He’s just saying what some people want to say but are afraid to. I live in the States and most Africans here dont consider African Americans as African. Some African Americans say very hateful things towards Africans as well.I think Trevor is hilarious and his point was to create controversy which he did.
He definitely was not racist. The problem with Americans is that they don’t like to see themselves through other peoples eyes. All black people came from Africa but thats over hundreds of yeas ago and so Trevor was just poking fun at the African American thing. Plus the ‘na mean’ thing is just the truth, listen to hip hop artists and how SOME not ALL black americans speak.
They have a right yo be upset, but ‘what they are getting upset about’ I am not sure. They seem to be fine poking fun at everybody else or have americans poke fun at everybody else but when a ‘foreign’ comic points points out some facts in a funny way they take offense?!!!!
I don’t see what the problem is. Of course there is really typecasting and stereotyping of Black Americans in print, media and audio spheres; but anyone who watched Jay Leno SURELY knows what the format, objective and content of the show is about. No-one is forced to watch Jay Leno, Trevor Noah or any other stand-up comedian for that matter if they fear offence or are sensitive to certain depictions of categories of people they identify themselves with eg, I refuse to watch certain Black American comedians because I find their content sexist. People need to check their definition of racism, before they start calling it out left-right-and-centre. The effect is belittling experiences and institutional policies that truly are racist, when attempting to categorise what is not to your homorous taste, as racist. A News cast, government institution or public body identifying and discriminating against a person of color = racist. An African comedian performing on a stand-up comedy set pointing out a historical fact on American television = not racist.
Hie no trevor was not a racist he pointed out what makes different races uniq
I love Trevor Noah!!! First off Kudos to him for making it to Jay Leno, that has just taken his career to a whole new level.
As to being racist – how now??? that was like one of the funniest clips I’ve seen in a long time ( right up there with “two ply for what”)
I think people should get over themselves and enjoy comedy for what it is – it will be a sad world when we aren’t able to sit back and laugh at ourseleves – lighten up people!
‘African’ Ameran comics have been depicting African inhabitents as uncivilized people with ‘funny languages’ for ages and they all laughed about it-hell! They still continue the stereotype. Now, when an AFRICAN makes a joke about how THEY speak, HOOOOOH… he’s racist!
Oh please…that was awesome! Why wasnt I told he was gonna be on Jay Leno? African Americans are touchy for nothing. They make fun of Africans all the time when thy do the accents and the made up AFrican languages. Shoot, they make fun of themsleves too. They just dont ike the fact that this time it is oming from an African. Black Africans and African Americans dont really get along in the states anyway. We are very different…another topic for another day.
But man I loved Trevor’s piece. He is gaining so much popularity here. we watch his Youtube items over and over. He needs to tour in the US or the diasporans who will appreciate the humour!
Interestingly, I found myself the lone African on a table of Americans this weekend and their perspective was very different. They pointed out that unlike his previous acts, Trevor chose to “attack” one race instead of throwing white Americans and native Americans into the fray too.
They also believed that he took it too far with the “not African” comment (it hit too close to home).
I, of course, mentioned all your arguments above…not to mention that Trevor’s skit was HILARIOUS and on-point.
At the end of the day, it’s all fun and games until you’re the butt of any joke i guess
I love Trevor Noah, he can say what he wants any given sunday!
So that makes me German/American, even though my ancestors came in the late 1600′s? No, I am an American, the same as all of us living in this country, regardless of ethnicity, including hipanics, even though many are illegal. I get so sick of the race card, is German my race, yet I am American? Yes, is african a race even though they live in America? I think it is the same as me being German, or one being italian, or French. Or is a race a color? I don’t know, but to me I could care less about your color, your an American the same as me. I enjoy this comedian and would love to hear more.
The man is just funny! Hands down! (as we say in Africa!)
Finally somebody comes out and speaks the truth, that even the well educated, “black americans” have been saying all alone, but, nobody listens to, and now comes Trevor, which by the way is “African” and all of a sudden he is a racist…….Wake up people, and tell it like it is…Love, Trevor, hope he keeps making people
Laugh like I do…maybe, he can change some of the racism that exist in this country…..