Trevor Noah, a South African-born comedian, has stated his intention to focus on stand-up comedy after seven years of presenting “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, a popular US-produced comedy show with international appeal.
During his tenure as host of the political satire series, which he assumed from the esteemed Jon Stewart, Noah has provided insightful perspectives on issues facing the United States – and the world.
Given that the late-night television comedy industry in the United States continues to be dominated by white men, Noah has provided “black” African perspectives on issues that impact black Americans.
He has also been clear when discussing issues that affect Africa and Africans. Noah’s understanding of Africa and African politics has enabled him to explain that there are few differences between the United States, hailed as one of the best democracies in the world, and countries in the global south that Trump previously referred to as “shitholes.”
Noah’s strategy drew more African-Americans than Stewart’s did during his presidency. Nielsen Media Research revealed in 2017 that 84.5% of Stewart’s final season’s viewers were white.
Compared to his predecessor, Noah lost 40% of white viewers and gained 16% more black viewers.
He talked eloquently on topics such as the Black Lives Matter marches against racism, discrimination, and racial inequality suffered by black people, the volatile Trump presidency, the rise of white supremacy, and the global Covid pandemic.
On April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, show host Trevor Noah appears on the red carpet at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. REUTERS/Maria Alejandra Cardona
By remarking on these various concerns, he was able to highlight the continued existence of inequality in the United States.
Noah has bucked the odds, provided a “black” young perspective, and attracted a new audience. As was stated of his predecessor, he will be a difficult act to follow.
Noah’s special past
Noah’s outlook has unquestionably been affected by his upbringing in South Africa. In his 2016 book “Born a Crime” and several stand-up comedy performances, he describes what it was like to grow up in apartheid-era South Africa, with its white-minority government and laws of racial segregation.
Because his father was white and his mother was black, he was unable to experience a normal upbringing with both parents in the same home.
Legally, it was impossible. The Immorality Act forbade sexual relations between individuals of different races.
In his job as lead anchor of “The Daily Show,” Noah drew from his experiences in South Africa. Specifically, he was able to demonstrate the striking similarities between contemporary America and apartheid-era South Africa.
During the peak of the global coronavirus pandemic, he explains this fact in one of the episodes of the show.
As much as it pains me to admit it, a great deal of what I’m experiencing in the United States is comparable to what we encountered in South Africa.
“Massive unemployment and a government that does not appear to have the people’s best interests at heart. People who are becoming increasingly angry.”
During the 2016 US election season, he noted in another edition of the show that, as an African, “there’s just something familiar about Trump that makes me feel at home.”
He then discussed startling parallels between former U.S. president Donald Trump and numerous past African leaders, including Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Idi Amin of Uganda, and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
Political and comedic satire
In a chapter in a book on political satire, I suggest that comics provide significant opportunities to criticize people in authority. Throughout his tenure on “The Daily Show,” Noah has used humor and satire to address a variety of critical contemporary topics in the United States and internationally.
As he has stated, “I believe in the significance of humor. I will never misplace it. I usually tell people, “Jokes made me who I am.” This is how I perceive the world.
Trevor Noah. Instagram/@betsnewman image
Prior to joining “The Daily Show,” Noah was a well-known stand-up comedian. In South Africa, he was recognized for satirizing Zuma’s corruption and role in state capture during his presidency.
Comedy has enabled him to approach serious topics in a lighthearted manner. He has commented, “I’ve always enjoyed trying to find a way to make people laugh, even on the darkest days and with the worst stories.”
Noah has brought humor into his hosting of “The Daily Show” and is able to address contentious issues in a humorous yet forceful manner.
Puncturing American exceptionalism
As a foreigner in the United States, Noah has the appropriate perspective to deliver serious assessments on current events. Through his analysis of the Trump administration and the Black Lives Matter movement, he has demonstrated that the concept of America as “special” is a fallacy.
During the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, he appeared on “The Daily Show” to deliver a somber but moving monologue about racism in the United States.
Noah examined the sequence of events that extended beyond the killing of George Floyd, a black man who was choked to death by a group of white policemen on the side of a road, to demonstrate the precariousness of black life in modern America.
The monologue is insightful, well-informed, and nuanced in its description of what was occurring in the United States. He used historical occurrences to demonstrate that nothing was new.
The United States was not exceptional. The US democracy was as flawed as that of the numerous nations to which it had preached for decades.
It took an international late-night host to point out the flaws of the United States and its democracy.
Late-night television minus Noah
Noah, the only black and African host of a late-night program in the United States, will be missed on the late-night circuit. Due to his extensive understanding of global popular culture, he has attracted a young audience.
His peers do not share the same viewpoint or perspective. Noah’s replacement of Stewart was viewed as a big task, but filling Noah’s shoes may be much more difficult.