If you’re unaware of Trevor Noah’s work, you’re in for a treat.
Since he took over the Daily Show from Jon Stewart in March 2015, he has been smashing it.
His backstory reads like a fanciful film script.
The thing is, it happens to be true.
When the child Noah was born in the Apartheid era to a black mother and white father, his very existence was illegal.
Consequently, I suspect he has little to learn about discrimination and privilege.
He hasn’t missed the Brits and their empire in his stand-up routines.
Therefore I wasn’t surprised that he had something to say about Grief Fest in Britain after the passing of Elizabeth Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
He had this clip on his show about how her demise was being viewed by some in Africa.
In many parts of the world, especially Africa, the reaction to the Queen's death is a little different pic.twitter.com/97qiS9zO1v
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 15, 2022
Very sharp young fella.
Chapeau!
He also does a “between the scenes” feature where he has an informal chat with the audience.
Here, in one of them, he returned to the recent unedifying scenes in Britain.
You can't expect people to show respect for something that never respected them. #BetweenTheScenes on the mixed reaction to the Queen’s death pic.twitter.com/XTFlWlW0pW
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 16, 2022
He completely nails it that Brits have no idea how those who Britain once colonised feel about their imperium.
Consider this, a stand-up comedian from South Africa who has a comedy show in the USA is the one to state some uncomfortable truths to the Brits.
When I think about that, I could almost laugh.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
His comments on how the new king is making a mess of his first week on the throne were edited out when the show was broadcast in the UK. North Korean levels of censorship going on here.
Or respect for a man grieving his mother. Respect for someone’s loss is the key here, not censorship. Something Mr Noah doesn’t seem to understand. There is a time and a place for criticism, and we in the UK welcome it, noone is more mocking of the UK institutionsthan we ourselves are, but there is also a time for respect and dignity. We know the difference. A little common human decency is all people are asking, and civilised people around the world understand.
Almost?
It can only be hoped that certain types of Brits will come to realise that there is no longer an Empire, that the pantomime of monarchy is over, and that they need to gain some self respect. I won’t hold my breath.
Same with Brexit. People all over the World saying; “What a Stupid Idea,” but Brits being told by the media and the ruling class that we are in Sunlight Uplands.
In fairness, plenty of people in Britain saying exactly that before and since the referendum – including most of the media and ruling class who were specifically and pointedly against it.