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Outsiders Rising: Trevor Noah
Photo Credit: www.grammy.com
My Outsiders Rising profile this week is inspired by last Friday’s night out in Dallas with family and friends. We got to attend Trevor Noah’s “Back to Abnormal” show in Dallas.
Noah was born in apartheid South Africa in 1984. His father was a white Swiss man and his mother was a black South African woman. At the time of his birth interacial relationships were actually illegal and punishable by imprisonment in South Africa (this fact is the inspiration behind the title of his biography - ‘Born A Crime’).
Noah began his career in television in 2002 and hosted several South African television shows. He would cross over a few years later into performing exclusively as a comedian while performing all over South Africa.
I first discovered Noah in 2012 when I watched his stand up special ‘That’s Racist’. I enjoyed his storytelling and his unique ability to relate to black Africans, white Africans, Africans of Asian descent, and mixed race Africans (known as Coloureds in southern Africa). He also does incredible impersonations with brilliant accents.
Around the time I discovered Noah’s comedy he’d already started his relocation to the United States. He would become the first South African comic to appear on Comedy Central and David Letterman’s ‘Tonight Show’ among many notable firsts.
In 2014 he became a recurring contributor on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart before an announcement was made a few months later that he would be taking over as host of that show as Jon Stewart retired. This was his big coming out party to American audiences.
Noah, like many comedians, has received harsh criticism for some of his comedy. Jokes he has told in the past have led to him being labeled as antisemitic and insensitive to many marginalized groups. In the United States, he has drawn the ire of many conservative critics for his liberal leanings in America’s polarized political climate.
His bestselling 2016 book ‘Born A Crime’ received critical acclaim and work is reportedly in progress to turn it into a movie with Lupita Nyong’o expected to play Noah’s mother.
In 2021 Noah had the honor of hosting the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards where he was the first African to ever host the awards. His star continues to shine.
That’s the brief story of Trevor Noah. A true rising outsider.
Until next time… ✌🏾
Munatsi
Twitter: @Munatsi_
Twitter: @OutsiderRising
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