Trevor Noah's wit is an effective weapon against white supremacy and defense of police violence
SalonOn June 12, 2020 Netflix released Dave Chappelle's "8:46," a standup show recorded in the wake of the death of George Floyd and subsequent protests. Chappelle's "8:46" was an important cultural moment in the Black Lives Matter movement: this is true not only because it was viewed almost 30 million times, but also because it reminded us how hard it has been for comedians to use their art to discuss racism and police violence. Sure, we had Michael Che's 2016 special, "Michael Che Matters," where he does an especially powerful bit on how ridiculous it is that some people bristle at the phrase "Black Lives Matter," but that pre-dated the death of George Floyd. The same year that Michael Che did his "Black Lives Matter" bit, Noah interviewed Tomi Lahren, then of the conservative outlet TheBlaze. By outwitting the stupid arguments that attempt to justify police violence, Noah helps offer his viewers a critical, cognitive defense that is an essential tool in the fight for Black Lives Matter.
History of this topic
Late-night hosts say fighting racism means more than talk
Associated Press
One more lesson from Charlottesville: Our comedians are more ethical than our president
Salon
Under Apartheid, Trevor Noah's Mom Taught Him To Face Injustice With Humor
NPR
Trevor Noah, The Racist, Pleasance Courtyard
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