Today In Black History
Trevor Noah, South African-American Comedian, Author, & Talk Show Host
Issue #590 Today In Black History, Friday, May 3, 2024
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Today’s Black History WOW!
Trevor Noah is a South African-American comedian, author, and talk show host who has made a significant impact in the world of entertainment. He was born on February 20, 1984, in Johannesburg, Transvaal (now Gauteng), South Africa. His father, Robert Noah, is Swiss-German, and his mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, is Xhosa. Trevor speaks 6 different languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, and Tsonga.
Under apartheid legislation, Noah's mother was classified as Black, and his father was classified as White. Noah himself was classified as Coloured. At the time of his birth, his parents' interracial relationship was illegal. Interracial sexual relations and marriages were decriminalized a year after his birth when the Immorality Act was amended in 1985. Patricia and her mother, Nomalizo Frances Noah, raised Trevor in the black township of Soweto.
Noah began his career in comedy in his early twenties, performing stand-up shows across South Africa. He soon gained popularity for his unique style of humor that often tackled issues of race, politics, and social justice. In 2011, he made his debut on American television with appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "The Late Show with David Letterman." This exposure helped Noah gain international recognition and led to him being named one of "The 35 Greatest Comic Minds of Our Time" by The New York Times in 2017.
In 2015, Noah took over as the host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, succeeding Jon Stewart. Under Noah's leadership, the show earned multiple Emmy nominations and awards.
Trevor Noah was named one of "The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, Time magazine named him one of the hundred most influential people in the world. In 2023, he won the Erasmus Prize.
In addition to his work on television, Noah is also an accomplished author. In 2016, he published his memoir "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood," which became a bestseller and received critical acclaim for its poignant and humorous depiction of his early life. The book was also adapted into an audiobook, which won the 2018 Audie Award for Autobiography/Memoir.
Noah is a vocal advocate for social justice and has used his platform to speak out against racism, sexism, and inequality. In 2020, he launched the Trevor Noah Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides education, life skills, and mentorship to underprivileged youth in South Africa.
Trevor Noah became a naturalized American citizen in 2020 and now resides in New York City.
Today In Black History
In 1920, the first game of the National Negro League was played in Indianapolis.
In 1936, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and his family fled Abyssinia.
In 1953, Rev. Joseph A. Johnson, Jr. became the first Black student admitted to Vanderbilt University‘s Divinity School.
In 2011, the United States Special Forces, overseen by President and Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama, captured and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
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