Thursday night, Trevor Noah bid his farewell to the Daily Show after hosting the Comedy Central series for seven years. During his monologue, Noah credited the “brilliant” Black women in his life who contributed to his success.
“I remember when we started the show, we couldn’t get enough people to fill an audience,” Noah recalled. “I always think it’s good. That’s how comedy is, funny enough. I remember all my shows, people didn’t…there weren’t tickets there. There were empty seats. And then I look at this now. I don’t take it for granted ever. Every seat that has ever been filled to watch something that I’m doing, I always appreciate it ’cause I know the empty seat that sits behind it. So, thank you.”
He thanked those who watched even when they disagreed with his content and those who shared clips of his segments.
“This is random for some, but special shout out to Black women,” he said, earning a round of applause. “I’ve often been credited with having these grand ideas, where people are like, ‘Oh, Trevor, you’re so smart.’ And then I’m like, who do you think teaches me? You know? Who do you think has shaped me, nourished me, informed me?”
He continued, “From my mom, my grandma, my aunt—all these Black women in my life. But then, in America as well, I always tell people, if you truly want to learn about America, talk to Black women. Yeah, ’cause unlike everybody else, Black women can’t afford to f**k around and find out. Black people understand how hard it is when things go bad, especially in America. But any place where Black people exist, whether it’s Brazil, whether it’s South Africa, where it is. When things go bad, Black people know that it gets worse for them.”
“But Black women, in particular, they know what s**t is, genuinely,” The Daily Show host said. “People always be shocked. They be like, ‘Why do Black women turn out the way they do in America? Why do they vote the way…’ Yeah, because they know what happens if things do not go the way it should.”
He repeated himself, emphasizing that Black women can’t “afford to f**k around and find out.”
From scholars and authors to the Roxane Gays and Zoé Samudzis, Noah thanked every “brilliant” Black woman who has cared for him, informed him and even argued with him, stating they’re the reason he succeeds.
As Sis2Sis previously reported, Noah announced during a Thursday night show in early October that he was stepping down as host of The Daily Show.
Watch his farewell below.
