With some trepidation, I sat down to watch Trevor Noah’s latest Netflix special, Joy in the Trenches. Trevor has become something of an avowed enemy in my eyes due to his relentless criticism of President Trump. I freely admit that President Trump has given him plenty of material to work with—and I found myself laughing throughout much of the performance. It’s a shame he wasn’t this funny during his time on The Daily Show.
Rather than pure bashing, Trevor delivered sharp, funny observations. His talent for mimicking voices kept the laughs coming, and his self-deprecating jokes revealed a refreshing honesty that I appreciated.
One standout bit was Trevor’s account of visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Though he remains a citizen of South Africa, he seems to share the same selective amnesia that many Democrats exhibit when discussing the historical suppression of Black people in America. He spoke about slavery with a moment of self-reflective honesty that stood out. I won’t spoil it for you.
He then listed the Jim Crow laws and the struggles of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, spinning them with brilliant humor. Again, no spoilers.
Here’s the thing that bothered me: Trevor conveniently omitted who was primarily responsible for that suppression in the South. Southern Democrats defended slavery, seceded and triggered the Civil War after Abraham Lincoln’s election, founded the Ku Klux Klan, instituted poll taxes to suppress Black votes, enacted Jim Crow laws, and defied federal efforts to ensure equal treatment. Democratic governors ordered violent crackdowns on Civil Rights protesters, making it necessary for President Kennedy to deploy federal forces—like the Airborne Rangers—to enforce court-ordered desegregation and equality.
In closing, I urge everyone to call out this selective amnesia whenever it appears in modern political discourse. History deserves honest examination, not convenient editing.
Published by Editor, Sammy Campbell.