Why Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart are major influences in comedy

Growing up, comedy was always an important part of my life. I watched everything from Saturday Night Live to The Roast of Charlie Sheen. But as a young black woman, black comedians and black comedy held a special place in my heart. I would seek out the work of Bernie Mac and Eddie Murphy, covet anything by Steve Harvey, and have watched and re-watched Chris Tucker’s performance in the Rush Hour movies.

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For me, black comedians are so important because they allow the general population to experience many aspects of black culture in an entertainment environment. The way that comedians use their personal experience and their life stories to drive their comedy allows the world to really learn about what it means to be black in our present society. The struggles and successes of many black comedians give young black individuals something to identify with or aspire to. Personally, the comedians who influence me the most heading into 2018 are Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish.

Now, I’m pretty sure that most of you already know Kevin Hart. In fact, I’m pretty sure that a lot of you can quote him. You will especially remember his bit about his mother encouraging him to cuss out his teacher and how he took it just a bit too far makes me laugh every time I watch it.

What I love about Hart’s comedy is that he can make any story seem both hilarious and relatable. The way he describes the struggle he has with his children and his frustration over maintaining their black identity while growing up in a predominantly white neighbourhood reminds me so much of my own struggle in my suburban hometown. Now, heading towards my professional future, I look at Kevin Hart for a lesson on hustle.

We’ve all heard the jokes about Kevin Hart. People like to laugh over Hart’s willingness to take roles, often saying he will take anything and everything. But, Kevin Hart’s work ethic warrants a lot of respect. I mean, you don’t reach over 70 acting credits in 17 years without some incredible hustle.

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His hard work has gained him a large amount of recognition and respect. Kevin Hart doesn’t just take opportunities, he makes them and that teaches us that a hardworking attitude can take you far. I hope to one day find my equivalent of the Kevin Hart: What Now? comedy tour, which was one of, if not the most successful comedy tour of all time.

Tiffany Haddish is a little newer to the comedy spotlight, but already a major influence in 2018. You may recognize her from her breakout role in Girls Trip. What I love about Haddish’s comedy, both in acting roles and her new special, is that she puts in all of herself and the full force of her personality. She is so open and proud of who she is and that commands your attention. But, what strikes me most about Tiffany Haddish is her honesty and transparency about her life. Haddish has had a rough go of it, but that doesn’t stop her from joking about it on stage. In her special, she details how a car accident left her mother with mental health issues and Haddish as the caretaker of her family. She then ended up in foster care and eventually living out of her car. But according to her, all that struggle made her incredibly special.

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Haddish embodies self confidence. She owns her past and uses it to drive her future. She is not afraid to make fun of herself or her experiences. I love her bit where she describes taking Jada and Will Smith out for a Groupon boat tour and having to explain that a Groupon isn’t a private boat.

Haddish can teach the young people of colour, especially those growing up in bad situations, the importance of a positive self image. She reminds me to work on my ability to laugh at myself and to not take everything so seriously. The way that she was able to find her passion and turn it into a promising career can help us to remember to never give up.

Haddish’s insistence that her background is what made her so special is such an admirable way of thinking. Tiffany refers to herself as “The Last Black Unicorn”. When she was a kid, her peers would make fun of her and call her a “dirty unicorn”. But Haddish took it and turned the phrase into something that worked for her. In her Hollywood Today Live Interview, she says, “I’m beautiful, I’m special, I’m powerful. And if you mess with me, I’ll stab you with my horn!” I plan on taking Tiffany’s attitude and making this my personal motto for 2018.

By Imani Stewart