This isn’t the first time Trevor Noah has come under suspicion for using other comedians’ material. This time, it isn’t an exact replica, but it is a little too close for comfort. Trevor visited the L.A.’s Politicon on Saturday and delivered a joke to the audience that was reminiscent of one that Dave Chappelle did on HBO in 1998. What got people noticing was the specific phrase “racism connoisseur.”

Here’s Trevor’s bit (see video above):

Before I came to America, I thought I knew all kinds of racism. I’ve always considered myself something of a racism connoisseur. I appreciate the finer racism. Not to say I appreciate all racism, but a finer racism. Before I came here, blatant racism was my favorite. Blatant racism, where you know exactly where you stand, often perpetrated by old people, which I have always appreciated. They’ll just tell it to you like it is. ‘This is what I think about you!’ Yeah, you’re going to die soon. … Charming racism in America changed my life. I discovered it in a place called Lexington, Kentucky. Probably one of the most wonderful places I’ve ever been — charming, friendly people. Racism with a smile and a tip of the hat. … I was walking through the streets, a man walked up to me, didn’t know me from a bar of soap, came straight up to me and looked me dead in the eye, and he was like, ‘Good afternoon, n—er.’ ‘Good afternoon.’ I’ve never seen racism with a smile. I didn’t know what to do. He just said it like it was a fact. As if I fought him, he would have been like, ‘What, didn’t you know?’

And this here’s Dave’s (see video below):

Traveling has made me a racism connoisseur, if you will. You know, it’s different region to region. Anyone ever been down South? So you guys know what I’m talking about. The racism down there is just f—ing — it’s perfect. Stewed to a perfection. It’s conformable. It’s out in the open. There are no secrets in Mississippi. Everybody knows the deal. “Morning, n—er!” “Morning, sir!” Not up here. Here in the big cities, it’s a secret. And we should be like them. We should keep our shit out in the open and vent a little — I mean with limits. You don’t want to say whatever comes to your mind, that might be a little much. White dude be walking down the street minding his business and a brother walk up to him: “Hello, you white oppressor, you slave-master rapist of Africa.” “Why hello, my big-lips, spear-chucking friend.”

Last time Trevor was accused of stealing jokes, his excuse?

Comedy is your personal take on a thing. Do you get what I’m saying? Like half the jokes young black comedians are doing in America right now, Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy were doing 20 years ago.

Let’s see if that will fly this time.

[source: salon]