Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark Page #6

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they speak to you,

you think of them a different way.

You see world leaders.

They speak a certain way,

you think of them a different way.

You know?

Barack Obama,

one of the greatest examples of that.

Everything about Barack. Barack Obama was,

by far, the coolest president

that has ever existed.

Just everything about the man, you know?

That confidence, the smile, the swag.

When you notice Barack--

I would notice it in the small things,

like when he'd step out of Air Force One.

He did it like no other president

in the world.

Normally, presidents step out

of their airplane in a frumpy manner.

There's no class or skill.

They just, like, come out.

But Barack...

he wouldn't step out. He'd emerge.

He'd emerge like he was stepping out

of the plane

and into a music video.

He'd do that thing where he'd come out...

And then he'd go down the stairs,

doing it the only way he could, you know?

The way he descended, it looked like

every time he hit the ground,

he was just gonna go into verse one.

Just straight into it, like...

Girl

I wanna take you there

Give you my Obamacare

Oh, man.

Barack Obama's just too cool.

He had the walk. He had the talk.

That was the big thing people

never realized about Barack Obama,

was the talk.

That's what really gave him the edge.

He has a certain way of speaking,

a certain voice

that commands your attention,

makes you feel about him a certain way.

It's the accent, the way he speaks.

And I don't know

how many people realized this,

but Nelson Mandela had the same thing.

Yeah.

See, the thing Barack Obama has

in his voice,

that is the voice

of a first black president.

A lot of people didn't notice that

because he was the first and last

first black president

of the United States.

You wouldn't know to compare.

I'm lucky in that I've gotten to be--

I've gotten to live in the country

of two first black presidents,

namely, Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama.

So, I know what I'm talking about.

They both have that thing.

It's just difficult to hear

because Mandela's obviously South African,

and he was older.

They both had that thing in the voice.

When Nelson Mandela would speak,

a room would silence.

You could feel the energy.

"I believe...

that every person,

regardless of the color of their skin,

should have equal rights,

and they may never be taken again.

To those who would seek to oppress,

I say to you, never,

and never again."

And the people would lose their minds.

People would feel the chills,

because he had that thing.

Nelson Mandela was destined for greatness

because of that voice.

He could not be a normal man

with a voice like that.

You can't do normal things

with that voice.

You are destined for greatness.

You can't be running in the streets:

"And a Kit Kat, please."

No. No.

It's so unique. You can't be silly.

What are you making, prank phone calls?

"Who the hell is this?!"

"I'm not telling you."

It just doesn't work.

I remember when Nelson Mandela

was still alive,

and he would tell jokes

at press conferences and events,

and no one would laugh.

Because everyone thought a man

who had been in jail for 27 years

couldn't make a joke.

And yet, he still did.

He still kept what was him.

It was partly because of that voice.

He would tell the joke, and it would

just sound too epic for people to laugh.

Everything he did, he'd just be like,

"Ah, knock, knock."

People would be like,

"Let him in. Let him in!"

"No. No, no.

You must say, 'Who's there?'"

"He is so right.

We've always got to ask, 'Who's there?'

Who's here? Who are we?' Oh, my God!"

It was because of that voice,

the first black president voice.

And I'll never forget the day

I saw a picture...

of Barack Obama meeting Nelson Mandela

for the very first time.

It's a beautiful image,

and it's of the two men in silhouette.

In Chicago,

Nelson Mandela sitting in a chair.

Barack Obama leaning over him.

And this was way back in the day.

This was before Barack Obama

was a blip on the presidential radar.

He was a junior senator.

Not many people knew his name.

Back then, he was driving around

in his own car.

No motorcade. Had his aide with him.

And that day, they heard Nelson Mandela

was going to be in Chicago meeting people.

Barack Obama wanted

to meet him his whole life.

He rushed over there.

He was the last person Nelson Mandela saw.

The last person he saw that day.

And I always imagine

Nelson Mandela was sitting in the room,

and his assistant came over.

She was like,

"Mr. Mandela, I know we said we're done.

But unfortunately, there's this one person

who would like to meet you, sir."

He's like, "Oh, Zelda.

I'm so tired. Can we leave?"

"No, I know you want to leave,

Mr. Mandela.

But there's a young man there

you really need to meet.

His name is Barack Hussein Obama."

"Barack Hussein Obama?

He's American?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"He's going to have a tough time.

Where is he?"

"He's right outside the door."

"Okay. Show him in. Show Barack in."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

And she went over to the door.

She's like, "Mr. Obama,

Mr. Mandela will see you now."

And Barack walked in.

He was super excited to meet his idol.

Nelson Mandela was sitting on the chair.

He looked over.

"Ah. Young Barack. How are you?"

And Barack was like,

"Oh, man, Nelson Mandela,

this is the craziest day of my life!

I can't believe this sh*t!

I can't believe I'm meeting Nelson Mandela

for the first time.

I waited my whole life for this moment.

I want to be just like you.

I read your books.

I saw what you were doing in prison.

I was like, 'I'll be the first

black president of America.'

I'm gonna do the same things you did.

I'm gonna win those votes.

I'm gonna be

the first black President of America!"

And Nelson Mandela was like,

"Not with that voice.

You will scare the white people."

"Oh, man, Nelson Mandela,

this is the greatest day of my life.

I don't even understand how--

I want to know from you, how do I do it?

How do I do what you did? How do I

become the first black president?"

"Well, first things first.

We need to change that voice.

You don't sound like you are going

to lead anything."

"I don't know what you mean."

"You are speaking so fast.

Slow it down.

You're not being chased anymore."

"Wow, I never thought of it like that."

"Slow down. Slow down."

"Okay. I guess I do speak fast sometimes.

-Like, I could--"

-"Slower than that."

"I could slow it down.

I could slow it way down.

Is this good?"

"That's better.

Now, you need to make sure...

you add some bass to your voice."

"I don't know why that's an issue."

"Imagine if I spoke like this.

Do you think people

would have voted for me?

No. I would still be in jail.

Bring some bass."

"Okay, I could try to--

I could try to bring some bass.

Is that--"

"Lower than that."

"I can go lower than that. Is that good?"

"Lower than that."

"Lower, lower. Way down.

I could keep it here.

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