371. The Last Black Unicorn
Rating: ☆☆☆
Recommended by:
Author: Tiffany Haddish
Genre: Non Fiction, Memoir, Humor
288 pages, published December 5, 2017
Reading Format: Audio Book
Summary
The Last Black Unicorn is the memoir of comedian Tiffany Haddish. Known as a stand-up comedian, actress, and star of Girls Trip, Haddish shares the ups and downs of her life from a poverty stricken, abusive childhood to Hollywood stardom.
Quotes
“He’s ashamed of himself, because he left you when you were three, did nothing for you, and you ended up being very successful without him, and then you buy him stuff. You are not only a better person than he is, but you are kind and responsible where he is not, and you’re providing where he did not. Not just as his child, but as a woman, providing for him. Your goodness holds up a mirror to his ugliness, and that is too painful for him, so he has to project this onto you, by saying you make him feel less about himself. It’s nothing you did. It’s guilt.”
“So I ended up getting out of pimping, because I didn’t make much money. It’s just not a lucrative business, selling dick. Dick ain’t really all that hard to come by.”
“I believe my purpose is to bring joy to people, to make them laugh, and to share my story to help them. To show people that no matter what, they matter, and they can succeed. No matter how bad things go, no matter how dark your life is, there is a reason for it. You can find beauty in it, and you can get better. I know, because I’ve done it. That’s why my comedy so often comes from my pain. In my life, and I hope in yours, I want us to grow roses out of the poop.”
“You know how white people do, they just encourage and cheer anybody who lets it all hang out and just don’t give a fuck.”
“The only downside to the Bar Mitzvahs was that I killed a man once.”
“That man hadn’t wanted to dance at first, and I made him, and then I booty popped him . . . and now he’s dead! I just felt like a booty assassin.”
“DJ Timbo: “Tiffany, your ass is not deadly.” Tiffany: “No, my ass is deadly. That man is dead.”
“Everyone has their own personal pain and their own demons, and no one will talk about it, and that’s why they never get better. They’re all afraid to talk about it.”
“That’s why I think my life turned out as good as it has. Because all the time, I’m just trying to have fun.”
“In stand-up, you do need to be having fun up there like Richard Pryor said, but you have to know yourself well, too. You have to know when you make different faces, or do different things, you get certain reactions. You start learning and it’s like playing a piano. You just know exactly what keys to stroke, ’cause really with comedy, you’re like fiddling with people’s souls. You resonate on the same frequency as them, trying to get them to relate.”
“I’m a survivor, and all this struggle I went through—while it sucked at the time—is really helping me now. It has helped me get to where I am, and it will help me continue to improve and do better. It didn’t always feel like it at times, but I truly believe I am blessed.”
“all my wins are lessons and all my failures are lessons that will one day become wins.”
My Take
Reading The Last Black Unicorn was a window into a culture that I know little about it and have a hard time relating to. I haven’t seen Tiffany Haddish’s work, but found her memoir to be both humorous and poignant. She is a survivor and writes about her past with love rather than bitterness. If you are a fan, then you are likely to enjoy this book.
