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Comedy: 'A way more effective way to get your point across'

Hasan Minhaj is a first generation Indian-American. The comdedian shares stories of what it was like growing up in America in a show called, 'Homecoming King.'
Hasan Minhaj
Hasan Minhaj is a first generation Indian-American. The comdedian shares stories of what it was like growing up in America in a show called, 'Homecoming King.'

Hasan Minhaj loves the way humor can get a message across. As a high schooler, Minhaj was involved in speech and debate. Then, while in college, he saw Chris Rock's Never Scared comedy routine. He equated it to 'funny' speech and debate.

"I even remember in forensics, if you could basically ridicule the other person's point, it would make your side seem so much stronger," he says.

Hasan Minhaj is a senior correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. More recently, he's come out with a one-man show called Homecoming King.

Throughout the show he shares what it was like growing up as a first-generation Indian-American, in Davis, California— a predominantly white city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQe6JGePTuw

The show is humorous throughout, but also strikes more serious tones when Minhaj recalls times he was bullied and discriminated against. He says at first, he really didn't want to share those experiences. Then he realized by telling those stories, he would be putting more 'skin in the game.' 

"Whenever you're talking about political issues," he says, "a lot of times it's just mired in a lot of statistics...things that don't feel real or tangible."

Hasan Minhaj says the most authentic thing we can share is our own personal experience. That's why he wanted to bring that narrative storytelling to standup comedy.  

Minhaj will bring his show, Homecoming King to Traverse City, Saturday night at The City Opera House.

Dan Wanschura is the Host and Executive Producer of Points North.