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In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with British-born comedian and actor Gina Yashere. The interview spans from Gina's upbringing in London to being raised by Nigerian parents to her path emerging as a globally recognized comedian.

Gina, Kweli, and Jas discuss what it was like for her to grow up as a first generation Nigerian-Brit facing racism from every angle following her from her youth through later years as an elevator engineer. They speak on American's ignorance of world culture, the contrasts of US versus UK racism, Nigerian stereotypes, and the 'Nollywood' Nigerian film industry. Eddie Murphy's 'RAW' is also brought up for a debate on if we can still laugh at comedy considered taboo by today's standards.

As the conversation progresses they touch on UK and US black entertainer's accusations of stealing talent from on-another, UK racist media coverage of Meghan Markle, white people not understanding N-word rules, gauging her own racial wokeness in comedy, Trump silver-linings, The 'Mock Of The Week' show, and her path to coming out of the closet and owning her lesbian identity.

Finally Gina gets to talk about her hugely popular, ground-breaking sitcom 'Bob Hearts Abishola' on CBS. She speaks on originally being brought in by Chuck Lorre to be a consultant, but then becoming a co-star. Gina outlines her passion for a show, with a platform that would finally shine a light on her Nigerian heritage. In closing Gina talks about her long-time love of hip hop music. The whole interview is as as insightful as it is hilarious.

TIMESTAMPS:

2:11 -- Gina reflects on what it was like growing up Nigerian in an overwhelmingly white Great Britain. She speaks on her Nigerian heritage, and all the teasing she endured, mostly from other black Caribbean kids. She spent her youth attempting to hide her 'African-ness', with no success due to her mom's flaunting of their Nigerian traditions. She also tells about the immense amount of racism she encountered when she first entered the workplace as an engineer.

9:52 -- The trio discusses America's ignorance when it comes to world culture and the multiculturalism within other countries, less than half even owning a passport. They talk about the famous district of Notting Hill originally being a black Caribbean community until gentrification occurred. Gina also compares and contrasts the history of slavery in the US versus the UK.

16:10 -- Talib speaks on how legendary musician/human rights activist Fela Kuti inspired his love for Nigerian culture. He asks Gina to break down some of the Nigerian stereotypes, including all Nigerians being wealthy, as well as being connected to email scamming rings.

20:49 -- Gina illustrates the huge, but little known 'Nollywood' Nigerian film industry. She also talks about how she would be forced to prove her heritage to other Nigerians because she was never taught her native language. Gina also depicts a hilarious story of a response her mother gave to her teacher that recommended Gina pursue acting.

25:23 -- The trio discusses the evolution of comedy, and how what was funny years ago, would now be called out as racist, sexist and homophobic. 'The Benny Hill Show' and Eddie Murphy's 'RAW' stand up special are used as examples to debate the question of if we can still laugh when viewed from a historical lens.

34:05 -- Talib brings up black British comedian Lenny Henry's comment about England hemorrhaging black talent to America, and the flip-side of actor Samuel Jackson saying America is losing actors to England. He asks Gina for her take on the matter. She responds that black entertainers need to stop fighting over crumbs, and Jasmin also asks Gina how she would compare and contrast UK versus US television.

41:03 -- Gina speaks about how the British black community's early predictions of the hell that Meghan Markle was going to endure with the British press, with headlines like "Megan being "almost" straight outta Compton'. Talib mentions his twitter run-ins with Pierce Morgan, and all of his excuses as to why he could never be considered a racist.

48:30 -- The group discusses the N-word, and white people failure to comprehend why they shouldn't use it, as it's all about context with the oppressed flipping the script and taking the power out of a word that has been used by the oppressors to denigrate for hundreds of years. Gina also speaks on gauging racial sensitivities of her own comedy by observing how jokes fly among certain communities on the road.

56:17 -- Talib asks Gina about how the UK's black community generally felt about the Brexit situation. Gina gives her take, and explains the positives that she felt came out of Trump's election.

1:00:42 -- Talib asks Gina about the 'Mock of the Week' panel show, and quotes her from an interview: "In England, I'd still be the token black face on Mock the Week". Gina reminds us she was the only British comedian that appeared on Def Comedy Jam, and discusses her path of coming out of the closet, and owning her lesbian identity.

1:09:07 -- Gina speaks on her experience with the CBS show 'Bob Hearts Abishola.' Gina starts off talking about how she first met Chuck Lorre and how the series first came about. She was brought in to meet Chuck after he discovered her stand-up set online, and she was originally brought in as a consultant. After working and pitching on the show, Gina really felt like the show could be a platform for Nigerian culture, and she put her all into it.

1:23:21 -- Talib commends Chuck Lorre for putting stock into making a show like 'Bob Harts Abishola', giving Nigerian culture such a huge platform, pushing social norms, and controversial topics never seen on prime-time television.

1:30:16 -- Talib mentions Gina's playing of Lady Of Rage's 'Afro Puffs' on the stage entrance for her Netflix special, and Gina goes on to talk about her long-time love of hip hop music.

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