Long before Tiffany Haddish was making audiences laugh in her stand-up comedy shows, in films and on television, she used humor for something far more serious: survival. As a child, she discovered that clowning around and jokes could help deflect schoolyard bullies and abuse at home — where making her mother laugh could mean escaping her wrath. On October 9, the Emmy- and Grammy Award-winning actress and comedian brought her deeply personal stories of resilience to the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, captivating an audience of CSUN students, faculty, staff and alumni in a conversation with Yan Searcy, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (CSBS).
For Haddish, her campus appearance was a homecoming of sorts. The Los Angeles native told audience members that she’d applied to CSUN, but did not get in. But that didn’t keep her away — she came to parties on campus and would tag along to classes with friends. Haddish said she attended numerous courses that way at universities throughout L.A.
“I was hungry for knowledge,” she said. “I stole education. I didn’t get no paperwork for it. I got the information,” she said.
The actress and comedian has hosted her own comedy specials and starred in numerous TV shows and films — including her breakout 2017 comedy movie “Girls Trip” with actresses Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah.
Haddish, who was born in Inglewood and attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, spoke frankly and, at times, became emotional as she discussed the challenges she experienced during her childhood. When she was 9 years old, her mother was in a car accident and suffered a severe brain injury. Her mother’s communication skills were affected, making her frustrated and angry. Haddish, the oldest of five children, learned that making her mother laugh could provide a diversion.
“It was like an exercise,” she said. “If I could get her to laugh — she’ll forget that she said she was gonna beat me up. She’ll be frustrated, but she’ll giggle and then her brain will reset.”
Her mother was also diagnosed with schizophrenia following the brain injury, Haddish said. When she was 13, Haddish and her siblings were separated and placed in foster care. Haddish said she was often picked up by police for running away from school during that time — she said she was desperate to check on her brothers and sisters. But she found that being funny helped her cope in new situations.
“If you make people laugh, they’ll do anything for you,” she said. “It’s the most powerful, healing thing in the world … That’s how I’m going to keep from gettin’ beat up in school. That’s how I’m going to make friends. That’s how I’m going to get people to help me do my homework.”
Haddish spoke on a wide range of topics including her career and her nonprofit, She Ready Foundation, which supports foster youth. Haddish started the nonprofit when she worked for an airline. She collected unclaimed suitcases for kids, so they wouldn’t have to use garbage bags when they moved to a new home.
She also spoke about one of her key goals for the future — to follow in the footsteps of a legendary comedian and actress.
“I want to do what Lucille Ball did. I want to own a studio,” she said. “I want to be able to tell the stories that we want to tell, and I want to create millions of jobs and I want to heal a lot of hearts. I think storytelling is a way to go about it.”
Before the main program, Haddish met with students from CSUN’s EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) Milt and Debbie Valera Resilient Scholars Program, which supports current and former foster youth. Emily Lopez, 21, said the comedian was asked what motivates her. Haddish’s answer resonated with the senior art major.
“[She said], ‘You just tell yourself that you’re enough and that you love yourself … and that’s what’s going to get you through the day,'” Lopez said.
The evening was presented as part of the CSBS Salon Series, which draws inspiration from the salons of the Harlem Renaissance, where artists, thinkers and community members gathered to exchange ideas and celebrate culture. Other featured guests have included actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer and actress Tabitha Brown. Proceeds from the program benefit the CSBS Community Endowed Professorship in Africana Studies.
