In the wake of Alabama and Mississippi’s continued observance of Confederate Memorial Day, Trevor Noah made it clear he is definitely not on board with celebrating the controversial holiday. During Wednesday’s episode of The Daily Show, the host denounced the day — which pays homage to Confederate soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War — as “f—ked up on so many levels.”
“First of all, the Confederacy fought the Civil War to defend slavery. Why would you honor that?,” he said. “Secondly, what are black people supposed to do on this holiday?”
Noah went on to explain that he has trouble wrapping his head around the idea that honoring the Confederacy can be observed in a non-racist way. “I never understand this argument,” he said. “People go: ‘Hey, back then they didn’t know what they were doing. They didn’t know what they were doing was racist.’ First of all, yes they did. But even if they didn’t, you know that now, so what’s your excuse?”
Watch the full clip below.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men
- What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives
- Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance
- What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com