Michael Che Quotes

Powerful Michael Che for Daily Growth

About Michael Che

Michael Che Kweku Baakye Addo-Mensah, popularly known as Michael Che, is an accomplished American comedian, writer, and television personality, born on May 20, 1985, in the coastal town of Accra, Ghana. Raised by his mother, a nurse, he moved to the United States when he was five years old, settling in the Bronx, New York City. Michael Che's comedic journey began during high school, where he started participating in comedy competitions and open mic nights. His big break came in 2013 when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL), becoming only the third African American to serve as a full-time head writer in the show's history. Influenced by stand-up comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Eddie Murphy, Michael Che has carved a unique niche for himself with his incisive wit, biting social commentary, and ability to seamlessly blend politics, pop culture, and personal anecdotes in his comedy. In addition to his work on SNL, Michael Che has made significant contributions as a writer and co-anchor on the weekly news satire show, "Weekend Update." His major works include writing for the FX series "Fosse/Verdon" and serving as a contributor to Comedy Central's "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore." Michael Che continues to push boundaries with his comedy, using his platform to tackle sensitive issues such as race, politics, and social justice. His unique perspective, sharp humor, and unapologetic approach have earned him a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim in the world of comedy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"If you're white and you don't think you have privilege, then you're part of the problem."

This quote from Michael Che suggests that if an individual identifies as white and does not acknowledge or understand the benefits and advantages they may receive due to their race (privilege), they are contributing to societal issues related to racial inequality and injustice. It's a call for self-awareness and understanding of one's own position in society, particularly regarding race, as it is an essential step toward creating change and promoting equality.


"I always wanted to be a comedian because I thought it was the only job where you could get paid for telling people what they don't want to hear."

Michael Che's quote suggests that he found in comedy a unique professional outlet to express opinions or perspectives that might otherwise be unwelcome or unpopular. Comedy, by its nature, allows the comedian to challenge societal norms, provoke thought, and bring attention to uncomfortable truths in a palatable way. By being a comedian, Che can get paid for doing something that people might not want to hear, but are secretly curious about or need to confront. This quote also highlights the power of humor as a tool for social commentary, thought-provoking discourse, and self-expression.


"Everybody wants to be included, but nobody wants to include everybody."

This quote by Michael Che highlights a common human dilemma: the desire for inclusivity and unity, yet an inherent resistance to accepting everyone without conditions or limitations. It suggests that while people generally value being part of a group, they often have selective preferences about who should be included in their circles. This paradox sheds light on the complexities of social dynamics, emphasizing the need for empathy, understanding, and open-mindedness as we strive to create more inclusive societies.


"The difference between rich and poor is that rich people buy things they want. The poor buy things they need."

This quote by Michael Che highlights a distinction between wealthy individuals and those who are less affluent, not in terms of necessity, but rather in their ability to purchase items that bring them joy or fulfillment versus only purchasing necessities. In essence, it suggests that the rich have the luxury of spending money on desires, while the poor often must prioritize needs over wants due to financial constraints. This quote sheds light on socioeconomic disparities and the impact they can have on quality of life.


"I'm not anti-cop. I just think that the cops who do wrong should go to jail like everybody else."

The quote suggests that Michael Che is not inherently against police officers as a group, but rather he advocates for accountability. He believes that law enforcement personnel who commit unlawful acts should face consequences equally as severe as any other citizen would, upholding the principle of equal justice under the law.


I have six brothers and sisters. My mother has six kids from two different marriages. And we would just sit around making fun of each other's dad, and all our dads had real problems.

- Michael Che

Other, Brothers, Dad, Dads

If I'm doing a show on Sunday at 7 P.M., that wouldn't be the same show that I'd do at 11 P.M. on a Saturday - it's a different room at a different time of day with different sensibilities. That doesn't mean you have to compromise your art, but it is communication: you have to know how to talk to people.

- Michael Che

Doing, Saturday, Show, Compromise

I don't know how you can do comedy once every two weeks. Ever since I started, if I'm off for three days, I got to learn how to do comedy again.

- Michael Che

Learn, Comedy, Weeks, Two Weeks

Live comedy is fantastic. It's when live comedy is transcribed and reported and critiqued outside of the venue without context that things become complicated.

- Michael Che

Comedy, Without, Venue, Context

I'm lucky enough to have two different platforms to perform on - I do stand-up comedy, and I have 'SNL.' That's where I make my most controversial statements because I can explain myself and I'm in control of the microphone, as opposed to Twitter, where it's in the hands of the reader.

- Michael Che

Hands, Lucky, Explain, Platforms

I'm from New York, and I started in New York, which I think is a huge advantage because I wasn't overwhelmed by the city. I understood the city. All of the distractions that could come with somebody that started comedy in New York didn't really happen for me.

- Michael Che

City, Overwhelmed, I Think, Understood

I would love to do more TV and do movies for the experience, but my ultimate focus is stand-up. It's the number one thing that I love most because there is nothing like being with a live audience.

- Michael Che

Love, Focus, TV, Live Audience

It's true - my mother kicked me out the house at 14. I had to go live with my sister. I had some problems. I was very rebellious as a kid. I don't even know why or where it came from, but I had a lot of anger. Me and my mom clashed a lot because she didn't tolerate that, as she shouldn't from a 14-year-old.

- Michael Che

Kid, Some, Very, Tolerate

When you grow up in the city, New York is so big that you can kind of stay in your own little corner of the city and think that that's it because you don't need anything. You don't have to venture out; you don't have to touch the boroughs. You can kind of stay in your neighborhood, and there's everything there.

- Michael Che

City, Big, Own, Neighborhood

Improv classes were too expensive, so I just started going to open mics. And the day I did it, I did, like, three because I just loved it so much. It was so much fun. And it wasn't good, it was just fun to do. It felt like a release.

- Michael Che

Three, Release, Classes, So Much Fun

Cartoon violence is something very vivid and dark but made palatable for children in a fun way. That's the kind of comedy I do - I try to take subjects that might seem deep and make them as silly as possible.

- Michael Che

Deep, Seem, Very, Vivid

When you're doing comedy constantly, you're organized: you know where everything is, you know how to get out of it, you know how to stretch it. But, like, doing 'SNL,' I stopped doing spots, and then I would finally do some sets - it take me so long to, kind of, get in the rhythm of it.

- Michael Che

Doing, Some, Constantly, Spots

I can't speak for every American comic, but for me, a great show is its own reward. Comedy is too subjective for awards.

- Michael Che

Comedy, Reward, Subjective, Great Show

I follow a lot of news outlets on Twitter, so I'll just go skim through the headlines and see what's going on.

- Michael Che

News, Through, Going, Headlines

Black people have, like, this thing, and I have it, we all have it, we have this kind of embarrassment. Where we don't like white people to find out our little insecurities and out little quirks. We don't really like that that much. It's kind of, we're like, 'Don't let them know - that ours; that's for us.'

- Michael Che

Out, Our, Ours, Embarrassment

It's a unique fraternity to be a standup. I think everybody understands, you know, opportunity, and everybody - especially at the top - are genuinely rooting for you.

- Michael Che

Think, Everybody, Rooting, Understands

If I could work with Eddie Murphy on 'SNL,' I think I could quit comedy forever. For me and my generation, he's God.

- Michael Che

Generation, Think, I Think, If I Could

I think satire suffered under Obama, but not because of Obama. People are more sensitive now than ever, and strong satirical voices are stifled because of that. I don't think a Clinton presidency would change that.

- Michael Che

Strong, Think, I Think, Satirical

If I think something's funny, I try to mold it into a joke as soon as possible. Once I have a joke, I say it a million different ways on stage until I find a rhythm and it feels like it's as good as it can be.

- Michael Che

Good, I Think, Feels, Joke

I'm not saying I shouldn't have to pay any taxes, but I shouldn't have to pay as many as somebody that votes. I don't vote because I don't know anything about politics. And honestly, I can't believe they'd let me. Isn't that an important thing? They'll just let me pick the president! I don't gotta know anything!

- Michael Che

Politics, Important Thing, Votes

Your number one job as a comedian is to be aware. You're supposed to understand the temperature in the room more than anyone on the planet - that's the whole craft of comedy.

- Michael Che

Comedy, More, Planet, Comedian

I used to paint pictures - what happened was, I used to draw and paint pictures. And some of my friends would be, like, 'Yo, you should put that on a T-shirt,' because that's where their brain would go.

- Michael Che

Go, Some, Like, T-Shirt

I like comedy that's not political but social, dealing with issues of people talking to each other. No matter what your politics, we still have to live with each other. Politics is taking a side. I'm not running for office, you know?

- Michael Che

Politics, Other, Still, Dealing

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