The Last Black Unicorn

You’re not human if you’re not rooting for Tiffany Haddish, the break out star of Girls Trip so when I saw her on The Daily Show’s December 7, 2017 episode promoting her book, The Last Black Unicorn, I immediately requested it from my library. I didn’t get the book until late February 2018, and I live in Massachusetts, which is not known as a bastion of blackness. It only took a couple of hours to read. I don’t do audiobooks, but if you know her voice and sense of humor, it is probably perfect for that format. If you don’t know her, you won’t get it so skip it and watch her work first.
The Last Black Unicorn is for Tiffany Haddish fans that want more funny and a behind the scenes glimpse of her journey, but make no mistakes, Haddish shouldn’t quit her day job to be a writer. I was really impressed with Haddish’s heart. Even though her life has not been easy, it has not dampened her enthusiasm and openness to life. Even when she is on the warpath, she makes life better for her targets. Most people would have been cynical or completely cut people out or their feelings to protect themselves, but Haddish never loses hope and has retained a childlike innocence and hope that things will get better even though experience has proven otherwise in those particular circumstances. I can honestly say that I experienced what she wanted and never got, but I never believed that I would even though I prayed for it.
The early part of The Last Black Unicorn reminded me of A Piece of Cake: A Memoir except that Haddish’s experience with the system was less traumatic, but her home life before becoming a part of the system was definitely worse. Part of the explanation for her innocence is that even though she is savvy, she often seems unaware when she is being victimized. So could everyone, including God, please form a protective hedge around Haddish and squash anyone who even looks at her funny because I want her to prosper. She deserves it.
If you don’t like scatological humor, you should probably skip The Last Black Unicorn. Haddish digs into her sexual history, isn’t afraid to bring to life the kind of gross out moments that you only see in a Hollywood blockbuster comedy and is far from politically correct. If you do plan to have a career in comedy, The Last Black Unicorn is a must read, especially for women, and provides unexpected #metoo moments that she flipped the script on and now financially dunks on the people who would not give her a chance.
For those of you who just want to be entertained, The Last Black Unicorn gives Haddish an opportunity to help you vicariously experience what it is like to suddenly plunged into fame, but still feel like a normal person with a budget. She helps you imagine what it is like if you suddenly became friends with people who have lived that life for so long that normal life is completely alien. It is actually really sweet and puts both sides in an extremely kind light. Spoiler: I like Jada Pinkett more now for being Haddish’s unofficial mentor.
Tiffany Haddish’s The Last Black Unicorn is never going to win the Noble Prize for Literature, but she will probably win your heart and steal your funny bone. She is a beautiful person inside and out.