It feels like just yesterday the fresh-faced stand-up comedian from New Jersey — then described as “sharp” by the New York Times and “overeager” by the Chicago Tribune — was sitting down for his first-ever “Daily Show” interview. He fidgeted with the buttons on his oversized suit like a nervous bar mitzvah boy and, in refreshing contrast to comedy frat-boy predecessor Craig Kilborn, charmed viewers with a particular Woody Allen-ish brand of self-deprecating humor.
Now, after nearly two decades on the satirical-news program, Jon Stewart prepares to sign off one last time.
For the next three weeks, leading up to the "Daily Show” host’s Aug. 6 departure, Salon will be taking a look back at some of Stewart’s most memorable moments spanning his 16 years and five months.
Today, we look back at “Mississippi flag″ from April 2001.
A good decade before national outrage culminated in the removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina's Statehouse premises, Jon Stewart was already beginning to use his "Daily Show" platform to elevate conversation around the "shameful symbol of hate." In 2001, there was a different "stars-and-bars” state-offender on everyone's minds, though: Mississippi.
The state had just voted in a 2-1 margin to keep its controversial flag — and the "Daily Show" crew was not pleased. Stewart called in then senior political analyst Stephen Colbert (and South Carolina native) to the program to raise a macro-level lens to the issue.
"Why is Mississippi being singled out?” Colbert said during his appearance. "There are so many other states that use the Confederate flag and you hear almost nothing about them.”
Stewart asked Colbert whether all of the controversy could have easily been avoided had the state just picked an “acceptable alternative flag."
"Well, sure,” Colbert said. "The proposed alternative had 20 stars — Mississippi being the 20th state— but it failed to recognize the area that Mississippi is 50th. Like, in literacy."
"The Daily Show" may have had the last laugh -- but, fast forward to today: Mississippi has yet to scrub its state flag clean of the Confederate symbol. Let's hope Stewart gives the issue one last nudge before hanging up his "Daily Show" boots and walking out the door Aug. 6.
Watch the clip courtesy of Comedy Central below:
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