The Native American who Invented Standup Comedy

“Make crime pay. Become a lawyer.” — Will Rogers

Interestingly, a Native American invented the Great American art form known as standup comedy.

Many Americans think of standup comedy as a Jewish creation because many legendary comics were Jews. Conversely, the first superstar comic was a Native American cowboy from Oklahoma.

In the early 20th century, Will Rogers became the first standup comedian to become a superstar with movie deals, a hit radio show, and national tours. Rogers was the man who invented and popularized what we call standup comedy.

The Cowboy was an Indian

“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” — Will Rogers

Rogers grew up in the last days of the Wild West in the lawless Oklahoma territory. His father, Clement Vann Rogers, was part Cherokee and a Confederate Army veteran. Rogers’ mother, Mary America Shrimsher, was also one quarter Cherokee.

Rogers’ maternal ancestors were among the Cherokees driven off their ancestral lands and forcibly relocated to Oklahoma by…