In the novel Born A Crime, Daily Show host Trevor Noah tells the hilarious, sometimes sorrowful, and often heartwarming story of his life growing up under apartheid in South Africa.
Born to a black mother and white father, Noah was a mixed-race child in a country and time where the conception of such children was outlawed. At the time of his birth, South Africa’s systemic racism severed the relationships between the different ethnic and racial groups of the nation. This racism casts a shadow on all aspects of Noah’s life. Though often protected by his mother, Noah experienced constant dangers associated with being a mixed-race child in South Africa.
Though this novel is the story of Trevor’s upbringing, I felt that it pays an equal amount of attention to the social climate of South Africa in which Mr. Noah lived. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading in general, as I feel it has a little bit of everything for everybody. Noah’s stories about his friends and family are both funny and heartwarming. My favorite involves his buddy Teddy. For history buffs, Noah often delves into the history of apartheid and racism candidly and uniquely.
I don’t read as many books as I’d like to, and just reading books for fun is something I don’t do anymore. However, when I read the first few pages of this book, I got hooked. Noah’s storytelling is incredible, his messages relatable, and his analysis on certain issues is understandable. I highly recommend reading this book if you have the time, and if you do I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Check out Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah .