Born a Crime is the story of comedian Trevor Noah who portrays his upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa, where his existence was illegal due to the government ban on interracial relationships. The book consists of a collection of stories from Noah's childhood and early adulthood. It explores his family's experiences under apartheid, his mother's determination to provide a better life, and his own journey of self-discovery. Chapters 1-8 delve into the role of religion in his life, his unconventional birth, and the challenges of living as a "colored" child. Noah's multilingual abilities become a way to connect across cultural boundaries, highlighting the dangers of intergroup tensions that persisted post-apartheid. In chapters 9-14, Noah shares stories of adolescence, including the complexities of fitting into a community where he looked like his neighbors but didn't share their culture. He navigates the challenges of school, crushes, and eventually moves to a predominantly white suburb, where he feels isolated but forms friendships with the children of black domestic servants. Chapters 15-18 focus on Noah's journey toward independence as he builds a crew involved in the music industry. He reflects on the absurdity of colonial influences and the lack of acknowledgment of colonialism's atrocities. The book concludes with a harrowing account of his stepfather's abuse toward his mother, shedding light on the culture of violence and impunity in a country where the legal system remained biased, especially against black women.
I really enjoyed this book. I think it shows how the apartheid affected Trevor and black people and shows their struggles. The book also shows the struggles of being a mixed child during the apartheid. Even though this book talks about a complicated topic, the book is really funny. I would recommend this book to teens and adults as the book makes sensitive jokes and talks about sensitive topics. Rating: I give this book a rating of 4 stars.