Started: February 24th
Finished: February 28th
TSM Rating: 5/5
Phew. That’s the first word that came to mind when I closed this book a moment ago. Probably because it finished with the most harrowing of stories: his mother being shot in the head by his stepfather…and SURVIVING.
When we learn history in school, we get broad strokes. However, history is nuanced. It is lived and experienced by every living thing on this planet every single day. We can learn history by speaking to those who lived it. Born A Crime is basically Trevor Noah giving a history lesson on late-stage and early post-apartheid through the lens of his life. There is so much underlying trauma because of the political situation in the country, on top of everything he had to deal with, growing up as someone who wasn’t supposed to exist.
He speaks about his mother and father being unable to walk down the street with him because it would look suspicious. Not being able to make friends because he didn’t know where he fit in.
I thought about it from a parents’ perspective, and my heart broke thinking of my sons feeling so outside the world around them. My biggest fear as a mom is my kids not finding their place and their people.
Luckily, despite all the insanity and instability in South Africa and in his home life, Trevor Noah found his way and became a star. He was able to rise above his circumstances and make life better for himself.
The book is funny, profound, and enlightening. I knew things about apartheid, but I didn’t understand the nuance of apartheid. All the world knows is segregation, violence, and Nelson Mandela. There is more, and there is depth.
This is why books from all perspectives are important.
The Saucy Mama 