Wednesday 5 April 2017

Book Review: Born a Crime

Now, Lucy reviewed this book last month, I missed that! She spoke a bit more of his background.

I think I was induced to buy it, having seen him on Ellen. He's been on The View, where he said the difference between racism during apartheid was that people weren't afraid to call themselves racists. In the US, it is different. If you add in Trump, Noah's current work, on The Daily Show, for example, is hilarious. His take on Trump's first press conference is spot on.

What an amazing man he is. He is a born comedian. Perhaps he was shaped by his journey, and his mother. He is smart, witty and funny, all telling this horrific history and the reality of apartheid.

He is well-worth the read. 

Trevor Noah writes well. He sums up the effect Apartheid had on his life, whilst integrating the timelines for the changes in South Africa.

Noah spoke of some of his life story on Ellen.


Residential Schools & Colonisation in N.A.

Lest we North Americans get cocky about Apartheid, we must admit to being settlers.
I have been exploring colonialisation, from First Nations and Canada's perspective. This, I have found is a common theme.  What colonial settlers have done to blacks in South Africa is horrific. Right around the world, it was common practice. We must read their stories. We must witness their histories, as they are not heard from in the textbooks.

This brief clip must be listened to by all settlers. What North Americans did to First Nations through residential schools, to the internment of Canadians of Japanese descent, to the racism faced by many immigrants, is horrid. 




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@Barrie Summy

13 comments:

DUTA said...

I visited South Africa many years ago.I remember asking myself all the time what are all these people (the white people) doing here? The continent belongs to the black people, the africans.

I'm against any form of colonialism. I don't believe people can occupy territories that belong to other races and ethnicities, and get away with it. Sooner or later they'll pay a terrible price for violating the Creation order.

Stacy said...

When two book club members review a book, you know it must be good.

Ugh, I really hope those t-shirts at the pictured T*rump rally are photoshopped. I am sure they are not, but it would be nice if people would stop being so awful. And awful with a smile, no less.

Lucy said...

As you know, I've read this book and thought it was great. It's always nice to see someone else's take on the same material. Great review! Thanks for sharing!

Red said...

We are a long way from some solutions regarding racism.

Sarah Laurence said...

I may listen to his audio book since you both enjoyed the book. Thanks for the recommendation!

Linda McLaughlin said...

Born a Crime is on my TBR list, so it's good to know two of our book review club members liked it. I'm a big fan of The Daily Show and I think Trevor Noah is doing a great job, considering he had to fill Jon Stewart's shoes!

William Kendall said...

I haven't read his book yet, but I do love his work on the Daily Show.

Powell River Books said...

Heavy subjects. I grew up in a racist area and our high school was maintained white by the district changing the boundaries every year until they were taken to court. Their solution was to bus black students rather than let the boundaries remain constant. It was a hard time to go through high school with all the negativity that some people had. - Margy

Barrie said...

I bought this book for my son, which means I'll get to read it too. :) Thank you for the links as well, Jenn! I'm with Stacy....when two club members review the same book, it says something strong about that book. Let me know if you listen to it, Sarah. Thanks for reviewing, Jenn!

Debbie said...

This is a great review!! I am not a reader but I am thinking about trying audio books. Maybe I can retain the information that way!!

Christine said...

Trevor Noah is interesting.

Anvilcloud said...

It's quite a history, for sure, and not something to be proud of. It's scary to think of it, but our attitudes would probably have been similar if we had been raised in those times.

troutbirder said...

Though not a TV watcher I find this topic most interesting. Two of my five grandchildren are adoptees from post colonial Africa (Ethiopia and Rwanda)....