Bias In Born A Crime

Bias is such a prevalent part of today's society and it plays a massive role in forming opinions and making important decisions. However, when that bias applies to people and the color of their skin, it can become extremely detrimental to society and the lives of many. Born A Crime, an autobiography written by Trevor Noah, explores the effects of this ideology. Noah was born in South Africa during the time of apartheid, which is the physical separation of races on the basis that white people were superior and every race was inferior. Racial mixing was considered illegal and could lead to the child being taken away along with the incarceration of the parents. Noah was born to a white father and a black mother, leading to his existence itself

Additionally, the irony Noah uses helps to make the book more engaging and allow the audience to imagine Noah’s early life. For example, when his mother finds out that she is pregnant with Noah’s brother even though she had her tubes tied. His mother had been dating a man named Abel, who was extremely abusive to both her and Noah as Noah was mixed and he wasn’t. Noah was waiting until his younger brother, Andrew, turned 18 as he believed that his mother only stayed with Abel so they could raise Andrew together (Noah 269). This is a surprise for readers as they, along with Noah, believed that his mother would recognize the danger she is putting her son and herself in and abandon the relationship. While reading this, the audience can feel the same disappointment and confusion that Noah felt in this moment. Moreover, this style of writing allows readers to see events through the point of view of the author and understand the emotions that result from these events. Another instance of this effect is when Noah was a DJ at a cultural appreciation event and was repeating the chant “Go Hitler” in front of an entirely Jewish crowd. In addition to being a DJ, he also had a dance crew which was led by one particular dancer, Hitler. After the chant, both him and his dance crew are kicked out and they assume it is because of the color of their skin (Noah 198). This shows irony as both parties

The novel successfully described how racism changed Noah’s life drastically due to his use of imagery and comedy. Many readers feel that the way that descriptive language and irony are blended with the shocking stories of Noah’s childhood flawlessly depicts how racism and apartheid affected Noah’s life and his personality. (Born A Crime Amazon Reviews). The lighthearted and detailed way Noah describes these extraordinarily frightening stories is an extremely effective way to engage his readers while simultaneously illuminating what life was like in South Africa during the period of apartheid. (Literary Hub Born, A Crime Reviews, Esquire). This novel allows readers to learn about an essential period of world history, but through a humorous and light-hearted lens. However, there are some sensitive topics in the novel that can be off putting to readers, such as when Noah’s cats are mutilated and left on his property (Born A Crime Goodreads Reviews). While these topics can be uncomfortable for the audience to read, these experiences are a vital part of Noah’s childhood and are necessary to the theme of the effects of