The novel Born a Crime focuses mostly on racism and how Trevor Noah and his mother lived on a day to day basis under constant threat from outside forces. This just so happens to connect to our pandemic in a couple of ways.
First off, when the pandemic started, there was a huge increase in racism towards many different groups of Asian Americans. The rumors of Chinese people getting the virus because they were eating bat soup disgusted me. I read articles about how Asian Americans that were wearing masks to protect themselves (as they should be doing) were facing criticism and being shunned by the public. People didn't even want to use public transportation because the were fearful that something might happen to them. Obviously during this time of uncertainty, being cautious is advised. But racism is where the line must be crossed.
This might be an obvious thought, but this whole situation drilled one thought into my brain. Life isn't fair. People talk about freedom, equality, and opportunity but I feel like we use these words to cover up everything else going on in the world. Trevor Noah didn't choose to be born into a war torn country with no idea if he was going to be killed the next day, it forced upon him. We didn't want our senior year to be ruined from this global pandemic, but it happened. What can you do? Absolutely nothing. We just have to deal with the result of something that we had no say in. I guess that's just how life is sometimes. Let's just say I suck with facing adversity.
Monday, May 18, 2020
Blog Post #2
I had just finished the first chapter of Born a Crime when a bunch of thoughts came flooding into my head. There was a lot that happened within the those couple pages that really got my mind working into a frenzy.
First off, Trevor's personal account of getting thrown out of a moving vehicle was shocking to say the least. I mean he was around the age of five and he didn't panic and knew what to do in the situation. I guess most of the credit can be given to his mother who read the situation and did the right thing at the time. I guess that's just something that comes to you when you live in a world divided by war and racial discrimination. You're cautious of everyone and when your mother tells you to run, you sprint like the wind I guess.
We got to see a glimpse of the racial divides between the tribes of Africa in this chapter, specifically between Xhosa and Zulu. The Zulu buss driver belittled Trevor's mother for being a Xhosa woman by calling her names and telling her how "tonight you're gonna learn your lesson". This obviously prompted her to take action by jumping out of the vehicle. This key event really shows how brutal apartheid was to the country. The white minority is pitting the different black tribes against each other so that they can rule over them easier.
Blog Post #1
Hi, my name is Kevin Shen. I love music and food. I don't really have a specific band or genre of music that I like the most, I listen to most types of music.Next year I will be attending a culinary school in the hope that I can become a chef and potentially own a restaurant. I really like making cheesecake and other desserts and decorating them.
The book I choose to read is Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I picked up this book because I have seen some of Trevor Noah's other work in comedy and on The Daily Show. I assume that's why most people choose this novel. Anyways, the book is about the complications of being born to a white father and black mother in the middle of apartheid. It was interesting how he started out with the Immorality Act detailing how the relationship between his father and mother was punishable by five years in prison. The book so far reads just like how The Daily Show goes, with jokes woven in between the important bits of information. I can't believe he had to go to church four times a week and three times on Sunday. Growing up, I never went to church so I can't really relate, but it sounds like a huge commitment. It sounds like Trevor grew up with a strict mother in a very constrictive environment where race and culture play an important role. I'm looking forward to what will happen next.
The book I choose to read is Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I picked up this book because I have seen some of Trevor Noah's other work in comedy and on The Daily Show. I assume that's why most people choose this novel. Anyways, the book is about the complications of being born to a white father and black mother in the middle of apartheid. It was interesting how he started out with the Immorality Act detailing how the relationship between his father and mother was punishable by five years in prison. The book so far reads just like how The Daily Show goes, with jokes woven in between the important bits of information. I can't believe he had to go to church four times a week and three times on Sunday. Growing up, I never went to church so I can't really relate, but it sounds like a huge commitment. It sounds like Trevor grew up with a strict mother in a very constrictive environment where race and culture play an important role. I'm looking forward to what will happen next.
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