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Cultural and social divides from "summary" of Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
The concept of cultural and social divides runs deep in our society. It's not just about the color of your skin or the language you speak; it's about the way you are perceived by others and how you perceive them in return. Growing up in South Africa during apartheid, I was keenly aware of these divides. The government had enforced a system of racial segregation that not only separated people physically but also mentally and emotionally. The divide between blacks, whites, coloreds, and Indians was not just about where you lived or went to school; it was about who you were allowed to be friends with, who you could marry, and even who you could interact with in public spaces. As a mixed-race child, I was a living representation of these divides. My existence was illegal under apartheid laws, and I was constantly reminded of that fact. I couldn't walk down the street with my mother without people staring and whispering behind our backs. I couldn't go to certain places or do certain things because of the color of my skin. Even within my own family, there were divides based on race and culture. My grandmother, who was a black Xhosa woman, couldn't accept my mother, who was a white Swiss woman. Their relationship was strained, and I often found myself caught in the middle. I had to navigate the complexities of their cultural differences while trying to forge my own identity in a society that didn't fully accept me. Despite these divides, I learned to adapt and find common ground with people from all walks of life. I discovered that beneath the surface, we are all human beings with the same hopes, fears, and dreams. I befriended people of different races and backgrounds, and I saw firsthand how our shared experiences could bridge the gap between us. But the scars of apartheid run deep, and the legacy of those cultural and social divides still lingers today. We must continue to confront them head-on and strive for a more inclusive and equitable society for all. Only then can we truly move beyond the limitations of our past and build a better future together.
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