Growing up in apartheid South Africa from "summary" of It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Growing up in apartheid South Africa was like living in a world where everything was divided. Everything. Whites and blacks weren't just separated by law; we were separated by geography, as well. We lived in different neighborhoods, went to different schools, and even swam in different pools. The government made sure that we had as little contact with each other as possible, all in the name of maintaining the status quo.
The effects of apartheid were everywhere, shaping every aspect of our lives. For example, my parents were breaking the law simply by being together. My mother was black, and my father was white, which meant that their relationship was considered illegal. The fear of being caught was always there, lurking in the background, ready to destroy our family at any moment.
Education was another battleground in the apartheid system. Black children were given substandard schools, with fewer resources and poorly trained teachers. The government wanted to ensure that whites remained in power, so they made sure that black children didn't have the same opportunities for success. It was a deliberate strategy to keep us oppressed and under control.
Despite all of this, there was still a sense of defiance in the air. People found ways to resist, to push back against the system that sought to dehumanize them. My mother, in particular, was a force to be reckoned with. She refused to accept the limitations that apartheid placed on her, and she instilled that same spirit in me.
Growing up in apartheid South Africa was a constant battle, a fight for survival in a world that was determined to crush us. But through it all, there was also a sense of resilience, a refusal to give in to despair. We found joy and laughter in the midst of hardship, holding onto our humanity in the face of dehumanization. It was a difficult, complicated time, but it was also a time of strength and solidarity.
