South Africa’s Issues in “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Noah’s Experiences and Reduction of Inequality
Proposed Resolution
Benefits for the World
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The book Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah gives a true picture of apartheid and its impacts on many people in South Africa. Born to a Xhosa mother and a Swiss father, the narrator found it hard to achieve most of his childhood goals. His future would be redefined after the end of this despotic white rule in the country. The discussion below examines Noah’s experiences and how they relate to the tenth United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

Noah’s Experiences and Reduction of Inequality

The selected book offers numerous discussions that focus on the harsh reality of life in South Africa during the days of apartheid. The outstanding experience is that of discrimination based on age and skin color. According to the book, Noah’s birth was a criminal act from the very beginning. During the time, any union between white and black people was punishable by imprisonment (Noah 23). The reader observes that the author’s parents were from different races. His mother had to lock him indoors for the first few years of his life. This was something necessary since government officials could take him away after learning about his existence.

As a young person, Noah benefited significantly from his mother’s support and dedication. Throughout his early years, Noah’s mother protected him from any form of abuse, poverty, and violence. Additionally, she could not marry due to the nature of the existing laws and discriminatory practices in this country. Such a situation made it impossible for him to receive the required fatherly love. Due to the increasing cases of inequality, Noah had to fight in order to live and achieve his goals in life (Noah 32). The outstanding message is that many mixed-race children such as Noah encountered numerous obstacles, thereby being unable to lead normal lives.

From this analysis, it is evident that Noah’s experiences relate to the tenth United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. The United Nations (UN) proposes the implementation of evidence-based policies to reduce inequality and focus on the changing needs of many people from marginalized populations. As a mixed-race child, Noah encountered numerous challenges that made it impossible for him to live happily with his parents. Unsupported children can find it hard to get adequate education, seek employment, and achieve their goals in life (Gumede 67). Governments should, therefore, consider the case of Noah Trevor to address issues such as apartheid and discrimination since they catalyze different social problems, including poverty, injustice, and crime.

Proposed Resolution

Noah’s mother remained relentless and dedicated in order to protect her child from most of the problems gazing at him. Her commitment and support empowered Noah to remain unbendable throughout his life. Many people in South Africa decided to question everything that was inappropriate in the country. Specifically, the issue of apartheid was the prime target for many freedom fighters and human rights activists (MacNaughton 1061). These achievements can inform evidence-based ideas for addressing the situation Noah faced as a child.

The government of the day should have considered the historical events recorded in the United States throughout the Civil Rights Movement. During the time, activists highlighted most of the challenges many American citizens encountered, including oppression, injustice, and inequality. This led to the formulation of superior laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to deal with the situation and empower individuals from minority races.

In South Africa, the whites should have considered similar incentives and ideas to address people’s needs and eventually deliver positive results. Such a move would have tackled the problems of inequality and discrimination based on a person’s skin color or race (Gumede 83). Additionally, the country should have put in place appropriate policies and regulations to protect, empower, and meet the needs of disadvantaged persons or those from different racial groups.

Benefits for the World

The experiences described in the selected book mirror the predicaments many people in different parts of the world encounter. The affected individuals continue to grapple with harsh economic times, poverty, and injustice. Nations and societies should pursue this goal outlined by the United Nations to address perennial inequality (Herman 42). When the global community embraces appropriate strategies to resolve this situation, it can be possible to deliver positive results and empower many people.

A world with reduced inequalities will impact the world at large positive. When this goal is realized, more people will get jobs, acquire minimum education, and lead better lives. Most of the challenges affecting human beings will be gone, including poverty, hunger, diseases, and gender inequality (Herman 58). The world will also record decreased cases of juvenile delinquency, crime, and violence.

Conclusion

The above discussion has explained why there is a need for societies to deal with inequality and discrimination related to gender, race, age, or skin color. The case of Noah should be taken seriously and addressed if the world is to achieve the identified goal. Evidence-based policies will address this situation and transform the world. More people will eventually lead quality lives and promote global economic development.

Works Cited

Gumede, Vusi. Political Economy of Post-Apartheid South Africa. African Books Collective, 2015.

Herman, Agatha. Practicing Empowerment in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Wine, Ethics and Development. Taylor & Francis, 2017.

MacNaughton, Gillian. “Vertical Inequalities: Are the SDGs and Human Rights up to the Challenges?” The International Journal of Human Rights, vol. 21, no. 8, 2017, pp. 1050-1072.

Noah, Trevor. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. Doubleday Canada, 2016.

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