Born a Crime
Important Events
Other Info
100
Where was the first neighborhood Trevor Noah lived in?
Soweto. Soweto was a township that was very poorly built and not very safe. It helps us understand how things were like for black people during apartheid and how they were not cared for and treated very poorly.
100
Why did the Dutch colonize Cape of Good Hope?
They wanted to set up trading posts in the area, along travel routes. They shortly after enslaved the native people, and began to pave the way for apartheid to exist.
100
What were the four categories for race?
You could be classified as either white, colored (mixed), Indian, or black. This classification was one of the main things that tore apart people from each other. We study apartheid to learn how this classification was one of the main keys of apartheid. In Born a Crime, it states, "nonwhites were systematically classified into various groups and subgroups. Then these groups were given different levels of rights and privileges" (Noah, 3).
200
What was unique about Trevor from different colored people?
He honored all parts of his culture rather than just identifying as "mixed." Many people during apartheid fit into one category, as the government wanted, but Trevor was outside of the box, and showed how races can come together and unite.
200
Why was Nelson Mandela arrested?
He was charged with treason and sabotage, after evidence showed his connection to armed protest. He was sentenced to life in prison, and barley escaped death penalty.
200
What does "apartheid" mean?
Apartheid is a Afrikaans word meaning "separateness." The government used this word to name their policy. Trevor Noah wrote, "You separate people into groups and make them hate one another" (3), and this is a perfect way of describing it. We study apartheid to learn how this policy has hurt the past of South Africa, and that we can learn from our mistakes.
300
What does it mean that Trevor was "born a crime?"
Trevor is mixed, and it was illegal at the time to have parents of two different races. The government didn't want people to realize they are all the same, and all human, so it was illegal to mix races. Trevor broke the rules. He showed that everyone is equal, which is why we study apartheid. To learn that everyone is the same. The book states, "He was a colored boy in South Africa, taught how to hate himself" (Noah, 128).
300
What event started apartheid?
The election in 1948 led by the national party (white group) officially made apartheid law. It was created so that the white minority could have power over the entire country.
300
How much of the population was trapped on 13% of the land?
75% of the population was forced to live in homelands. All nonwhites were confined, to make them easier to control for the Afrikaners. They were forced to stay in a specific location, with a strict curfew. They had bad soil for farming, and bad homes and houses.
400
What was Trevor's Mom's job when she lived in Johannesburg?
She was a secretary. It was illegal for a black woman to have a "white job," but she still rose to the high position. She is a great example of defying the rules, and a leader in the face of segregation, and shows how we should react to a tragedy racism in the future.
400
When was the Soweto uprising?
The Soweto uprising was on June 16th, 1976. This day is now called "Juneteenth" to remember the brave people that fought on this day, and to celebrate the lives we lost. We use this day as a reminder, to know that we can power through the hatred of aparteid.
400
What type of schools did nonwhites go to during apartheid?
Nonwhite children were sent to Bantu schools, where they had horrible education and were mainly taught manual labor. We study apartheid to learn about how different the privileges of different races were, and use it to teach us how we should give everyone equal rights int the future.
500
Why were the Zulu and the Xhosa fighting?
They argued on how the country and economics should be run. They had also been so used to being separated from the colonization and the apartheid era. They were constantly arguing, which shows how much colonization had torn them apart. We study apartheid to learn how the country was split, and this is a great example.
500
What event ended apartheid?
The democratic election, where all races were allowed to vote was the event that ended apartheid when Mandela was elected in in 1994. It officially ended about 12 days after on may 22nd.
500
What day did apartheid end?
On April 17, 1994, apartheid was over, and Nelson Mandela was president. Their fight was over, and they had worked so hard. Apartheid taught us we have to fight for what is right, and don't stop in the face of obstacles.