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Born a Crime
Part Three: Adolescent Adventures
Go Hitler!
Chapter Summary
In this chapter, Trevor Noah provides an insightful and humorous account of his adolescent years, particularly focusing on his experiences in school and the challenges he faced in trying to fit in. Growing up as a mixed-race child during apartheid South Africa, Trevor constantly navigated the complexities of his identity, which often made it difficult for him to find acceptance among his peers.
Noah begins by describing the diverse landscape of his school, which included children from various racial backgrounds. Despite the rich tapestry of cultures, Trevor felt like an outsider. His mixed heritage positioned him in a unique but often uncomfortable space; he was not fully accepted by any one group. As he reflects on his school days, he recounts moments of humor intertwined with hardship, highlighting the absurdities of adolescence against the backdrop of a deeply divided society.
A significant portion of the chapter revolves around a humorous yet embarrassing incident that occurred during a school play. Noah was cast in a role that required him to wear a swastika as part of a costume for a play about World War II. The irony of being a black child wearing such a symbol in a racially charged environment was not lost on him. He captures the hilarity and horror of the situation, describing how it elicited laughter from his classmates but also made him acutely aware of the historical weight of the symbol he represented. This incident serves as a metaphor for his life—often caught in situations that are both absurd and serious, reflecting the contradictions of his identity within a racially divided society.
Through this narrative, Noah also delves into the concept of acceptance and the lengths to which he had to go to fit in with different groups at school. He shares anecdotes about how he used humor as a coping mechanism, often making jokes about himself and the absurdities around him to connect with others. This ability to find comedy in challenging situations became a hallmark of his character and later, his career.
The chapter also touches on the broader themes of race and identity, illustrating how these issues manifest in the microcosm of school life. Noah's experiences serve as a reminder of the arbitrary nature of racial boundaries and the human desire for belonging. Overall, 'Go Hitler!' encapsulates the trials of adolescence with a mix of humor and poignancy, showcasing how Noah's formative years were shaped by both laughter and the struggle for acceptance in a divided world.