Trevor Noah's 'Born a Crime' book being taught in US schools
Updated | By Tamlyn Canham
Schools in New Jersey are learning about life in apartheid South Africa courtesy of Trevor Noah's biography, 'Born a Crime'.
Trevor Noah's New York Times bestseller, 'Born a Crime', has been added to the curriculum of several schools in America.
Schools in Newark, New Jersey, are being taught the book.
"To go from a kid who was always in trouble for something or other, to now have my book being taught in school is quite a jump," he told the LA Times.
"I don’t think the book is a product of myself, but rather me telling a story comprised of many stories. Part of it is South Africa’s story, part of it is my family’s story, my mother’s story, the lessons she taught me. Then, obviously, my interpretation of the world I was raised in."
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'The Daily Show' host added that he is glad the book is being taught at schools.
"It’s most beautiful to me because of why they’re using the book. I do think the lessons we learned in apartheid South Africa are stories that apply to the world. You do see vestiges of that in America today. It’s an easy story to understand because South Africa’s racism was so blatant and so unavoidable. I think it’s a nice place to learn how to have conversations on a topic that has become very fraught with political landmines everywhere you go."
'Born a Crime' has received several awards, including two NAACP Image Awards for outstanding literary work.
The book is also being turned into a biopic. Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o will play Trevor's mother in the film about his childhood in South Africa.
“When I read @TrevorNoah’s Born A Crime, I could not put the book down," Lupita said on Instagram.
SA-born director Liesl Tommy, who has directed theatre productions such as 'Les Miserables', 'Ruined', 'Party People', and 'The Good Negro', will helm the book's screen adaptation.
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