Parallel Paths to Freedom: Exploring Civil Rights Through Trevor Noah: Born a Crime

In this thought-provoking unit, students explore the parallel histories of civil rights movements in the United States and South Africa through Trevor Noah's memoir Born a Crime. Through comparative analysis of primary documents, personal narratives, and historical contexts, students examine how systems of segregation shaped societies and continue to influence contemporary life in both nations. The memoir serves as a lens through which students analyze the institutional nature of racial discrimination while connecting historical movements to their own experiences and understanding.

Students engage with primary source documents from both American segregation and South African apartheid eras, evaluating the similarities and differences between these systems and their lasting impacts. The unit culminates in two major projects: a comparative research study of Nelson Mandela’s and Martin Luther King Jr.'s leadership and philosophies, and personal creative writing portfolios where students explore their own identity-shaping experiences. Throughout the unit, students develop critical thinking skills while building empathy and understanding of how historical policies continue to influence society long after their official end.