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You Laugh But It’s True: Humor and Institutional Racism in Born a Crime
Students explore how Trevor Noah leverages elements of fiction, such as characterization, figurative language, and tone, to develop his complex argument about institutional racism and its impact on identity development.
ELA
Unit 2
9th Grade
Unit Summary
Please Note: In March 2026, this unit and its lesson plans received a round of enhancements. This unit is still 26 instructional days (no change from prior version). The writing projects of the unit have been adjusted significantly and additional assessment options have been added. Teachers should pay close attention as they intellectually prepare to account for the updates.
In Unit 2, students continue to explore the idea of identity, examining the complexity of identity development while navigating race, culture, and institutional racism in South African society during and after apartheid as they read Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. During this unit, students analyze how an author employs literary and rhetorical elements such as tone, characterization, anecdotes, imagery, and figurative language. In addition, students consider how Noah intentionally structures his narrative nonfiction text and understand how he uses humor to develop his complex argument about racism and its impact on identity development.
This unit begins with students learning about Trevor Noah's career, as well as important historical background about apartheid in South Africa, which students will learn about by examining primary sources.
Students will then begin a study of Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, a memoir about Noah’s time growing up as a half-black, half-white boy under apartheid and in the post-apartheid era in the 1990s. While reading, students will track pivotal moments in the text where Noah uses humor, noting when, how, and why he uses humor. Additionally, students will frequently zoom out and analyze the development of Noah’s argument about the intersection between race, identity, and institutional racism. In addition, students will read nonfiction texts. They will consider race as a social construct by examining South African singer Tyla’s identity as a colored woman, as well as Nelson Mandela’s legacy by engaging in a close rhetorical analysis of his inaugural speech, where they will consider the power of words to unite people and inspire hope for a nation. After learning about Mandela's role in ending apartheid, students will research another influential South African figure who advocated for the end of apartheid policies and present their findings in a one-pager.
At the end of the unit, students will prepare for and participate in a summative Socratic seminar on Noah’s Born a Crime and complete the Performance Task, a research project on a specific aspect of South African culture, presenting their findings through a digital exhibit thus deepening their knowledge of South Africa.
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Texts and Materials
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Core Texts
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Book: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (One World)
Supporting Texts
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Document: “Act Number 30 of 1950”
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Article: “'Where Shall I Go?'” by David Rabkin (The Black Sash)
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Audio Interview: Mr. V. Qunta
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Audio Interview: Eddie Daniels
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Article: “The 'Crime' of Martial Sex” (Miscegnation)
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Video: “Wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo” (eNCA)
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Article: “This Photo Galvanized the World Against Apartheid. Here’s the Story Behind It” by Aryn Baker/Soweto and TIME Staff (TIME)
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Speech: “Inaugural Speech” by Nelson Mandela
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Video: “South Africa's coloured community: 'Still marginalised after apartheid'” (BBC News Africa)
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Article: “Race and Racial Identity Are Social Constructs” by Angela Onwuachi-Willig (The New York Times)
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Article: “Tyla’s racial identity: South African singer sparks culture war” by Danai Nesta Kupemba (BBC)
- Recommended Texts for Independent Reading
Resources for Lessons and Projects
Assessment
The following assessments accompany Unit 2. For more guidance, see the Summative Assessments Teacher Tool.
Authentic Assessments
The Socratic Seminar measures students' ability to think critically, engage meaningfully in discussion about key unit content, and support their ideas with evidence.
The Performance Task is the culminating assessment of the unit in which students have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and content they have learned through an authentic task.
Optional Assessments
The Warm Read Assessment measures students' ability to apply the core reading standards and their knowledge from the unit to comprehend new, topically or thematically aligned texts. It includes both multiple choice and short written response questions and should serve as the primary assessment for the unit.
The Vocabulary Assessment measures students' acquisition of text-based vocabulary words from the unit.
Unit Prep
Intellectual Prep
Before you teach this unit, unpack the texts, themes, and core standards through our guided intellectual preparation process. Each Unit Launch includes a series of short videos, targeted readings, and opportunities for action planning to ensure you're prepared to support every student.
Essential Questions
- How do our race, culture, and upbringing shape who we are and who we become?
- In what ways can individuals find belonging when facing barriers?
- How do family relationships influence the way we navigate the world?
- How does humor help people develop resilience in the face of adversity?
Vocabulary
Text-based
animosityanomalyapartheidarbitraryassimilatechameleonideologyindignityinterracialincoherentobstinacyperniciouspredicamentpugilisticramificationsegregation
Literary Terms
anecdoteepilogueforeshadowingmemoirprologuerepetitionsetting
Root/Affix
-ologya-inter-pugn
To see all the vocabulary for Unit 2, view our 9th Grade Vocabulary Glossary.
Notes to the Teacher
- If accessible, play the audiobook for Born a Crime to students or encourage students to listen independently. Trevor Noah narrates the audiobook himself, providing listeners insight into his tone, humor, and ability to speak multiple languages.
- While a majority of Born a Crime is covered in the lesson plans, there are a few chapters that are skipped because they are not directly related to Trevor’s racial identity development, the focus of the unit. In particular, Chapter 7, "Fufi" is Trevor’s story about his pet dog, and Chapters 10, 12, and 14 feature Trevor’s romantic interests growing up. These chapters do not contain problematic content and, like so many of Noah’s stories, are filled with humorous anecdotes; teachers could still choose to assign these chapters as Opportunities for Enrichment to enhance students’ reading.
- Trevor Noah’s novel speaks candidly about many serious topics, such as racism, apartheid, sexism, abuse, and violence. As always, preview the content ahead of time, and be mindful of the diverse experiences your students bring with them into the classroom and how the unit content might impact them.
- The title of Chapter 15, "Go Hitler!", is more provocative than its content. The chapter focuses on Noah and his friends, one of whom is actually named Hitler, and how they booked gigs to DJ and dance at parties. In this chapter, Noah explains the tradition of names in South Africa and that black people in South Africa were not taught about Hitler, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust like Westerners. At the end of the chapter, there is an uncomfortable moment where Trevor and his friends are shouting "Go Hitler!" in support of their friend who is dancing at a gig at a Jewish school. There is a lot of rich content to unpack in this chapter related to what shapes our perspective on and notions of history, but because this chapter is a long detour from Trevor’s personal racial identity development and in the interest of classroom instructional time, there is no lesson for this chapter.
Lesson Map
Create an informative one-pager depicting a South African individual's work on ending the system of apartheid.
Research a topic by taking notes on sources using summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, and synthesizing.
- One-Pager Writing Prompt and Rubric Handout (G9, U2, L10)
- Sources for Informative One-Pager (G9, U2, L10)
- Research Note-Taking Graphic Organizer (G9, U2, L10)
Standards
W.9-10.7W.9-10.8W.9-10.9
Use appositive phrases in an informative paragraph to rename, add details, or further define a noun.
- Appositive Phrases Practice Sheet (G9, U2, L10)
- Informative Paragraph Graphic Organizer (G9, U2, L10)
Standards
L.9-10.1.bW.9-10.2.bW.9-10.8
Draft an informative one-pager using text features to present information clearly and compellingly on an informative one-pager.
- One-Pager Planning Graphic Organizer (G9, U2, L10)
- One-Pager Template (G9, U2)
- Text Features Visual (G9, U2, L10)
Standards
W.9-10.2W.9-10.4W.9-10.5
Create an informative museum exhibit depicting an aspect of South Africa's vibrant culture.
Research a topic by adjusting keywords to find and take notes on relevant and credible sources.
- Performance Task Writing Prompt and Rubric Handout (G9, U2, L20)
- Evaluating Information: Applying the CRAAP Test (G9–12)
- Research Note-Taking Graphic Organizer (G9, U2, L20)
Standards
W.9-10.7W.9-10.8
Identify, research, and take notes on 2–3 artifacts to include in your virtual museum exhibit.
- Research Note-Taking Graphic Organizer (G9, U2, L20)
Standards
W.9-10.5W.9-10.8
Write well-researched, informative artifact labels, using at least one appositive phrase in each label.
- Artifact Label Template (G9, U2, L20)
Standards
L.9-10.1.bW.9-10.2W.9-10.2.bW.9-10.4W.9-10.8
Draft a museum exhibit using at least one interactive text feature to clearly present information and engage the audience.
- Museum Exhibit Planning Sheet (G9, U2, L20)
- Museum Exhibit Template (G9, U2, L20)
Standards
W.9-10.2.aW.9-10.4W.9-10.6
Provide feedback on a group member's section of the exhibit and then use peer feedback to improve one's own section of the exhibit.
- Miriam Makeba Exhibit Section Draft (G9, U2, L20)
Standards
L.9-10.1.bW.9-10.2W.9-10.4W.9-10.5