Finding humor in difficult circumstances from "summary" of It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Life is tough, no doubt about it. But sometimes, the only way to survive is to find humor in the most difficult of circumstances. Growing up in apartheid South Africa, I learned this lesson early on. In a country where racism and segregation were the norms, laughter became a powerful tool of resistance.
My mother, a strong and resilient woman, always had a joke or a funny story to tell, even when times were tough. She taught me that laughter can be a form of defiance, a way to reclaim our humanity in the face of oppression. And so, I grew up learning to find humor in the most unlikely of places.
One of the most memorable moments from my childhood was when my mother taught me how to dance in the midst of poverty and hardship. We had so little, but she would put on music and we would dance around our tiny apartment, laughing and forgetting our troubles for a moment. It was a small act of rebellion, a way of saying to the world that we would not be beaten down by our circumstances.
As I grew older, I carried this lesson with me. Even as I faced discrimination and prejudice, I refused to let it crush my spirit. Instead, I used humor as a shield, a way to deflect the hatred and ignorance that surrounded me. By finding the absurdity in the world around me, I was able to keep going, to keep fighting for a better future.
In my journey from a boy born a crime to a successful comedian and television host, I have never forgotten the power of laughter. It is a universal language that can bridge the gaps between us, that can bring light to even the darkest of days. So, when life gets tough, remember to find the humor in it. It may just be the thing that helps you survive.
