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Racism: “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime is an autobiography written by comedian Trevor Noah, where he reflects on his childhood under the racist laws of apartheid. It is thrilling to follow his experience because it showcases the horrors and unfairness of racism. He talks about being a chameleon among African people as a child of a black woman and a white man. He belonged to no group and tried to find his place in the world as a mix-raced person. The book explores his identity, the places he did not feel different, and reviews his life in detail, which can teach a person to be more understanding, socially responsible, and tolerant.

Firstly, in his book, Noah talks about ‘being a chameleon’, which is an exciting part of the book. He is a person of color, which was considered illegal during apartheid. Yet he thought of himself as a black person because of his upbringing and the knowledge of several different African languages (Noah 40). As written in the book, he stayed the same color, but the perception of his color changed instantly when he changed the language he spoke. It was the benefit of knowing several African languages – he could respond to a robber in his native language, which instantly made Trevor a part of the robber’s culture, and that is why he was never robbed (Noah 42-43). However, the cost of that knowledge and the power to fit in almost with any group was the difficulty of finding his native identity. He did not know who he was, because he always had to choose sides ‘black or white, he did not realize his national identity because he belonged to Xhosa just as much as he belonged to the Swiss community.

As mentioned in the title of a book, Trevor was ‘born a crime’; he was living evidence of the ‘crime’ his parents committed under a racist regime. He was ‘too white’ to be considered black, and at the same time, he was ‘too black’ to be considered white (Noah, 44). However, there was one place where he felt like race did not matter and he was accepted. It was the Maryvale school, where children did not get teased because of the color of their skin, they were instead teased for general things like being too smart, too dumb, too skinny, or too fat (Noah 44-45). In that place, he felt as if he was accepted, which changed as he entered the new school H.A. Jack Primary, where he again became different. Black kids and one Indian kid recognized him, but he was still an anomaly, an exception, a crime (Noah 44-45). Although he felt like an outsider most of his life because of his skin color, he learned to live with those feelings and accept his identity.

Trevor Noah was a multilingual child with English as his first and primary language. In his book, he explained how under apartheid different languages resulted in greater oppression and division. For example, white people were discouraged from learning African languages because from early childhood, they were taught that those languages were beneath them (Noah 44). If one wanted to be employed somewhere of high prestige, one had to know English; otherwise, there was no chance to work in prestigious establishments. African languages and their language-bearers were also divided by different schools and believed that other words are enemy ones (Noah 43). When Trevor spoke to others in their native language, they viewed him as a person from their tribe’, as their own, and that is how he and his mother escaped various challenging situations throughout their life.

Language plays a rather important part in creating and sharing culture because the culture is often transferred through the tongue. A language has been created in a specific locality to preserve and pass down the culture of the people who are speaking it. One can observe the historical examples of how the national identity of some nations was ruined by destroying their native language first (as in the case of Romansh language, which people try to restore). A word can create unity because if one can understand the language another person speaks, primarily if this occurs in a foreign country, they feel like family or close friends. At the same time, if one language is demonized, using it in public can completely change the perception of another person.

As a bilingual person, I can share some advantages and disadvantages of knowing two languages. For example, when I speak to the other person, I can use the words from another language, as sometimes I can forget the most straightforward word in the needed language. It helps to understand a person from another country; it can be a great conversation starter that would interest many people. It would be easier for me to learn another language than for a person who can speak only one language. However, there are several disadvantages, for example, I can struggle to speak at an appropriate level in a professional setting. In addition, sometimes I can forget how to talk at all because, although I try to keep in mind and recycle both languages, I will always be better at one and worse at the other.

Speaking about the incidents I remembered the most in the book Born a Crime , it was an episode in the very beginning, where the mother was forced to throw her son out of the moving car to save his life. The man driving them was cursing the family for nothing and threatening to rape the mother and do worse to the children (Noah 16). That was when Patricia decided not to accept her fate calmly, but she made a choice, which saved her life and the lives of her children. After this situation, I started to look at that woman with admiration, because that episode not only showcased her inner strength, but she was wise enough not to make her children panic ahead of time. As the autobiography progressed, there were many similar stories, which showed her strength and will, but this one made the most significant impact on my mind.

There are many characters in Born a Crime; however, the one who exemplifies Francian Values the most is Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah Trevor’s mother. First of all, as Lourdes is a community of learning, Patricia teaches her son English, to read, to write, to understand the world around him. She showed him the truth and tried to make him know that the world is big and following one’s dreams is necessary (Noah 51). As Lourdes is a community of reverence, Patricia recognized and respected all human beings, their dignity, and their worth. As much as she was strong, she saw the better in prostitutes, gangsters, and robbers. Patricia’s heart accepted Jesus, and that is why she was incredibly respectful, even though she could talk back to anyone to protect her dignity. As Lourdes is a community of service, she challenged her son to help those in need. Even in her childhood, Patricia gave everything to the children who had less than her. She tried to help everybody, which is why I think she is the best example of Francian values’ human embodiment.

This book teaches that living in a diverse community is more comfortable than living in a society when one person is unique. For example, the reader can observe how Trevor was treated in an all-black neighborhood, where he was exceptional. Older people were afraid of giving him proper punishments; they believed his prayers were better-heard because he prayed in English; he was a miracle, an abnormality (Noah 40). However, when his environment became more diverse, people stopped thinking that he was not normal and accepted him. If more diversity were implemented globally, people would forget about racism as they would stop judging a person based on one’s race. After all, different races would not be considered an abnormality. It became a part of my way of thinking as it should because the distinction of races ultimately creates more racism and unfairness.

To conclude, Born a Crime teaches the reader about integrity, being kind, and being open to everyone despite his physical traits, such as race. It also teaches one to be ethical and not to divide people into white, black, and people of color. Lastly, it teaches one to be socially responsible, like the mother of the main character. Patricia gave everything she could to her son, including proper education and a sense of morality. She had a responsibility as a parent and gave everything she could to all three of her children, even if that meant that Patricia herself would suffer from abusive relationships. Her social responsibility paid off at the end of the story when her son helped her pay for her treatment. She was responsible for him, and he responded with his responsible behavior towards her.

Noah, Trevor. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood . Hachette UK, 2016.

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Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime Book Analysis Essay (Critical Writing)

The book Born a Crime by the famous comedian and political commentator Trevor Noah recollects his life experiences and struggles. The main plot of this book is Noah’s autobiography combined with his thoughts on his life. Noah writes about his upbringing during the Apartheid in South Africa, being a mixed-race child. At that time, his existence was considered a ‘crime’ during these years of extreme racial segregation. By reflecting on these experiences, Noah also questions the moral foundations of the concepts of politics, crime, and law. However, he does not only provide a description of his struggles but teaches the audience a lesson in success and resilience. Despite these unfavorable circumstances, he managed to become a successful entertainer known around the globe. Therefore, this story of Noah becomes the tale of resilience and self-preservation in the face of competing demands and adverse factors.

Every story of resilience and success starts with a struggle. In the case of Noah, his major challenge was his own existence during the Apartheid. Noah (2016) writes, “Because a mixed person embodies that rebuke to the logic of the system, race mixing becomes a crime worse than treason” (p. 21). Thus, he explains how his perception of crime and law has been different since his early childhood. It is often assumed that morality is connected to the basics of law. However, in the life of Noah, he realizes that people can make laws that are immoral at their core, as no moral law can outlaw the existence of an innocent child. Therefore, the crime and punishment become morally unjust but, at the same time, lawfully permissible, making it a definition of competing demand. This conflict makes self-preservation a core necessity in Noah’s life. In some way, the realization of the immorality of the segregation law becomes part of his self-preservation strategy. Noah does not label himself a criminal and surrender to the racist regime but strives to survive or, in other words, self-preserve.

Moreover, self-preservation is also reflected in different aspects of Noah’s life. The realization of the immorality of segregation does not hinder Noah but drives his free-thinking, which leads to the development of his career as a comedian. It allows him to know how to express people’s discontent with the current politics and the overall state of the world. Noah (2016) writes, “I don’t regret anything I’ve ever done in life, any choice that I’ve made. But I’m consumed with regret for the things I didn’t do, the choices I didn’t make, the things I didn’t say” (p. 143). It would be easy for Noah to submit to the fears, considering his traumatic childhood experiences. However, he chooses the risk of failure to be part of his life instead of inactivity. It shows his levels of resilience, and, in a way, it is a part of his self-preservation strategy. In a world full of competing demands, like in the case of segregation, Noah chooses self-preservation by taking the risk of speaking up. He realizes that being outspoken is crucial to change the world so that his existence will not ever again become a ‘crime’.

Overall, Noah’s book Born a Crime provides a valuable resource for not only studying the perspective of a survivor of the Apartheid but also tells the story of resilience and self-preservation. His unique journey starts with the dilemma of conflicting demands between his own existence and segregation law. Noah chooses self-preservation, which leads him not to surrender to fear but to develop necessary critical thinking skills and outspokenness. In a way, his life mission and career have roots in self-preservation to convince the world to eliminate competing demands that stem from the immorality of racism.

Noah, T. (2016). Born a crime: Stories from a South African childhood . Doubleday Canada.

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IvyPanda . "Trevor Noah's Born a Crime Book Analysis." January 15, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/trevor-noahs-born-a-crime-book-analysis/.

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Born a Crime by Trevor Noah Analysis Essay Example

During a chaotic period where there was apartheid in South Africa in the 1900s, there was a baby that was considered illegal, and later on, he became a successful figure in today’s world. Despite the tough circumstances, where he is technically not supposed to be born, how does he become a successful figure? Trevor Noah, the host of, “The Daily Show”, lived under the apartheid in South Africa, and it only ended when he was 10 years old. In Born a Crime, Trevor Noah develops the theme of resilience through the relationship with his mother, his childhood experiences, and how he portrays his personality. 

To start with, whether or not you like Trevor Noah, his story is very interesting because he portrays it uniquely. “You are never more yourself than when you’re taking a shit” (pg.43). The apartheid in South Africa was not a very bright time for South Africa. It was a tough time for Trevor Noah and his mother as Trevor was born illegally. One could say this is going to be a sad story, however, this quote that Trevor used funnily portrays his personality, adding a silver lining to the book. “Many colored people lived in this limbo, a true purgatory” (pg,119). After the funny statement Trevor made, he later goes back to show the setting clearly, and it’s not a very funny setting. The quote fits the book, as it’s the true reality, however, it shows that Trevor has a unique talent in making something so dark, much brighter. “I soon learned that the quickest way to bridge the race gap was through language” (pg.54). In this quote, we get to see his point of view of how he looks at a situation. Trevor was forced to choose which class he wanted to be a part of, class A with the white kids, or class B with the African kids. This decision shaped his school life and his development of himself. Not everyone is put in this situation, it is a different, unique point of view we get to see explained by Trevor Noah. Continuing, the African kids did not accept him at first, until he found the quickest way to do so, and went with class B, even though many others advised him not to. His resilience said otherwise, and it made the book more interesting.

Having an older figure to look up to, bond with, it’s important which is shown in Born A Crime, Trevor Noah had a very strong bond with his mom, setting him on a good path. “I chose to have you because I wanted something to love and something that would love me unconditionally in return” (pg.63). Trevor Noah’s mom Patricia says something that I believe other caring mothers would say too. It’s a powerful quote, not just to Trevor, but to the audience as well. Father, mother, older sibling, uncle, they’re all older figures and this quote by Patricia highlights the reality of what a caring older figure is. Through all the troubles Trevor and Patricia have gone through, Patricia made it clear why she had him and cares for him. Patricia never gave up on her son, and neither did he with his mom, showing that both of them are resilient. “Everything I have ever done I’ve done from a place of love. If I don’t punish you, the world will punish you even worse” (pg. 2–). Patricia’s relationship with Trevor is very strong, she cares for her son, the quote shows that. She knows the world can be very cruel and can harm her son. Patricia as a mother makes sure her son knows his actions can mess with his life. She never wanted to punish him for entertainment, it was from a place of love. Having an older figure, a parent like Patricia caring for their child is very admirable and should be seen as a necessity in life as it can decide whether their child will go on a good path or a bad path. “They’re trying to discipline you before the system does” (pg.227). Highlighting the reality of the world, where there is law and punishment, Trevor Noah gives his mom’s punishments recognition. The discipline from a good parent comes with reasoning, and it is to save you from getting disciplined by the system. In addition, Trevor and Patricia know they live in a harsh world, and that never stopped them from living their lives. They know what the world can do to people, and Patricia never gave up on her son being able to live his life. 

To begin, Trevor Noah’s childhood, past experiences show the picture of the theme of resilience throughout the book. “I never called my dad, “Dad” (pg.104). In addition, while growing up Trevor Noah only had his mother to look up to for the most part and didn’t have a dad to connect with. Trevor knew of him, but never could get in contact, however, that did not stop Trevor from developing as a person. “Many colored people lived in this limbo, a true purgatory” (pg.119). A deep quote made by Trevor, and it can still be related to today. It fits with the book setting with apartheid and race. Trevor was always in a weird and different spot from most kids growing up, but Trevor still got past everything despite all the trouble. Trevor will most likely always remember this experience of being in a limbo, a purgatory, however, that never made him give up on life. “I saw, more than anything, that relationships are not sustained by violence but by love” (pg.262). A heartwarming quote, but the reason why Trevor said this is not as heartwarming.  Trevor’s experience with his family, including Abel, was a learning but traumatic experience.  Next, this experience Trevor was a part of shows who he is as a person, the resilience and empathy are recognized throughout the entire book.

After reading Born a Crime, Trevor Noah's portrayal of resilience throughout the book is pictured through the relationship with his mother, his childhood experiences, and how he portrays his personality. Never give up even though you are put in the worst position, or have been through traumatic experiences. Trevor Noah has been through a lot, shown in a very unique and interesting way in his memoir, however, his resilience always carried him on. Trevor Noah could’ve been taken away, lose his mom because of his birth, and has gone through many traumatic experiences. Yet he is still here today, living his life, should you and others have an excuse for giving up considering any trouble you may have gone through?

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Born a Crime': a Book Filled with Trevor Noah's Life Anecdotes

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Born A Crime

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1. Under apartheid, Noah is governmentally categorized as “colored” (Chapter 2).

• Define the specific meaning of “colored” in apartheid South Africa. What does this mean for Noah, practically speaking? ( topic sentence )
• How did this system of categorization affect Noah’s sense of Identity and Race in Apartheid South Africa?
• In your conclusion, discuss how Noah defines the conventions of this label—as a child growing up, but also as an adult.

2. In Chapter 7, Noah tells the story of Fufi, his childhood dog.

• What is the purpose of the story of Fufi? ( topic sentence )
• Citing evidence from the text, explain what Noah means when he says that no one betrayed him more than Fufi.

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South African Literature

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Introduction.

Born a Crime, a memoir by Trevor Noah, is a moving account of how South Africans were oppressed and racially segregated during the apartheid period. His life demonstrated the difficulties he had as a biracial kid, such as prejudice and brutality, as well as the manner in which he endured his mother’s “thrilling love,” to which she wanted Noah to bow, among other things. Noah, on the other hand, would not submit to her overprotective attitude since he was much too naughty. Noah was raised mostly by his mother in a unique and challenging context about his identity and place in society. Because he was classified as a person of color and had to contend with the isolation that came with his situation, Noah often felt like an outsider. When Noah was growing up, he was immersed in an atmosphere that tested his sense of self-worth and place in the community (Noah,2016). The horrors of post-apartheid South Africa are nothing new to Trevor, but he has grown used to them as if they were everyday occurrences. To sympathize with a child who has to live with the weighty awareness that the world is unjust and full of awful happenings would be to sympathize with them.

Summary of The Memoir

In a perilous period in a broken world, a little boy tries to navigate a difficult environment with just his sense of humor and his mother’s love. This collection of dramatic, humorous, and profoundly emotional tales is the product of the author’s years of study and writing. It’s amazing how quickly an unruly child develops into a restless young man trying to find his place in the world. “Born A Crime” tells the tale. This book furthermore tells the story of the young man’s mother, a lady who was desperate to preserve her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that threatened to take her own life. his teammate, a mother desperate to rescue her kid from the poverty, violence, and abuse that threatened to take her own life.

As illustrated from the viewpoint of the main character, who begins the story as a vibrant young child and grows into a nervous gentleman while struggling to find his place in a world that was not meant for him, the story follows him as he fights to find his identity in an environment where he was not meant to be. Also depicted in the narrative is Noah’s mother, who is a strong, tenacious, and spiritual person. The tale reveals information about the connection between Noah and his mother. The mother was determined to shield her child from poverty, injustice, and cruelty, all of which she feared would eventually endanger her own life if she didn’t do anything about it. While the novel focuses on Noah’s childhood and adolescence, all of Noah’s recollections are a result of the repressive dictatorship that he grew up under.

According to Noah, government-enforced prejudice and discrimination were part of a purposeful endeavor to transform South Africa into a white country via white supremacy. In part because the system was so deeply ingrained in the lives of South Africans, its ramifications persisted long after the rule was brought to an end. It was not until the middle of Noah’s youth that the dictatorship came to an end, and this meant that he could finally attend school with people of all races and ethnicities. The groups at each school, on the other hand, remained isolated. Because of his skin tone, he found it difficult to blend in with any group. When compared to the first half of the novel, which is centered on Noah’s childhood and connection with his mother, the second half of the story is centered on Noah’s quest for self-discovery via his friends, relationships, and business efforts. All of these persons and their involvements are somehow connected to a certain location, which reveals even more about the repercussions of the dictatorship.

For example, Noah’s mother’s family has been compelled to reside in Soweto, a ghetto established by the government specifically for black people. In fact, when he visits his mother’s relatives, he finds himself to be the only “colored” person in an otherwise all-black neighborhood. However, when he travels to his father’s home, he finds himself in a mostly white neighborhood. Following high school graduation, Noah moved to Alexandra, a poor, all-black area that is rife with criminal activity.

Noah spent a significant amount of time in Alexandra. However, although Noah’s mother disobeyed government-imposed racial restrictions by residing wherever she pleased, Noah has always been the only “colored” person in any of the places where they have resided. No matter how many times he moves to a “colored” neighborhood, Noah still feels out of place among his friends, who see him as either being too white or too black, depending on the situation. Observations like these illustrate why Noah always feels as if he doesn’t belong anywhere, and it is this search for identity that ultimately inspires each and every tale in the book.

Trevor Noah’s story from a sociological perspective

It all started with an unlawful action: Trevor Noah’s delivery, which began his extraordinary trip from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show. The year 1984 saw the birth of his father, who was Swiss German, and mother, who was black, in the South African city of Johannesburg. When he was born, marriage between whites and blacks was illegal, and anybody caught in the act was sentenced to five years in jail. Because the relationship between Africans and Europeans was considered illegal, Trevor was required to remain inside at all times in order to protect him from the authorities, who might detain him at any time if they discovered him. It was determined that his father’s name would not be mentioned on his birth certificate since doing so would place them and his mother in danger.

When South Africa was eventually emancipated from the tyranny of white dominance, Trevor and his mother were finally allowed to live honestly and generously, and they were finally able to take advantage of the possibilities made available by the centuries-long battle for freedom and equality. Noah was raised by his mother on her own, in a religious environment, from the age of three. The severe code of behavior he was brought up with was enforced by his mother, who physically chastised him when he disobeyed. They would attend prayer sessions, which were regularly held at his grandparents’ house, and they would visit church on weeknights and many times on Sundays, as well as other activities (Coleman, 2018).

Trevor addresses the ramifications of dictatorship and opportunity. He acknowledges that society had created boundaries, but he asserts that he was at a disadvantage versus black people since he did not fit in, whether it was being noticed at school or finding the suitable group to join. The fact that he was colored also provided him with several chances. For example, he speaks about his childhood at his grandmother’s house in Soweto, where he was not subjected to any type of discipline despite the fact that he was the most infamous member of the community. This implied that a white youngster was not meant to be physically disciplined since the color of their skin would change or they would most likely die as a result of the punishment.

Because of this privilege, he was able to see why it was so difficult for white people to call for an end to the repressive government, as it was for most black people, given the system’s ability to provide them with so much comfort and freedom. One particularly memorable figure, “Hitler,” makes fun of the colonial educational system, which did little, if anything, to develop critical thinking skills. In 1939, Hitler grabbed Poland; in 1941, he overthrew the Soviet Union; and in 1943, he did something else. Remember that these are only facts, and that you should write them down on your test paper and then ignore them.” Noah (Noah, p.95) explains that. Every character in the novel exemplifies a subject from among the following: race, gender, family, relationships, perseverance, liberty, and religious conviction, all of which are stressed in different portions of the book.

Trevor’s mother, on the other hand, is a figure who takes center stage in the plot. She is characterized as an immensely spiritual, emancipated, and resilient lady who lives a free and independent life. For a long period, however, she has been subjected to domestic abuse, and Noah explains the irony that courageous females kept communities functioning despite the difficulties of apartheid. They were, however, obligated to “surrender to and revere” males in addition to this (Reivant, 2018). As he grows older, he finds himself more pulled between the realms of the black, the white, and the “hued,” as he ages. Noah’s narrative is an example of a young man who did not belong to any one ethnic group. On occasion, he tells how circumstances pushed him to make an educated choice regarding his identity: “at some time you ought to decide, black or hite.” You may make an effort to get away from it.

While you may claim that you do not take sides, life will eventually compel you to choose a decision.” His description of being presented with circumstances that compelled him to make an educated choice regarding his identification is included in the account. “At some time, you need to decide, black or hite,” he says. Perhaps you will make an attempt to escape away from the situation. You may say that you do not support a political party, but ultimately, life will force you to make a choice.” To him, teaching someone to fish is a waste of time, therefore he prefers teaching them how to go fishing and providing them with a fishing line. He goes on to explain, “If you spend too much time thinking about the problems your mother put you through or the challenges you have faced in life, you will cease exceeding the boundaries and breaching the norms.”

Born a Crime has the potential to be adapted into a graphic novel. It does, on the other hand, communicate to the reader the stories of poverty and racial injustice that have taken place in the past. Growing up in a mixed-race household, Trevor Noah describes how it was tough for him to fit in with any group, whether black or white, throughout his childhood. In the end, the novel instills a positive attitude on life that does not lay too much importance on the previous. No matter what kind of reader you are, Born a Crime is an engaging story that will leave you feeling happy, sad, and able to explore some of life’s most essential questions.

Coleman, B. Micro review: ‘Born a Crime’ touches upon several subjects with much sensitivity. E-Times, 2018.

Ninsiima, E. Book Review – Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. All Africa, 2017.

Noah, T. Born a crime: stories from a South African childhood. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2016

Reivant Olausson, T. (2018). Satire in Service of Postcolonialism: An Analysis of Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia and Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime: Stories of a South African Childhood.

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Born a Crime

By trevor noah, born a crime essay questions.

What role does language play in Trevor Noah's experience of growing up in South Africa?

Noah does not fit readily into any community or culture, and he often feels isolated and lonely as a result. He learns that while people cannot control their skin color or appearance, they can make an effort to learn different languages, and he comes to notice that “language, even more than color, defines who you are to people” (p. 56). By speaking different languages, Noah is able to gain acceptance with different groups who initially treat him like an outsider and mistrust or even threaten him. While it cannot provide him with a deep sense of belonging, speaking multiple languages allows him to build connections, be adaptable, and fit in with different people. He notes that he gained this skill from watching his mother: “I learned to use language like my mother did . . . It became a tool that served me my whole life” (p. 55).

How does Trevor Noah's relationship with his father evolve over time?

When Patricia first wants to conceive a child, she reassures Robert that he does not have to be involved in the child's life at all. However, after Noah is born, Robert realizes he does want to play a role in his son's life. Although he cannot openly own the relationship because it is technically illegal for him to be the father of a mixed-race child, Robert makes an effort to regularly spend time with his son, and the two have an affectionate relationship. However, as Noah gets older, the two drift apart, and the presence of Abel in Noah's life also makes maintaining a relationship more complicated. Robert eventually moves to another city, and the two lose touch entirely. Patricia, however, insists that Noah track Robert down, explaining that “‘he’s a piece of you [...] and if you don’t find him you won’t find yourself’” (p. 101). When he is twenty-four, Noah reconnects with his father and is moved to find out that Robert knows all about his career and has been taking an interest in him. He knows it will take time to rebuild their relationship, but he is open to trying.

How is criminal activity depicted in the memoir?

Noah grows up in a world where violence is a regular occurence, and he is taught by his mother not to let a fear of criminal activity prevent him from living his life. He does not, however, have much direct exposure to petty crime until he starts spending time in a notoriously rough and impoverished neighborhood called Alexandra. He realizes there that for people in poverty, engaging in criminal activity can be morally ambiguous since they have few or no other options. As Noah explains, "Crime does the one thing the government doesn’t do: crime cares. Crime is grassroots. Crime looks for the young kids who need support and a lifting hand. Crime offers internship programs and summer jobs and opportunities for advancement. Crime gets involved in the community. Crime doesn’t discriminate” (p. 209). Nonetheless, he eventually realizes that hustling and petty crime are not going to get him anywhere in life and that things like theft are hurtful to the victims.

What is Trevor Noah's view of his mother? Does it change over time? If so, how? If not, what accounts for that constancy?

As a child, Noah is often frustrated by his mother's strict discipline and attempt to monitor his behavior. However, he also loves when they have fun together, and he appreciates how she makes everyday life adventurous. Even from a young age, Noah knows that his mother will stand up for him when she believes in his perspective, and that she expects people to treat him with respect. As he grows older, Noah appreciates his mother's strength and resilience, but he also becomes frustrated as to why she chooses to stay with Abel even after Abel becomes abusive. Eventually, Noah grows apart from his mother because he cannot relate to her decisions. However, he always sees her as the center of his life and feels loving and protective towards her. As he grows older, he comes to see that people are complex, and he develops more respect for the way his mother has lived her life.

What role does domestic violence play in the memoir?

Noah gradually introduces the theme that his stepfather Abel physically abuses both him and his mother. He sees this specific form of violence as part of a wider pattern of violence, exacerbated by social factors. Abel's problems with alcohol and violence are exacerbated by the fact that he is unsuccessful in his career and feels emasculated by the fact that Patricia is the breadwinner in the family. His traditional ideology around gender roles also makes him angry when Patricia refuses to listen to him or be submissive. While Noah clearly sees Abel as personally responsible for the violence he commits, he also notes that the legal and police systems in South Africa neither help nor support his mother. Patricia tries to report the violence, but the police refuse to help her, and her own mother encourages her to stay with her abusive husband. All of this context means that Patricia has few options for recourse.

Born a Crime Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Born a Crime is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What 3 things does trevor say they always had

Chapter please?

Explain Trevor's rationale for identifying Soweto driveways as a metaphor for Soweto's hope. What symbol do you indentify with hope? Explain why you chose this symbol

Trevor's rationale for identifying Soweto driveways as a metaphor for Soweto's hope is that the driveways represent tiny steps towards progress. He sees the driveways as symbols of transformation and possibility: even small changes can lead to big...

What rhetorical choice is used when Trevor Noah says that South Africa is a mix of old and new?

South Africa is a mix of the old and the new, the ancient and the modern, and South African Christianity is a perfect example of this. We adopted the religion of our colonizers, but most people held on to the old ancestral ways, too, just...

Study Guide for Born a Crime

Born a Crime study guide contains a biography of Trevor Noah, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Born a Crime
• Born a Crime Summary
• Born a Crime Video
• Character List

CRJU 2200H: Social Science and the American Crime Problem (Tami Thomas): Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

• Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
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Background Information & Interviews with the Author

• Trevor Noah interview for Guardian Live Comedian Trevor Noah discusses his new book, Born a Crime, at Central Hall Westminster for Guardian Live. Noah shares anecdotes on family, religion, growing up ‘coloured’ in apartheid South Africa and becoming host of The Daily Show.
• Born a Crime Discussion Questions & Conversation Starters Provided by Penguin Random House.
• What is systemic racism? [VIDEOS] “What is Systemic Racism?” Race Forward video series

South Africa History & Resources

"Give me the child until he is seven and I will give you the man." The Jesuit maxim behind the landmark UP Series has now been taken to South Africa, where a group of children, first filmed in 1992 at the age of 7, are now 21. Rich and poor, black, white and "mixed race," the fascinating and revealing portraits featured in 21 Up South Africa offer unique insights into the social and political upheavals that have occurred throughout South Africa since the crumbling of Apartheid. Via Kanopy (1 hour and 9 minutes)

• A history of Apartheid in South Africa South African History Online

Scholarly Resources & Readings

Suggested Readings

• Gaining currency: confession, comedy, and the economics of racial ambiguity in Trevor Noah's Born a Crime. This essay analyzes Trevor Noah's memoir, Born a Crime, and the narrator's movement between racialized spaces, times, and identities in postapartheid South Africa. In spite of Noah's self-identification as Black, social interactions interpellate him as white or Coloured, which frequently leads to conflict. As a means of survival, he mobilizes cultural knowledge – particularly language – to diffuse tension, influence interpretations of his body, and access socioeconomic advantages or escape disadvantages that accumulate in racialized spaces.
• “How Does It Feel to Be Born a Problem?” (Contexts Magazine, 2019) How does it feel to be a problem? W.E.B. Du Bois posed this question over a century ago to critique American institutions that constructed being American as White, and therefore, made being Black an inherent problem in White America. Du Bois’s question was also a demand: that we reflect on and critique a system of racial oppression that teaches those in subjugated positions that their very being is problematic. Interestingly, this is also a question that Trevor Noah, South African comedian and host of Comedy Central’s award-winning newscast The Daily Show, engages in his highly acclaimed memoir, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. Though Noah is not a trained sociologist, he uses the complexity and absurdity of his life to tease out numerous sociological concepts. Throughout his odyssey, he places issues of race and identity at the forefront. The most salient question is what does it mean to be born a problem?
• Changes in Interracial Marriages in South Africa: 1996-2011 The present study used census and survey data from 1996 to 2011 to examine changes in interracial marriages in South Africa a generation after the establishment of democracy in that country. While in-group marriages appear to be the norm, they have been declining dramatically over the years, especially amongst Asian/Indians and whites, the two groups least likely to marry outside their group. In fact, the odds ratio for overall in-marriage dropped from 303 in 1996 to 95 in 2011. Increased educational attainment increases the odds that black Africans and coloureds would marry Asian/Indians and whites and vice versa. Regardless of gender and of whether education is increasing or reducing the odds of intermarriage, the effects of education are declining over time suggesting the erosion of the social class differences between the races in South Africa.
• Dominant Narratives of Whiteness in Identity Construction of Mixed-Race Young Adults in Post-Apartheid South Africa. This research explored how dominant narratives of Whiteness influence the construction of identity among mixed-race youth in post-apartheid South Africa. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants who have one White parent and one parent of colour and were considered 'born frees', as they were born during or after the transition to democracy. Guided by critical race theory, through thematic analysis, three main themes emerged: defying Rainbowism, rejecting Whiteness, and policing identity. Ultimately, this research critically investigates how mixed-race people have constructed their identities while navigating pervasive power structures of White supremacy that continue to shape the rigid racial categorisations in post-apartheid South Africa.
• Studying Mandela’s Children: Human Biology in Post-Apartheid South Africa : An Interview with Noel Cameron In this interview, human biologist Noel Cameron reflects on his work on child growth and development in post-apartheid South Africa. The conversation focuses in particular on Cameron’s involvement with a cohort study called Birth to Twenty, which sought to determine the health impacts of apartheid on black children born in the year Nelson Mandela became president. Cameron considers the extent to which human population biology can contribute to the creation of new and potentially improved health realities for marginalized communities in the Global South.
• "Drinking Too Much, Fighting Too Much": The Dual "Disasters" of Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol Use in South Africa. The intersecting issues of intimate partner violence (IPV) and alcohol abuse in South Africa are often characterized as "disasters." Ethnographic research among women in Soweto demonstrates the different manifestations of IPV, perceptions of abuse, and coping mechanisms to manage harmful domestic relationships. Findings suggest a consistent relationship between excessive drinking patterns and IPV-most significantly, physical and emotional abuse-while indicating that domestic violence measures should include questions about stress.
• Predicting the Vulnerability of Women to Intimate Partner Violence in South Africa: Evidence from Tree-based Machine Learning Techniques. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive social challenge with severe health and demographic consequences. Global statistics indicate that more than a third of women have experienced IPV at some point in their lives. In South Africa, IPV is considered a significant contributor to the country's broader problem with violence and a leading cause of femicide. Consequently, IPV has been the major focus of legislation and research across different disciplines.
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Born a Crime

Author information, read-alikes, book discussion.

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Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle. Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life. The stories collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love.

** From  Amazon

The book looks at the following themes:

• Code-Switching, Dueling Identities, and Double-Consciousness
• Identity and Blackness
• Institutional and Structural Racism 
• Family, Community, and Belonging
• The Power of Language 
• The Cycle of Poverty and Racism
• Injustice and Social Action
• Struggle and Perseverance
• Love and Personal Growth
• Hustle, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship
• Religion and Community

Born in South Africa to a black South African mother and a white European father, Noah has hosted numerous television shows including South Africa’s music, television and film awards, and two seasons of his own late-night talk show, Tonight with Trevor Noah.

In November 2016, Trevor released his first book  Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood , which was an instant New York Times bestseller. It was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards, one for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author and another for Outstanding Literary Work in the Biography/Auto-Biography category.

The book is a collection of personal stories about growing up in South Africa during the last gasps of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that came with its demise. Already known for his incisive social and political commentary, here Noah turns his focus inward, giving readers an intimate look at the world that shaped him. These are true stories, sometimes dark, occasionally bizarre, frequently tender, and always hilarious. Whether subsisting on caterpillars during months of extreme poverty or making comically hapless attempts at teenage romance, from the time he was thrown in jail to the time he was thrown from a speeding car driven by murderous gangsters, the experiences covered in this book will shock and amaze, even as they leave you rolling on the floor with laughter.

From TrevorNoah.com

If you enjoyed  Born a Crime  you might enjoy these books as well:

Born a Crime   is a gripping memoir that provokes a lot of discussion about institutional racism, family, and perseverance among other topics. Here are a few discussion questions to get you started talking about the book.

• What role does religion play in Trevor's life? How does Trevor view the importance of religion versus his mother's views?
• Why do you think Patricia, Trevor's mother, used "tough love" when parenting Trevor? What impact does a parenting style have on a person's life?
• Trevor often discusses swapping languages to fit in. What impact does this code-switching have on his life? How does his code-switching differ or is similar to code-switching in your life?
• Trevor has two different father figures in his life. How are they different? What impact does that have on Trevor?
• Trevor prefaces each chapter with history or insights on apartheid and living in South Africa, how does this structure impact your understanding of his life?
• How does your previous awareness of Trevor and his life story impact your reading of the book?
• How does apartheid in South Africa compare to institutional racism in the United States and elsewhere?
• What role does domestic abuse and violence play in Trevor's narrative?
• What is the difference between discipline and abuse throughout the book? Is there a difference?
• What moment in the book had you laughing out loud? Why?
• What is your opinion on the way Trevor balanced humor and serious topics throughout the book?
• Trevor spends a lot of time with his family. What role does family play in his upbringing?
• Trevor often refers to his skin color and how he doesn't fit into any group. What color does skin color variation play throughout the book? How is that mirrored in your experiences?
• Trevor often hustles throughout the book to make money? Why? What role does hustle play in your experience? How is hustling the same or different as being an entrepreneur?
• Why do you think Trevor's mom chose to stay in South Africa? What would you have done?
• Trevor often talks about being an outsider or "the only." What role do you think that played in his life? How have you experienced that?
• The book discusses how groups are divided to fight against each other to serve an in power minority. How is that still replicated today? 
• Trevor’s mom adapted to live her life in a city that didn’t want her to live there. Is this a type of code switching? What are other ways people have adapted to live in areas that are determined to keep them out? 
• What were you most shocked to read or learn? Why?

You can find even more discussion questions in the links below.

• Book Club in a Bag
• Book Companion
• Penguin Random House

You can further explore the events, themes, and ideas in  Born a Crime  in these recommended library databases.

• Access World News This link opens in a new window Newsbank Access World News provides a combination of global, regional, and local news, including a unique merging of news formats (PDF image editions, web-only, full-text), this resource supports a diverse range of research needs across an array of academic disciplines for students and faculty.
• AfricaBib Africana Periodical Literature Database This link opens in a new window Incorporating the Quarterly Index of African Periodical Literature, the Africana Periodical Literature database provides metadata of articles on Africa covering a wide range of topics, from geography, history and anthropology to agriculture, women's studies, medicine and health. It currently contains more than 177,000 records from over 800 journals.
• Archive of African Journals This link opens in a new window The African e-Journals Project has digitized full text of articles of eleven social science and humanities journals.
• Arts & Humanities Database This link opens in a new window This database features hundreds of titles covering Art, Architecture, Design, History, Philosophy, Music, Literature, Theater, and Cultural Studies.
• Black Economic Empowerment: The National Negro Business League This link opens in a new window Booker T. Washington, founder of the National Negro Business League, believed that solutions to the problem of racial discrimination were primarily economic, and that bringing African Americans into the middle class was the key. In 1900, he established the League "to promote the commercial and financial development of the Negro," and headed it until his death.
• Credo Reference This link opens in a new window Credo is a vast, online reference library, providing access to the full text of hundreds of highly regarded and popular titles. Credo Reference contains dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopaedias, quotations and atlases, plus a wide range of subject-specific titles.
• Ebony Magazine Archive This link opens in a new window Covers civil rights, education, entrepreneurship, and other social topics with an African-American focus. It includes more than 800 issues providing a broad view of African-American culture from its first issue in 1945 through 2014.
• Electronic Journals and Newspapers on Africa This link opens in a new window Since 1997, Columbia University's collection of African Studies Internet Resources has served as the official WWW-Virtual Library guide for African Studies. This list includes only "free" publications on the Internet.
• JSTOR This link opens in a new window Digitized back issues of scholarly journals with a rolling date of five years ago. Covers a wide variety of disciplines. Includes JSTOR Arts and Sciences I, II, III, IV, V, VII, X. Also includes e-books.
• Opposing Viewpoints In Context This link opens in a new window The premier online resource covering today's hottest social issues, from Offshore Drilling to Climate Change, Health Care to Immigration. Opposing Viewpoints in Context helps students research, analyze and organize a broad variety of data for conducting research, completing writing assignments, preparing for debates, creating presentations and more.
• Book Discussions
• Project Ideas
• Writing Prompts

The ideas in the tabs above act as prompts to help you develop discussions, projects, or assignments related to  Born a Crime.  They offer suggestions for ideas to include in your class or on your syllabus.

• Penguin Random House Teacher's Guide
• Teaching Books Educator Resources

Here are some tips for leading a successful book discussion:

Before the Discussion

• Read the book completely and take notes about the themes, motifs, and topics. Write down important page numbers and highlight important passages.
• Come up with eight to ten questions about the book. You can also see a list of discussion questions for this title  here .

During the Discussion

• Ask your question and let others answer first.
• Make connections between comments.
• Ask follow-up questions.
• Bring the conversation back to the discussion if people go off on tangents.
• Don't feel obligated to ask all your questions.
• Don't end a conversation if people are on-topic and really enjoying what they are sharing.
• Wrap up the discussion by highlighting key points.
• Thank the participants.

You can find some sample discussion questions elsewhere in this guide.

The following may be used as project prompts for  Born a Crime :

• Create a vision board or collage of your different identities.
• Write a comedy bit related to the themes of the book and your personal experience.
• Have students discuss the meaning of their names and how they think that meaning shows in their personality.
• Create a vocabulary list of words and definitions you use that are not common.
• Create a work of art expressing Trevor's statement “Love is a creative act.” (page 262, paperback)
• Write lyrics for a hip hop song about the book or that Trevor could have used during his DJing.
• Write a business plan for one of Trevor's hustles (tuck shop runner, CD burner, DJ, etc.)

The following may be used as writing prompts for  Born a Crime :

• What is code-switching? What role does it play in the book and in your personal life?
• What role does history have on how communities view institutional racism?
• What role does religion play in the book and in your personal life?
• Discuss your opinions on discipline and physical abuse as it relates to parenting and family.
• What role does language play in the book and in your life?
• Discuss institutional racism. What is it? What impacts does it have on your life?
• Discuss "the pencil test." What is it and how did reading about that make you feel?
• In what ways are you "the only?" How does the impact your life?
• How do you define yourself versus how others see you or stereotype you?
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Born a Crime

Trevor noah, everything you need for every book you read..

Throughout his difficult childhood, Noah and his mother, Patricia , cope with their uncertainty, relative poverty, and fear of the violence surrounding them by using three important tools to manage their relationship to the future: religion, education, and humor. Noah’s mother, in particular, views her future and fate as instruments of God’s will; she dedicates countless hours to prayer in order to gain the sense of control and certainty that she otherwise lacks in her life. But she also encourages her son to educate himself and build his own future, just as she did for herself—not necessarily by staying in school as long as possible, but rather by thinking critically about the conditions that surround them rather than taking their assigned place in the world for granted. And finally, the two connect through humor, which allows them to name and confront their suffering while maintaining a broader, more optimistic (but still realistic) view of their lives as a whole. These three tools all help them overcome pain by understanding it from a new perspective that keeps a better future in view.

Religion is an essential source of solace and meaning for Noah’s mother and, as he notes, many other colonized peoples around the world; it allows them to sustain hope in the face of their extraordinary oppression but also lets them concretely advance in the colonial society by following the colonizers’ customs. Noah’s mother is a devout Christian; she takes the family to three churches every Sunday, which last all day, and seems to believe that the more church she goes to, the more blessings she will get and the more likely she will be to have her prayers answered. At the very end of the book, they are: she prays fervently when Abel tries to murder her, and his gun mysteriously misfires four times, which the police are never ultimately able to understand or explain. On the one hand, it clearly looks like Patricia’s prayers are saving her life; on the other hand, Noah wonders why his mother must suffer so immensely in the first place despite her piety. And Noah’s extended family in Soweto always values his participation in prayer circles because he speaks English and “everyone knows” that God pays more attention to prayers in English. This points to both the way the family stays optimistic about their futures and the way that they seem to gain advantages by selectively emulating the colonizers who brought Christianity to South Africa in the first place.

Noah and his mother also use education to broaden their senses of possibility—to imagine the better lives they want and set their minds to pursuing and improving their chances at a job. This is not just formal education, but (even more importantly) the ability to think critically, which Patricia instills in Noah from an early age. Patricia “spoke to [Noah] like an adult” and teaches him English, gives him books (especially fantasy, which stretches his imagination) and shows him “places black people never went” so that “he will know that the ghetto is not the world.” Through his mother’s insistence on questioning rules and systems of power, Noah learns to think for himself rather than follow received wisdom about his prospects as a poor South African.  Like white children, he learns “that the world was my oyster, that I should speak up for myself, that my ideas and thoughts and decisions mattered.” Likewise, Patricia’s own success is largely due to her schooling: because she managed to learn English in a mission school and pursue specialized job training, she could get the job as a secretary that allowed her to raise her children on her own.

Besides religion and education, humor plays an central role in Noah’s approach to life and suffering. Although he scarcely discusses his comedy career in this memoir, his writing itself shows how humor can not only deflect and dull pain, but also—and more crucially—help people maintain a sense of realistic resilience in the face of obstacles. Noah’s tone is tongue-in-cheek throughout the book, especially when it comes to describing the particular cultural quirks of his family or South Africa in general. While he and his family clearly suffer, he by no means views his situation as tragic. He particularly shares this sense of humor with his mother—most notably, they argue through jokes most Sunday mornings about whether Jesus really wants them to go to church (and three churches, at that). For Noah, this is as much a way of coping with the exhausting commute to church as a means of emphasizing that the benefits of devotion are psychological, fundamentally about its ability to change people’s perspective, regardless of whether they pray from home or church. The book’s closing moment shows Patricia’s remarkable strength and optimism through her humor. Her ex-husband Abel has just shot her in the head and nearly killed her, but she survives; when Noah visits her the second day in the hospital, she tells him to “look on the bright side,” which is that “now you’re officially the best-looking person in the family.” They laugh despite their horrible circumstances, suggesting that their resilience is their greatest asset.

After he recalls burning down a white family’s home as a child, Noah insists that he would not be himself without the ability to feel pain but not let it interfere with continuing to try new things and pursue his goals. In a word, this is the resilience he shares with his mother: both are well attuned to the arbitrary injustices of the world and neither represses their pain, but both have their techniques for going on in the face of pain, rather than resigning themselves to never improving their lot in life. Whether or not prayers are answered, fantasies come true, or jokes turn into a successful comedy career, Noah shows that these are all techniques for achieving resilience by creating perspective.

Resilience Through Religion, Education, and Humor ThemeTracker

Resilience Through Religion, Education, and Humor Quotes in Born a Crime

The white man was quite stern with the native. “You need to pray to Jesus,” he said. “Jesus will save you.” To which the native replied, “Well, we do need to be saved—saved from you , but that's beside the point. So let’s give this Jesus thing a shot.”

There is something magical about Soweto. Yes, it was a prison designed by our oppressors, but it also gave us a sense of self-determination and control. Soweto was ours. It had an aspirational quality that you don't find elsewhere. In America the dream is to make it out of the ghetto. In Soweto, because there was no leaving the ghetto, the dream was to transform the ghetto.

For the million people who lived in Soweto, there were no stores, no bars, no restaurants. There were no paved roads, minimal electricity, inadequate sewerage. But when you put one million people together in one place, they find a way to make a life for themselves. A black-market economy rose up, with every type of business being run out of someone's house: auto mechanics, day cafe, guys selling refurbished tires.

My mom raised me as if there were no limitations on where I could go or what I could do. When I look back I realize she raised me like a white kid—not white culturally, but in the sense of believing that the world was my oyster, that I should speak up for myself, that my ideas and thoughts and decisions mattered.

I was blessed with another trait I inherited from my mother: her ability to forget the pain in life. I remember the thing that caused the trauma, but I don't hold on to the trauma. I never let the memory of something painful prevent me from trying something new. If you think too much about the ass-kicking your mom gave you, or the ass-kicking that life gave you, you'll stop pushing the boundaries and breaking the rules. It's better to take it, spend some time crying, then wake up the next day and move on. You'll have a few bruises and they'll remind you of what happened and that's okay. But after a while the bruises fade, and they fade for a reason—because now it's time to get up to some shit again.

As the outsider, you can retreat into a shell, be anonymous, be invisible. Or you can go the other way. You protect yourself by opening up. You don't ask to be accepted for everything you are, just the one part of yourself that you're willing to share. For me it was humor. I learned that even though I didn't belong to one group, I could be a part of any group that was laughing. I'd drop in, pass out the snacks, tell a few jokes. I'd perform for them. I'd catch a bit of their conversation, learn more about their group, and then leave. I never overstayed my welcome. I wasn't popular, but I wasn't an outcast. I was everywhere with everybody, and at the same time I was all by myself.

I don’t regret anything I've ever done in life, any choice that I've made. But I'm consumed with regret for the things I didn’t do, the choices I didn’t make, the things I didn't say. We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection. But regret is the thing we should fear most. Failure is an answer. Rejection is an answer. Regret is an eternal question you will never have the answer to. “What if . . .” “If only . . .” “I wonder what would have . . .” You will never, never know, and it will haunt you for the rest of your days.

I grew up in a world of violence, but I myself was never violent at all. Yes, I played pranks and set fires and broke windows, but I never attacked people. I never hit anyone. I was never angry. I just didn't see myself that way. My mother had exposed me to a different world than the one she grew up in. She bought me the books she never got to read. She took me to the schools that she never got to go to. I immersed myself in those worlds and I came back looking at the world a different way. I saw that not all families are violent. I saw the futility of violence, the cycle that just repeats itself, the damage that's inflicted on people that they in turn inflict on others.

I saw, more than anything, that relationships are not sustained by violence but by love. Love is a creative act. When you love someone you create a new world for them. My mother did that for me, and with the progress I made and the things I learned, I came back and created a new world and a new understanding for her. After that, she never raised her hand to her children again. Unfortunately, by the time she stopped, Abel had started.

“My child, you must look on the bright side.”

“ What ? What are you talking about, ‘the bright side’? Mom, you were shot in the face. There is no bright side.”

“Of course there is. Now you're officially the best-looking person in the family.”

She broke out in a huge smile and started laughing. Through my tears, I started laughing, too.

BORN A CRIME: Book Review

Novelist, Art Critic, Blogger

I enjoyed Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood enormously. First of all, if you have watched “The Daily Show” which he took over from Jon Stewart a while ago, you’ll hear his voice in every sentence. His writing has that kind of authenticity. It bubbles over with excitement and good humor, and at the same time it’s penetrating in the accuracy of its psychological and social observation.

To have been “Born a Crime” was of course a literal truth for a bi-racial child in his native apartheid South Africa. Deprived of more than fleeting contact with a Swiss father, Noah was brought up by a fiercely loving and tenacious mother, who spared him neither the beating when she thought he deserved it, nor the often biting wisdom of her tongue. From his early years, he made fun of the Christianity to which she was devoted, but learned from her the ethical compass that saw him through even a mischievously rebellious—and at times moderately criminal youth.

Noah earned his smarts the hard way: on the back streets of Johannesburg’s black townships, where survival was a matter of learning to negotiate the constantly shifting shoals of social, racial and political turmoil. Coming of age at the moment when apartheid was finally crushed by a mix of internal and international pressures, and always an outsider—not white, not “colored,” not Indian, and never accepted as completely black—he slipped cheekily between racial barriers by guile, deception and duplicity, making sure that he always, improbably, came out ahead of the game. Well, usually. There are times he described being slapped down brutally. But he has the native ability to bounce back up every time he gets knocked down.

If Noah takes us on an often riotous journey, it’s one that is also often profoundly moving. Little short of a miracle that he survived a brutally abusive stepfather, a peripatetic education that combined the disciplined experience of Catholic school with the chaos of the streets, and his own unruly spirit that rejected every social norm, to become the sharp-witted, unsparing social critic that he is today. If you want to understand where his peculiar brand of satire comes from, this is a good place to start.

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