Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Review: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah



My son is a freshman in high school.  This book was part of his assigned reading for his English class, so I decided to read it as well. Instead of writing my own review for this book, I'm sharing a large portion of Preston's reflection paper. He received a 30 out of 30 and was quite proud of his work. I did remove all of the spoilery stories and examples he shared that I thought readers would want to experience first hand.

“Being chosen is the greatest gift you can give to another human being” (Noah 110). In the book Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, Trevor discusses his relationships with his family and what life was like growing up in apartheid South Africa. The stories he shares range from humorous to tragic, but they are all thought provoking. As a mixed race child, he does not fit into any one category and often feels like an outsider. As a result, his views and observations often focus on the racial tensions in his community. Trevor’s mere existence is a punishable crime up until the liberation, but through the love and support he receives from his family and the faith his mother instilled in him from an early age, he ultimately prevails. 

Trevor does not often feel like he is being chosen, but his mother chose him from the day he was born. She sacrifices her own safety to protect and support him. Trevor is the son of a white man and a black woman from South Africa. At the time, it was illegal for the two to have a child and the act was punishable by five years in prison. Trevor’s father never married his mother and Trevor can only see him when apartheid allows. As a result, he lives with his mother and her family, who keep him in hiding to protect him from the government. Once the liberation occurs, his mother encourages him to live openly in the community and teaches him a number of life lessons that enable him to not only survive, but to also thrive. She wants her son to rise above his poor beginnings and she is an example of independence, strength, and determination. She is very strict with Trevor and does not allow him to succumb to the crime and violence that plagues their community. Trevor explains how “crime succeeds because 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” (Noah 209). Trevor could have taken the easy road and turned to a life of crime, but his mother taught him to be better than that. He makes some bad decisions growing up, but he learns from his mistakes and does not allow his past to hold him back. Trevor writes, “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” (90). In addition to the support Trevor’s mother showed him, she also taught him to rely on faith to get through challenging times.

What likely keeps Trevor’s mother going through all of the oppression and discrimination is her faith and her involvement in the church. Trevor’s childhood “involved church, or some form of church, at least four nights a week” (Noah 6). His mother never allows him to skip church on Sunday. She believes the Devil is the source of their problems and it is even more crucial they attend church when there is adversity. While Trevor does not have the same dedication to the church as his mother, he still believes in God and the value of prayer. When he is afraid his mother tells him, “Honey, I’m not alone. I’ve got all of Heaven’s angels behind me” (13). This is a powerful message and a belief that gives his mother her strength to overcome the odds.

Trevor’s mother is a constant source of support, wisdom, and faith throughout the book. She does everything she can to provide the best education, living conditions, and life experiences she can for Trevor. While he does not appreciate or see the value in attending three church services every Sunday, the discipline and dedication his mother shares with him is instrumental in his development. “People love to say give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime. What they don’t say is that it would be nice if you gave him a fishing rod” (Noah 190). Trevor’s mom not only taught him how to fish, but she gave him all of the tools he needs to succeed in life. He has achieved far more than she ever could have imagined when he was first born in apartheid South Africa. In addition, Trevor is not the only one benefiting from her love and wisdom. By sharing his experiences and life lessons with millions of readers around the world, countless individuals continue to benefit.


2 comments:

  1. Very well done! What I have read makes me want to grab a copy and read about this person that I sorta kinda know about.

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    1. Thanks! This was a very entertaining book. Trevor's comedic ability literally had me laughing out loud several times. Even with some of the difficult topics discussed, I never felt like it was depressing. Trevor always had something funny and uplifting to say to keep the pages turning.

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