Born a Crime and Other Stories

Synopsis

WINNER OF THE THURBER PRIZE

The compelling, inspiring, (often comic) coming-of-age story of Trevor Noah, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.

One of the comedy world's brightest new voices, Trevor Noah is a light-footed but sharp-minded observer of the absurdities of politics, race and identity, sharing jokes and insights drawn from the wealth of experience acquired in his relatively young life. As host of the US hit show The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, he provides viewers around the globe with their nightly dose of biting satire, but here Noah turns his focus inward, giving readers a deeply personal, heartfelt and humorous look at the world that shaped him.

Noah was born a crime, son of 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 first 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, take him away.

A collection of eighteen personal stories, Born a Crime tells the story of a mischievous young boy growing into a restless young man as he struggles to find his place in a world where he was never supposed to exist. Born a Crime is equally the story of that young man's fearless, rebellious and fervently religious mother - a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence and abuse that ultimately threatens her own life.

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, Noah illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and an unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a personal portrait of an unlikely childhood in a dangerous time, as moving and unforgettable as the very best memoirs and as funny as Noah's own hilarious stand-up. Born a Crime is a must read.

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Summary

Chapter 1: Trevor Noah's Rainbow Nation

* Introduction to Trevor Noah's childhood in apartheid South Africa, where his black mother and white father were forbidden from being together.
* Examines the racial and cultural complexities of his "rainbow nation" family and the challenges they faced in a segregated society.
* Real Example: Noah's mother being forced to show her passbook to a white police officer, demonstrating the humiliating and dehumanizing aspects of apartheid.

Chapter 2: How I Met Abu

* Noah recounts meeting Abu, his stepfather, who became a significant figure in his life despite his initial skepticism.
* Explores the resilience and adaptability of families in the face of adversity, as well as the transformative power of love and human connection.
* Real Example: Noah's mother and Abu overcoming cultural and economic barriers to create a stable and nurturing home for him.

Chapter 3: Born a Crime

* Noah delves into the legal and social ramifications of his birth during apartheid, where his existence was considered a criminal offense.
* Examines the absurdity and cruelty of a system that sought to classify and control people based on arbitrary racial categories.
* Real Example: Noah's mother being arrested and fined for "trespassing" in a white area where he was born, highlighting the oppressive nature of apartheid laws.

Chapter 4: My First Soccer Coach

* Noah reflects on the influence of his first soccer coach, Mr. Madondo, who instilled in him a love for the sport and a sense of discipline and teamwork.
* Explores the importance of mentors and role models in shaping a child's development, both on and off the field.
* Real Example: Noah recalling Coach Madondo's strict training regimen and how it taught him the value of perseverance and self-confidence.

Chapter 5: The Day I Learned to Swear

* Noah recounts a comical incident where he accidentally uttered a curse word in front of his strict mother, leading to a hilarious and embarrassing situation.
* Explores the cultural complexities and taboos surrounding language and childhood development, as well as the transformative power of humor.
* Real Example: Noah's mother's initial shock and anger, followed by laughter and a lesson in the appropriate use of language.

Chapter 6: The Great Escape

* Noah describes a daring escape from his home after being grounded for misbehavior.
* Explores the themes of rebellion, freedom, and the desire to break free from constraints, both physically and metaphorically.
* Real Example: Noah's elaborate plan to climb out of his window, using a bedsheet as a rope, highlighting his ingenuity and determination.