A REVIEW OF THE BOOK; BORN A CRIME

Author: Trevor Noah

I have been reading a lot of memoirs lately, and one of my favourite is Trevor Noah’s “Born a Crime”.

As I write this post, I am still amused at how Trevor Noah hilariously spoke about the tragic incidences of his childhood.

With every story that Trevor narrated in the book, I found myself learning some important life lessons that I believe will speak to you too.

Born a Crime was a mix of sad and happy stories about a young man who flourished despite all the odds stacked against him.  

My mind was fully transported as I read everything Trevor Noah went through to become the man he is today. His birth was a crime, being born into a system where the union of a white and black couple was illegal and punishable with up to five years in prison. Essentially, Trevor found himself in a world where he was never meant to exist. 

Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother, he literally had to spend most of his childhood hiding indoors as he could not be seen on the streets as a mixed kid. He wasn’t white enough to be considered white, neither was he black enough to be considered black. The book gave a first-hand account of everything he experienced as the son of a poor mother, both living through the effect of apartheid on the black and coloured race, extreme levels of racism and discrimination.

Despite his parent’s indiscretion in bringing him to the world, Born a Crime revealed the unwavering love and strength of a mother who was determined to give her son a different narrative of life than she had growing up, regardless of her knowing that it would be difficult raising him in the society she lived in.

While life dealt with Trevor’s mum; tragic blows from all sides, her feisty attitude did not let her reality bother or stop her from raising her son and teaching him that he could accomplish anything he wanted in life.

She taught him to challenge authority and question the system, which backfired on her when Trevor began to constantly question her religious belief. He was rebellious and extremely naughty but would later appreciate his mother’s faith.

His experiences schooled him on emotional intelligence, and he found a way around every unpleasant circumstance. His communication skills are exceptional and his business sense, so impressive.

As a comedian, he was able to skilfully and wittily educate with his powerful memoir. I learned a lot about South Africa; its politics and struggles, which I didn’t know much about prior to reading the book.

I enjoyed every bit of this narrative, and I recommend that you read it.