Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood

An perplex report of a youthful man and his mother who went around the blockage a few times and beat the odds.

Despite a few inaccuracies in his fib, it remains a well-told floor that kept me learn and read until the very end. Trevor Noah has that intelligent kindness like an stellar idle around him. He has that attend of wisdom and experience in his eyes which allow people to like and want to listen to him. He is a easy soul. I guess he can thank his ma for that. She was on his character, saving his

Despite a few inaccuracies in his tale, it remains a well-told story that kept me reading and reading until the very end. Trevor Noah has that intelligent kindness like an astral light around him. He has that look of wisdom and experience in his eyes which allow people to like and want to listen to him. He is a gentle soul. I guess he can thank his mom for that. She was on his case, saving his soul since the day he was born.

Trevor Noah starts out his book with his usual irony. He establishes a high-speed tone that promises a suspense thriller on the spot. He was thrown out of a car and it was not a Hollywood movie at all ! From there he introduces his mother and grandmother which sets the tone of this book.

My whole family is religious, but where my mother was Team Jesus all the way, my grandmother balanced her Christian faith with the traditional Xhosa beliefs she’d grown up with, communicating with the spirits of our ancestors. For a long time I didn’t understand why so many black people had abandoned their indigenous faith for Christianity. But the more we went to church and the longer I sat in those pews the more I learned about how Christianity works: If you’re Native American and you pray to the wolves, you’re a savage. If you’re African and you pray to your ancestors, you’re a primitive. But when white people pray to a guy who turns water into wine, well, that’s just common sense.

My mom didn’t want my mind polluted by movies with sex and violence. So the Bible was my action movie. Samson was my superhero. He was my He-Man. A guy beating a thousand people to death with the jawbone of a donkey? That’s pretty badass.

He shares his personal story with so much wit and candor. Some incidences were so funny I just sat back and laughed and laughed. But then there were the moments of pain and sadness, so intense, that I felt like standing in his aura and hearing his thoughts before he expressed them. Tragic, yet destined to turn out to be miracles in the end.

He shares many aspects of South African history and culture as background to his story, which enhances the experience for the reader. His sense of humor is always ready to jump in at the most unexpected moments. It was really a great read!

As background to Trevor Noah’s story, I want to provide a few tidbits of information.

“Apartheid” was an American concept that was applied to the South African landscape. Not many people realize that. When the Americans thought it a good idea to provide reservations for the indigenous people, the South African government thought is was a brilliant idea as well and follow it up with their own interpretation. When Americans thought there should not be social interaction between races in public premises, the South Africans followed suit.

Black-only bus stops serviced Black-only buses. Black-only ambulances stopped at Black-only hospitals. Black-only education was provided at Black-only schools and universities. Beaches, bridges, swimming pools, washrooms, cinemas, benches, parks and even burial grounds were all segregated. Interracial marriages were strictly forbidden.

Black people had their own magazines, newspapers, authors, journalists, movies, artists, musicians, music concerts, businesses and communities. Many wealthy Black people lived in the separated areas (there were even a wealthy black suburb called Beverly Hills in SOWETO) and made a good living. Black lawyers, doctors, teachers, and religious leaders served their own community. For instance, Nelson Mandela and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe both studied at the University of Fort Hare and finished their further studies at other universities, such as the universities of the Witwatersrand(WITS) and South Africa(UNISA). Their training were subsidized by the Apartheid government. They enjoyed free education as a result, while the White community had to pay for everything. Trevor Noah himself could have gone to university on the same principles with even more bursaries available to him than there were for white people. It is still the case.

Biggest issue: Black people were denied the vote.

His ‘Hitler’ story also lacked insight into the Afrikaner history (and neither did he knew about the HOLOCAUST and the Jewish experience). Trevor and his young adult friends were simply ignorant young men doing their own thing. Of course he did not have to know it, since it was never part of his own life. He described the Afrikaners’s “love” for Hitler, but did not know how it worked. The Afrikaners lost their families in the Anglo-Boer war in which Britain followed a scorched-earth policy, leaving the Afrikaner farmers bankrupt and their families destroyed, dead in the concentration camps. The impoverished farmers abandoned their farms, which were immediately grabbed by the British government and handed over to British soldiers as payment for their services against the Afrikaners during the war.

When the world declared war against Hitler, a small group of embittered Afrikaners organized themselves into a rebellion to assist Hitler against Britain. They simply hated the English. They would join any country declaring war against England. However, the vast majority of Afrikaners joined Britain in combat against Hitler. My father was one of them. We are from German descend. The South African soldiers, the majority being from the Afrikaner community who joined Great Britain were all descendants of the French, Dutch and German. They were joining the English forces who were shipped from the British colonies at the time. I just wanted to clear that up.

Trevor and his mom were not part of the elite. They lived in the moderate, poor areas where workers and entrepreneurs felt at home. I was so happy that he mentioned the cultural cuisine. The ‘smileys’ he mentioned, sheep’s head, are still highly popular. There are even sheep head clubs in the country.

His revolt for sheep’s eyes, which is also something to fight and die for by the dedicated eaters, had me almost falling off my bed with laughter. I cannot stand it either, although my husband and his farmer friends would make sure they can all enjoy it by buying themselves enough sheep heads for their club meetings and ensure nobody misses out on the eyes! Yes, be strong, dear friends. We could all have been like that, so don’t laugh! 😉

“Walkie-talkies”, which he did not mention, are the heads and feet of chickens, which are also popular delicacies in the Asian communities. Trevor Noah’s mom, however, knew it was the only dish that would get him to stay home for dinner instead of going out and enjoy his beloved Macdonalds.

And then there is the ‘Marogo’ which he enjoyed, which I grew up with. It is a healthy weed, cooked like green beans with potato and unions, and normally enjoyed as a side dish, heaped onto ‘mieliepap’ (maize porridge). You’re simply not South African if you have not eaten Marog and pap! It taste like spinach with a creamy effect.

He took me back to my own childhood days, in a different time and place of course, but the nostalgia of that time came rushing over me while reading this book. We had so many happy moments, despite circumstances, and like Trevor, we as children never knew about Apartheid. Adults did not talk about it. It was quite a revelation when we finally grasped the meaning. We were the generation who brought it to en end.

His story is so inspirational. A feel-good experience. I can only congratulate him and wish him all the best in the world He deserves it. And, most importantly, he will make it.

You gooooo Trevor!!!! Thank you for the wonderful memories you shared. You made this world a much better place to be in, just by being you and sharing your heartfelt, often funny story.

An amazing story of a unseasoned man and his mother who went around the block a few times and beat the odds.Despite a few inaccuracies in his fib, it remains a well-told floor that kept me reading and learn until the very end. Trevor Noah has that intelligent forgivingness like an stellar light around him. He has that attend of wisdom and experience in his eyes which allow people to like and want to listen to him. He is a gentle soul. I guess he can thank his ma for that. She was on his shell, saving his soul since the day he was born.Trevor Noah starts out his ledger with his common sarcasm. He establishes a high-speed tone that promises a suspense thriller on the spot. He was thrown out of a car and it was not a Hollywood movie at all ! From there he introduces his mother and grandma which sets the spirit of this book.He shares his personal fib with so much brain and candor. Some incidences were so amusing I merely sat back and laughed and laughed. But then there were the moments of trouble and sadness, so intense, that I felt like standing in his aura and hearing his thoughts before he expressed them. Tragic, yet destined to turn out to be miracles in the end.He shares many aspects of confederacy african history and culture as background to his story, which enhances the experience for the reader. His sense of humor is always ready to jump in at the most unexpected moments. It was truly a great read ! As backdrop to Trevor Noah ‘s narrative, I want to provide a few tidbits of information.was an american concept that was applied to the south african landscape. not many people realize that. When the Americans thought it a beneficial idea to provide reservations for the autochthonal people, the south african politics think is was a bright estimate equally well and follow it up with their own rendition. When Americans thought there should not be social interaction between races in public premises, the South Africans followed suit.Black-only bus stops serviced Black-only buses. Black-only ambulances stopped at Black-only hospitals. Black-only education was provided at Black-only schools and universities. Beaches, bridges, naiant pools, washrooms, film, benches, parks and even burial grounds were all segregated. interracial marriages were strictly forbidden.Black people had their own magazines, newspapers, authors, journalists, movies, artists, musicians, music concerts, businesses and communities. many affluent Black people lived in the classify areas ( there were tied a affluent blacken suburb called Beverly Hills in SOWETO ) and made a dependable exist. Black lawyers, doctors, teachers, and religious leaders served their own community. For exemplify, Nelson Mandela and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe both studied at the University of Fort Hare and finished their foster studies at other universities, such as the universities of the Witwatersrand ( WITS ) and South Africa ( UNISA ). Their coach were subsidized by the Apartheid politics. They enjoyed spare education as a resultant role, while the White community had to pay for everything. Trevor Noah himself could have gone to university on the lapp principles with even more bursaries available to him than there were for flannel people. It is still the case.Biggest issue : black people were denied the vote.His ‘Hitler ‘ fib besides lacked insight into the Afrikaner history ( and neither did he knew about the HOLOCAUST and the jewish experience ). Trevor and his young adult friends were simply ignorant young men doing their own thing. Of course he did not have to know it, since it was never share of his own life. He described the Afrikaners ‘s “ sleep together ” for Hitler, but did not know how it worked. The Afrikaners lost their families in the Anglo-Boer war in which Britain followed a scorched-earth policy, leaving the Afrikaner farmers bankrupt and their families destroyed, dead in the concentration camps. The impoverish farmers abandoned their farms, which were immediately grabbed by the british government and handed over to british soldiers as payment for their services against the Afrikaners during the war.When the worldly concern declared war against Hitler, a small group of embitter Afrikaners organized themselves into a rebellion to assist Hitler against Britain. They plainly hated the English. They would join any area declaring war against England. however, the huge majority of Afrikaners joined Britain in battle against Hitler. My father was one of them. We are from german condescend. The south african soldiers, the majority being from the Afrikaner community who joined Great Britain were all descendants of the french, Dutch and German. They were joining the english forces who were shipped from the british colonies at the time. I equitable wanted to clear that up.Trevor and his ma were not character of the elite. They lived in the centrist, poor areas where workers and entrepreneurs felt at home. I was thus happy that he mentioned the cultural cuisine. The ‘smileys ‘ he mentioned, sheep ‘s head, are still highly popular. There are even sheep head clubs in the country.His revolt for sheep ‘s eyes, which is besides something to fight and die for by the consecrated eaters, had me about falling off my bed with laughter. I can not stand it either, although my conserve and his farmer friends would make indisputable they can all enjoy it by buying themselves adequate sheep heads for their club meetings and ensure cipher misses out on the eyes ! Yes, be potent, beloved friends. We could all have been like that, so do n’t laugh ! ; – ) ” Walkie-talkies ”, which he did not mention, are the heads and feet of chickens, which are besides popular delicacies in the asian communities. Trevor Noah ‘s ma, however, knew it was the only dish that would get him to stay family for dinner rather of going out and enjoy his beloved Macdonalds.And then there is the ‘Marogo ‘ which he enjoyed, which I grew up with. It is a healthy weed, cooked like green beans with potato and unions, and normally enjoyed as a side dish, heaped onto ‘mieliepap ‘ ( maize porridge ). You ‘re merely not south african if you have not eaten Marog and soft diet ! It taste like spinach with a creamy effect.He took me back to my own childhood days, in a unlike time and place of course, but the nostalgia of that prison term came rushing over me while reading this book. We had indeed many happy moments, despite circumstances, and like Trevor, we as children never knew about Apartheid. Adults did not talk about it. It was quite a revelation when we ultimately grasped the meaning. We were the generation who brought it to en end.His floor is so inspirational. A feel-good experience. I can lone congratulate him and wish him all the best in the world He deserves it. And, most importantly, he will make it.You gooooo Trevor ! ! ! ! Thank you for the fantastic memories you shared. You made this world a a lot better place to be in, good by being you and sharing your dear, much amusing narrative.