Born a Crime Video Summary
Visit us at www.gradesaver.com/born-a-cri... to read the full video transcript and our study guide for this classic novel, which includes a full list of characters, themes, and much more.
Trevor Noah's Born a Crime is a memoir about growing up in South Africa at the end of Apartheid. Born of a black mother and white father, in a time when interracial sex was illegal, the young Trevor was literally “born a crime.” Noah begins his book with this historical context, explaining how apartheid relied on creating artificial divisions between groups of people so that the white colonial elite could maintain their power.
At the start of the memoir, Noah tells a funny anecdote from his boyhood. His mother, Patricia Noah, was a deeply religious woman and took her sons to three different church services on Sundays-one Black, one White, and one mixed. One Sunday, with their car broken down, they caught a minibus to get home, but the driver threatened and insulted them. Afraid for their safety, Patricia opened the door, pushed Trevor out, and then leapt after him with his baby brother-all while the minibus was still moving! They ran to a nearby gas station and phoned the police.
We soon learn that Noah's mother was born into a Black South African family that belonged to the Xhosa tribe. She was determined and independent and as a young woman moved to Johannesburg on her own. There, she met Robert, a Swiss-German expat and the man who would be Trevor's father. Patricia and Robert had to hide their relationship; Patricia would dress up as a maid when she visited Robert, so that no one would suspect them.
Trevor was born, a light-skinned, mixed-race child; he spent much of his early years isolated and hidden, in order to protect his parents from arrest. When he and his mother went out in Joubert Park in Johannesburg, a caretaker would walk with Trevor while Patricia trailed behind them. Patricia and Robert remained friends and Trevor visited his father every week.
Trevor also spent much time in his grandmother's house in the black neighborhood of Soweto, where he grew up mostly among women. Although he was happy, he played alongside the sounds of gunshots, screams, and tear gas firing into crowds.
Trevor was a rambunctious child and his mother often disciplined him strictly, but they also had a very loving relationship. Patricia encouraged Trevor to be a curious and independent thinker who reflected critically, asked lots of questions, and thought for himself. She enrolled him in a private Catholic school, where Trevor often got in trouble for challenging rules and questioning authority.
When Trevor was around six, his mother started dating a charismatic mechanic named Abel, who lived above the garage of a white family. Patricia and Trevor sometimes stayed with him. One day, when Trevor was seven, he and another little boy were playing together with a magnifying glass and matches, burning words into pieces of wood. Suddenly, they set a mattress on fire! Soon enough, the fire spread and consumed the entire house.
The young Trevor was not punished, but the white family kicked Abel out. He moved in with Trevor and his mother. Eventually Patricia and Abel decided to marry. Trevor didn't trust his new stepfather, and the birth of his half-brother Andrew, further complicated the family dynamics.
Meanwhile, Trevor felt profoundly isolated and was often the target of bullying. One day, a group of older boys threw mulberries at him. When Trevor told Abel, he realized he could manipulate Abel's anger to get revenge. Sure enough, Abel caught one of the boys and whipped him with a tree branch. Watching the violence, Trevor experienced first pleasure and then horror.
Trevor was kicked out of Catholic school and transferred to a public school at the end of the sixth grade. While he felt most comfortable with Black students, he didn't fit in well with any specific group. His mother's family and other residents of Soweto treated him differently as well because of his light skin and perfect English. Living in the primarily colored neighborhood of Eden Park, he was considered either too black or too white. Trevor honed his language skills and could code switch easily, learning to move fluidly between communities.
Meanwhile, Abel had experienced serious economic troubles after trying to start his own car repair shop. Patricia provided money to help him, but Abel's problems with alcohol made him irresponsible and the business failed. Abel began to physically abuse Patricia, Trevor, and their pets.
To cut their losses, Abel sold the shop and they moved to a primarily white neighborhood called Highlands North. Patricia legally divorced Abel but continued to live with him, supporting the family with her income while he drank more and more heavily.
Пікірлер: 74
haha✨ I don’t wanna write this essay
@JakobKunzer
3 ай бұрын
Same
@blaze8862
2 ай бұрын
If only we spent more time actually reading the book. It seems dope and is written by a hilarious man. If only we were more responsible.
@christianpoe1478
Ай бұрын
Why it’s such a good book
Trevor went through so MUCH pain yet, he is constantly smiling and making others laugh! What a WONDERFUL human being!😊🙌🏽
@mderso4642
3 жыл бұрын
He have a bit of his mother, always see the good side, "see the good side now your the best looking in the family"
whoever drew these images did a decent job at painting what Mzansi (SA) is like
@esahm373
Жыл бұрын
I was thinking the same.
Words cannot express how thankful I am for this video being released.
Students are really lucky to be able to read this book at school meanwhile I read it just for fun lol
@SumRandomGuy1
3 жыл бұрын
Saint.__ovo what do you think Trevors argument is of this story
@fahralyacoub8970
3 жыл бұрын
Not fun when u gotta finish 100pages in one sitting
@frtunatsehaye9206
3 жыл бұрын
@@fahralyacoub8970 we did 17 chapter questions about it. After we read it!! But the Story is really fun to listen to.
@sammys.4366
3 жыл бұрын
Im reading it for school lol
@mariecooliene5643
3 жыл бұрын
It truly is a good book ! I absolutely loved it !
Nice summary. Wow. I didn’t realize students were taking tests on this in school already. I’ve been out of school for quite some time now.
@simbawlawrue5148
2 жыл бұрын
yes
This morning is the first day of school I just completely forgot about the book. Thx for the video. Saving my life
Teacher made us read this and Im glad she did.
I probably have to write a whole essay on this the first day of school tomorrow I am so grateful for this bc this whole summer I forgot about it I know it didn't cover all major important parts but hopefully it was enough thank you so much
I thought this book was going to be political and force beliefs but I was surprised how it really brought to light the trouble of growing up with a complicated family and being light skinned.
Was enjoying this book but I read way too slow for how school is expecting me to read, so I'm here now I guess.
You forgot to talk about trevor's time in prison. Great summary btw
@jphustle6909
4 жыл бұрын
cocoa butter when did he go to prison
@KedousY
4 жыл бұрын
@@jphustle6909 he got pulled over by the cops when he was borrowing his stepdads car and was sent to jail
@MelissaAnonz
4 жыл бұрын
that was a holding cell, not prison
@KedousY
4 жыл бұрын
@@MelissaAnonz ok thank you
@Ashley-mv4zt
3 жыл бұрын
@@KedousY thank god I saw this lmao thank you
Trevor you were born a crime, but your strength & resilience is impeccable. I just watched your 3 comedy specials on Netflix, I had too many belly laughs..
This story is so interesting
Kids are learning this in school? HOW LUCKY!
Reading it for my composition class for college class and i love it sooo much. Amazing book! First book i actually read by myself 😂
@Michael_the_believer
Жыл бұрын
literally me right now, just finished the book now, my first ever book ive actually read but its for school, still loved it so much
If after listening to this narrative, you're still wondering the importance of this book or complaining that it is an educational tool....-show some RESPECT
I have a group discussion on this book in half an hour and I haven't read a page yet
Thanks for this
i'm listening to the summary because i'm not about to watch a whole 14 minute video just for school
THANK YOU
Y everyone gotta fresh cut tho?
I went to the same high school at Trevor Noah
see im over here at the end of the book unit not once touched the book or the assignments listening to this so i can binge work them all
very good :)
oh my lord i needed these pictures
What was all the streets in the town were named after what
This book is amazing...for me was as an epiphany
Good summary, though there were some good things left out,
@zhaydamenace6369
10 ай бұрын
such as ?
Thx
I need to think of 3 open ended questions but i cant think of any
@noeldeal8087
3 жыл бұрын
How did Trevor's mom feel about needing to hide her relationship with Trevor's father? How do you think the father felt? How do you think Trevor felt? There you go... 🙋🏻♀️
Thanks mate you saved me some time on my test hopefully i can get at least a B-
@someonehangingout2276
4 жыл бұрын
What grade did you get?
@cobanks
3 жыл бұрын
@@someonehangingout2276 I am Taylor's friend. Unfortunately the day before the big test he died in a car crash. D:
@someonehangingout2276
3 жыл бұрын
@@cobanks bruh he posted a vid like a week ago
@Naturgewalt69
Ай бұрын
Why tf would you Joke about Something like that@@cobanks
NOW I HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR THE MAN
Guten Tag an alle die Morgen englisch Abi schreiben
Can someone summarize chapter 18
I feel bad because this story seems so interesting and amazing but I have a deadline like tomorrow to read it which I put off
@tsukuyomi6942
10 ай бұрын
Same, and I needa figure out external and internal conflicts for this
Me reading this while taking the quiz👁👄👁
@jtplayz3229
3 жыл бұрын
me to 😹 but uu got xbox ?
I wonder if anything would be different if his mother wasn't religious
@nerdylab8746
3 жыл бұрын
Definitely. For one, he would’ve never been thrown outta the moving van. Probably not sent to a religious school either
who came her after PANOS PANY DUO...
WOW
anyway who else is watching cuz their english teacher forced them,raise your hand: 🙋🏽♀️
@thomphoninety9528
3 жыл бұрын
👋😴😂..buh I'm now lovin' it thou'💓
@LuffYxZoro03
2 жыл бұрын
✋🏽
😳😳😳😳😳
Wtf is the point of this in highschool they got my ass writing n taking quizzes for what tf America weird asf.