The Cheese Boys
Who are the Cheese Boys?
A group of wealthy teenage boys who didn't have to hustle for money
Who told Trevor "the world doesn't love you"?
His mother
What skill did Trevor develop by selling CDs and DJing?
Business and hustling
Which group still faced disadvantages after apartheid?
Black South Africans
Everything I have ever done I've done from a place of love. If I don't punish you the world will punish you even worse. The word doesn't love you"
His mother
What did Trevor copy from the Cheese Boys to impress girls?
Began to adopt their look and began to brain his hair
What item did Trevor's mom give him for protection?
A bible
What did Trevor learn matters more than looking rich?
Being independent and self-reliant
What kind of inequality separated Trevor from the Cheese Boys?
Economic inequality
Crime succeeds because crime does the one thing the government doesn't do: crime cares"
Trevor
Why did Trevor feel both envy and pride around the Cheese Boys?
He wanted their lifestyle but was proud he earned his success by himself
How did Trevor's mom say police would see him?
As a threat or a criminal
What happens when you join a group for the wrong reasons?
You lose your true identity
What kind of racism still existed after apartheid?
Systemic racism
When I beat you, I'm trying to save you. When they beat you, they're trying to kill you
Trevor's mother
In what ways did the Cheese Boys challenge Trevor's understanding of power and masculinity?
Being cool and having money mattered more than being tough or independent
What message was Trevor's mom trying to teach him about the world?
That it is dangerous for Black men, no matter how good they are
How did Trevor's experiences with both hustling and fitting in shape his views on success and self-worth?
Learnt that true success comes from self reliance and adaptability, not outside validation or wealth
How did the lingering effects of apartheid influence how Trevor and others viewed authority figures like police?
Police were seen as threat even after apartheid to black communities
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, he understand, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart?
Nelson Mandela
How does Trevor's relationship with the Cheese Boys reflect the larger theme of identity in Born a Crime?
How does Trevor's mother use fear as a tool when preparing him to leave home?
Why was Trevor's ability to shift between social groups a key survival strategy rather than just a social skill?
Why didn't Trevor feel completely free even after apartheid ended?
Because Black people still faced racism, poverty, and unfair treatment in everyday life
What deeper truth is revealed by the quote, "People see a young Black man, and they see a thug"?
People often unfairly think all young Black men are dangerous, even if they're not