Just the Facts
Who wrote the book "Born A Crime"?
Trevor Noah
What role did religion play in Trevor's early life?
His heroes were all bible characters. He went to 3 different churches with his mom - white church, black church, and mixed church.
Why was Trevor's birth a crime in South Africa?
People of different races were not suposed to have relationships together.
How did being raised mostly by women affect Trevor?
He respected women and did not did not believe men should be mean or controlling to women,
Why did Trevor's grandfather have him ride in the back seat of the car?
Because Trevor is light-skinned his grandfather calls him master and treats him like he is privileged and has a chauffeur.
What country did Trevor Noah grow up in?
South Africa
Describe Trevor's mother.
Black woman. Devout Christian (very religious) and strict about discipline with Trevor. Hard working. Courageous. Independent.
What does it mean t have a curfew?
Some people had to be off the streets and home after a certain time.
What were the houses like in Soweto?
They were made of cheap materials and built up slowly over time.
What class did Trevor get placed into at school?
The "smart" class with the white and light-skinned students.
What was the system that separated people by race called?
Apartheid
How did living in Apartheid affect Trevor?
He saw a lot of violence and inequality. He had to learn how to manage different situations because of the color of his skin.
How were people categorized and separated during Apartheid?
People were separated by race (white, black, mixed) based on the color of their skin.
Why did all the people in Trevor's neighborhood come to his house to pray?
They were trying to get rid of a "demon" that stunk up the house.
Why was Trevor able to move easily between different groups of people?
Because he spoke different languages it was easy for him to fit in with people of different races.
Who is the book dedicated to?
Trevor's mother
What happened when Trevor and his mom tried to get a cab ride after church?
They ended up getting kidnapped by Zulu gangsters and had to jump out of a car.
What race was Trevor's father?
He was a white man from Europe (Swiss-German)
Describe Trevor's great-grandmother Koko.
She was very old and blind from cataracts in her eyes.
Why did Trevor ask to be put into different classes at school?
Because he was more comfortable with the black students because all the people he lived with were black.
How many chapters are there in the book?
18
Why did Trevor and his mom laugh while they were waiting for the police?
That is how they coped with living through the experience. They were happy they didn't get seriously hurt.
What did all black or "colored" citizens have to carry at all times?
An identification card that limited where they could travel or work based on their race.
Why was Trevor treated differently from the other kids in his family?
Because he was light-skinned, the adults in his family let him get away with more trouble.
Why did Trevor have to pretend he didn't know his father in public?
His father was a white man and it was illegal for him to be Trevor's father.