Born a Crime

 Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah was born in South Africa under apartheid when it was a criminal offense for blacks and whites to be together as couples. With a black mother and white father, Trevor's very existence was a crime, so his identity had to be hidden for the first few years of his life.

Too dark-skinned to be completely accepted by whites and too light-skinned for blacks, he didn't fit in anywhere when he was growing up. His parents lived necessarily separate lives, though Trevor was able to spend time with both for a while, until his father eventually left the country.

Patricia, Trevor's mother, was, is, an amazing - and not-a-little intimidating - woman. Strong-willed, independent, and fiercely committed to seeing her son rise above his circumstances, he credits her with making him who he is today. She's a fascinating character, about whom I'd love to read more. Please, Trevor, get your Mum to write a book about her own life. What a story it must be.

Born a Crime is a window into life in the waning days of apartheid and the turbulent first days of freedom, a time I knew almost nothing about. A good story-teller, Trevor kept me glued to the page even when I wanted to look away. The stories are sometimes hilarious, sometimes sad and frightening, but I came away admiring both Trevor and his mother for not only surviving, but thriving in often cruel circumstances. God bless you both!