Author

Trevor Noah

8 key ideas, each explained in our own words.

Born a Crime

IDEA 1
His birth broke the law
Trevor Noah was born in South Africa under apartheid to a Black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father. Relationships between races were illegal, so his very existence was a crime, and his parents had to hide him.
IDEA 2
His mother was fearless
Noah describes his mother, Patricia, as strong, religious and independent. She raised him to think for himself and refused to accept limits. Noah shows that her courage and faith shaped the way he grew up.
IDEA 3
He did not fit any group
As a mixed-race child, Noah did not fit neatly into any racial group. He often felt like an outsider. Noah explains that under the laws of that time his very existence was treated as a problem.

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