Born A Crime By Trevor Noah

Imagine growing up in a world filled with violence, fear, and a constant struggle for power. Well, this was the world of the famous comedian Trevor Noah. In Trevor Noah’s memoir, Born a Crime, the author writes about his childhood experiences before and after Apartheid. While growing up poor in South Africa with an interracial family in the 1980s, Trevor goes through multiple experiences shaping his perspective on the world around him. During these experiences, he learns many lessons, such as being resilient, surviving on the streets, and showing empathy towards others. In Born a Crime, Trevor Noah shares many observations about the ways in which apartheid shapes South African society into an environment that makes life a struggle for black

The fast food chains of Mcdonald’s may not seem like a huge deal to people, however, they serve as a symbol of moving forward and as a reward for the citizens’ resilience for change. Noah writes, "With Mandela came freedom—and with freedom came McDonald’s . . . I fell in love with McDonald’s. McDonald’s, to me, tasted like America” (189). When Noah writes the word “freedom,” it reveals that the resilience that people were showing for so many years, finally came with its rewards. By this, it means that the efforts of all the people did not go to waste and that Mcdonald opening up in South Africa symbolizes the change that was going to happen over time. When people walk into the Mcdonalds, they physically see the fruits of their efforts which serves as a place of comfort for them. Noah draws attention to the Mcdonald’s becoming a source of comfort when he writes the phrase, “fell in love with Mcdonald’s.” When someone falls in love with something, it reveals that they find comfort and hope in whatever they fall in love it. When Trevor falls in love with Mcdonald’s, it reveals that the restaurant is a source of comfort for him and his community. Noah further expands on the Mcdonald’s being his source of resilience when he writes, “People in America don’t understand, but when an American chain opens in a third-world country, people go crazy” (188). When Noah decides to include the words “third-world country,” it reveals that he thinks Mcdonald’s serves as a place of hope and stability that his country can finally enjoy. He writes about how people in other countries cannot understand that Mcdonald’s serves as a powerful tool for coping with difficult situations and serves as a place of hope for the citizens of Soweto. When Noah writes, “people go crazy,” it reveals that the citizens of Soweto really want to see their resilience and efforts