In Chapter 17 of Born a Crime, Trevor Noah quotes Nelson Mandela: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. Ifyou talk to him in his language, that goes tohis heart” (236). Noah exemplifies the importance of language and how it benefited him throughout the memoir, going as far as to call himself a chameleon. Write a well-developed essay in which you discuss the role language plays in Noah’s life.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah Essay Prompts

Prompt 1:

At many different points throughout the memoir Born a Crime, Trevor Noah describes the complications of his racial identity. Under apartheid,Noah is governmentally categorized as“colored,” a product of a relationship that was literally considered a crime. Think about what this means for Noah and how he both uses and defies the conventions of this label. Write a well developed essay analyzing the role that race plays in challenging and facilitating the author’s understanding of himself as he grew up.

Prompt 2:

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah chronicles Noah’s life in South Africa. While the book is writtenfrom the first person point of view, some people might argue that the book is less a memoir and more a tribute to his mother. Write an essay in whichyou develop a position on whether Born a Crime is a memoir where Noah is the primary character and his mother is a supporting character or whether Born a Crime is a tribute toNoah’s mother, making her the primary focus ofthe book. Use appropriate evidence from your readingto support your argument.

Prompt 3:

“The genius of apartheid was convincing people who were the overwhelming majority to turnon each other. Apart hate is what it was. You separate people into groups and make them hate one another so you can run them all.” Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime is not only a memoir, but it is a commentary on the effects of racism and aparthied on South African peoples. Write a well-developed essay in which you discuss how the rules of aparthied were used to maintain power and the effects of those rules.

Prompt 4:

In Chapter 17 of Born a Crime, Trevor Noah quotes Nelson Mandela: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. Ifyou talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart” (236). Noah exemplifies the importance of language and how it benefited him throughout the memoir, going as far as to call himself a chameleon. Write a well-developed essay in which you discuss the role language plays in Noah’s life.

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