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Coming of Age Reflection: Born a Crime

jian

In Chapter Four of his memoir "Born a Crime," Trevor Noah describes growing up in apartheid South Africa and eventually coming to face the problems of race and identity. In this chapter, his coming-of-age transition is best illustrated by the moment when he becomes aware of the racial and social boundaries that define the society in which he lives. As a mixed-race child born to a black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father, he begins to realize that he does not fit into the barriers set by apartheid laws. The change represents his awareness of apartheid's harsh reality and the discrimination he and his family face as a consequence of their mixed-race origins.


Noah's realization emphasizes the identity crisis he faces as a mixed-race child. He does not belong to either of the apartheid-defined categories of race, which puts him in a unique and challenging position. As personal relationships and marriages between people of different races were banned under the apartheid laws, Noah's existence is a form of rebellion against the law. His realization also allows Noah to perceive the world through the perspective of an outsider. The revealing of Noah's identity at the end of Chapter Four is significant since it represents a turning point in his understanding of the apartheid system and what it means to him.

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