Chapters 6-7 Born a Crime

 Continue reading chapters 6-7 in Born a Crime and pull two more quotes to dialogue with for your reading journal.

Discussion Questions:

"Anytime my extra energy wasn't burned off, it would find its way into general naughtiness and misbehavior. I prided myself on being the ultimate prankster." (78) 

- I found this quote resonating with me on a personal level. Like Trevor, I was a very cheeky kid. Whenever I wasn't down, I was causing all sorts of trouble. Getting to read about Trevor Noah's childhood antics this chapter reminded me a lot of of my early days. His writing really takes me back, and allows me to connect to my younger self in some ways.

"You didn't know your dog was deaf?"

"No, We thought it was stupid." (97)

- To me, this quote really shows how quick people are when it comes to judging things. Trevor Noah and his family immediately assumed the most "reasonable" answer when they should've been asking questions. I strongly feel like it's this same concept of being quick to judge that led us into a lot of global issues like racism.

1. In this classic bit from 2015, what essential points does Trevor Noah make about how smartphones have changed us as human beings? Do you agree? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r3qk7ifgI4                                                                             -Smartphones are the reasons we're "devolving" because they make us develop unconscious potentially harmful habits. We used to stand proud, but now we spend the whole day buried in our phones. We can't socialize normally anymore. Every moment is spent documenting our lives through our phones. I 100% agree with his take. Every time something happens, my friends and I always have to take pictures and text about. We can't just live in the moment. I think if we could all disconnect for at least one day, we'd see what kind of good it'd do for us from a social aspect.
2. In chapter six Noah relates how he connected with his mother was like “the relationship between a cop and criminal in the movies—the relentless detective and the devious mastermind she’s determined to catch” (80). What were some notable events in this chapter that illustrate this?                                                -One event that highlights this is the Toffee Apple incident. Noah acts insubordinate, constantly bugging his mom, and like a prison warden, she puts him in his place by pretending she doesn't know him and giving him a bigger problem than the apple. Another incident that highlights this is Trevor's accident with gun powder. He denies anything happens, but like a detective his mom is quick analyze the scene and point out the singed hairs on his face. 
3. “You do not own the thing you love” (Noah 100), the author relates in chapter seven. What did he learn about Fufi and Panther? Is there a lesson you have also learned in life from the pets you have owned? What was it?                                               -Noah learns that love doesn't mean ownership and control. Even though he always though of Fufi as being dumber than Panther, even though she was deaf, he still loved Fufi regardless. When Fufi jumped into the other kid's yard, Noah was sad to see that the thing he loved could so easily leave behind. He thought he deserved Fufi to himself, and that's a mindset the other kid had as well. What Noah didn't realize though is that to love is to let go. The person or animal you loved can enjoy other things, but still enjoy you just as much. With the only pets I've ever had being fish, I can't say that I've learned a lot of deep lessons, but I did learn a bit about letting go. I was in kindergarten when my pet beta fish died. To me, it was the most tragic thing in the world. I tried everything I could to to bring it back, and I was so locked in on my unachievable goal that I'd missed the bus. Looking back, this kind of speaks volumes about how dwelling on what once was can block out a future of opportunity. It's ok to grieve, but if you don't move on, you'll be stuck in the past forever.