Quotation Tracker-Themes

Literary Work: Born a Crime

Chapter Quotation Analysis and Notes Thematic Topics

and Page

“Because I don't know how to hit I think this is a pivotal moment Identity, race
a white child (Trevor)”, Grandma that shows readers Trevor’s
Chapter 4 relationship with his family. He is
Page 52 seen as different which scares
his grandma. She fears aspects
of him unlike his relatives.

“..in my head whitye and black
Chapter 4 and brown were like types of
Page 54 chocolate...I didn't know what
race was.” Trever
This quote shows how racism is Race
taught rather than it being a trait
we are born with. Trevor never
saw people as different races he
just saw them as different
“chocolates”.

“Oh, sorry, dude. We thought The Zulu kidnappers viewed Race

you were something else” Zulu Trevor as a white individual. So, language
Chapter 4 kidnappers they wanted to kidnap him or hurt
Page 56 him. They spoke in their own
language but Trevor understood
it as he is part of their culture.
When he speaks back to them in
their language they apologize. I
wanted to talk about them saying
“something” instead of
“someone”. They view white
people as a thing rather than a
person.

“Just because it's not happening This is a great reminder that Global issues
Chapter 4 to you doesnt mean its not world issues are in fact occurring
Page 57 happening” Trevor even though we may not be their
victims. We must stand up and
advocate for those who are
struggling and are victims of
global issues.

Chapter 5 “There were times when she This shows the level of poverty Family
Page 65 literally ate dirt.” Trevors talking Trevor’s mom had to endure due Poverty
about his mom to never fitting in with her family.
She left her family’s house and
 decided to live with other cousins
(fourteen children).

Chapter 5 “She didn't have food or shoes
Page 65 or even a pair of underwear, but
she had english” about Trevor's
mom
Shows the importance of the Language
English Language, especially in
a time where English was
needed to survive. English helps
you get a job, talk with others,
gives you status unlike the other
african languages.

Chapter 5 “The black tax” It is when black families spend race

Page 66 their lives trying to fix the
problems of the past instead of
using your skills and education to
move forward.

Chapter 5 “She was a child taking care of This shows how kind Trevor's love
Page 67 children” about Trevor's mother mom really is. Even though she
has gone through many
hardships and is always at a loss
of money, she still buys food for
the poor even at a young age.

Chapter 5 “She wanted me to be free to go Trevor's mom chose the name Identity
Page 67 anywhere, do anything, be Trevor in hopes of not
anyone” prescribing his identity through
the name. Unlike african names
that build one’s actions (His
uncle being ‘he who popped out
of nowhere’. His cousin being
‘the fixer’)

Chapter 5 “I understood from an early age Tervor has always been with his family
Page 70 that we weren't just mother and mom. Only his mom. Even his
son. We were a team.” father wasn't there most of the
time as he is white.

Chapter 7 “She didn't believe in any This is just another example of

Page 95 nonsense about cats. It was how rebellious and different
another way in which she was a Trevor’s mom was compared to
rebel” About his mom others who just follow rules and
orders

Chapter 7 “She’s still your dog. So get over This is a great example of the Family
Page 100 it” Trevor's mom relationship Trevor has with his
 mom. She is strict but still loving.
Instead of just letting the dog go,
she bought her back even
though they don't need to and it
isn't their fault for losing the dog.
She felt bad for Trevor losing a
loved one.

Chapter 8 “I never called my dad “Dad”.” Trevor never really had a father
Page 104 figure. He wasn't allowed to
address him as “Dad” in public
and so there was never that
emotional connection.

Chapter 8 “He’d been with me the whole
Page 110 time, He’d always been proud of
me. Circumstances had pulled
us apart, but he was never not
my father.”
Here it’s proven that Robert family
always loved Trevor. He never
forgot him and even kept track of
all his accomplishments.
Showing that unconditional love
even though they were raised so
different.

Chapter 9 “I was the anomaly wherever we Here Trevor is acknowledging his race
Page 117 lived” mixed race. Because of his
upbringing in a time where it isn't
the social norm, Trevor is
perceived as different in a bad
way as no one wants to be
friends with him.

Chapter 9 “For the purpose of the state, colonialism

Page 118 colored people became the
almost-whites. They were
second class citizens, denied
the rights of white people but
given special privileges that
black people didn't have. ”

Chapter 9 Pencil Test It is a test by the government colonialism

Page 119 where they would put a pencil in
your hair. If the pencil fell out you
were considered white by law
and if it stayed you were colored.

Chapter 9 “When I finished, she burst out Trevor's mom laughs when she Family
Page 123 laughing.” realizes the red color on Trevor
is berry juice and not blood.
Trevor later notes that his mom
had the ability to insert humor
into anything. This is a good
thing as she is able to shrug off
 bad things and even enhance
good things

Chapter 10 “I would have picked Lorenzo Maylene decides to break love

Page 133 over me too” Trevors heart by becoming
Lorenzo’s girlfriend on valentine's
day. He was white, popular and
every girl wanted him.

Chapter 11 “I was everywhere with
Page 141 everybody, and at the same
time I was all by myself”
Trevor feels alone due to the Identity
social norm after apartheid.
People have adapted to the laws
given by apartheid and it has
become hard to advance. While
Trevor has found a way to be
accepted by every group in high
school, he is still an outsider as
he is being used for his skills
rather than to be truly accepted.

Chapter 12 “She had a huge crush on you. This moment shows Trevor that love
Page 149 She was always waiting for you he must always take risks or else
to ask her out.” they might end up against him.
Just like how Zaheera actually
liked Trevor just like how he liked
her but he was too scared to tell
her and it was too late as she left
for America.

Chapter 13 “These people had been so
Page 159 fu*ked by their own construct of
race that they could not see that
the white person they were
looking for was sitting right in
front of them”
It is crazy how apartheid has race
changed the perspectives of
many regarding race and has
even become the new norm.

Chapter 15 “What they don't say is ‘And it Here Trevor is talking about the poverty
Page 190 would be nice if you gave him a saying a lot of people tend to
fishing rod’.” say.

“Give a man a fish and he will eat

for a day. Teach a man how to
fish and he'll eat for a lifetime.”

He's referring to how it doesn't

make sense as many are
needing a fish in the first place
due to being poor and not having
the necessities and tools to get a
fish.
Chapter 15 “Black people in south africa
Page 194 were required to have an
english name as well - a name
that white people could
pronounce”
Chapter 15 “Holocust victims count because
Page 195 hitler counted them”
Chapter 16 “It wasn't, ‘hey it's a crack
Page 209 dealer’ it was ‘oh little jimmy is
selling crack now’. ”
Chapter 16 “Crime doesn't discriminate”
Page 209
Chapter 16 “We live in a world where we
Page 222 don't see the ramifications of
what we do to others”
Chapter 16 “...I knew I had other options, I
Page 224 could leave. They couldn't.”
Chapter 17 “You must be careful who you
Page 228 surround yourself with because
where you are can determine
who you are”
Chapter 17 “”Your prants, on the other
Page 230 hand, are not rational at all.
They have served as judge,
jury, and executioner for your
entire childhood.”
Chapter 17 “With my step father I was
Page 231 thinking he might actually kill
me.”
Chapter 17 “He was the sweetest man, a
During apartheid, one of the laws colonialism
state that black africans needed
to have a white name. So many
just chose random famous
names that they saw on the
news, from famous people, or
from the bible
Trevor is saying that factual
numbers rightly horrify people
whereas atrocities in Africa that
are based on guesses are harder
to be horrified.
Poverty, normality
This is referring to how crime is
successful within communities
due to caring for the community
itself.
Here Trevor is talking about the
hood and how he was technically
an ‘imposter’. For people actually
in the hood, it is extremely hard
to get out. You either work your
job at mcdonalds or toughen up
and hustle.
Identity
Family
family
identity
Page 237 gentle giant. The biggest teddy
in the world. ”

Chapter 17 “Because racism exists, and you racism

Page 240 have to pick a side. ”

Chapter 17 “When I beat you, I am trying to Family, society

Page 243 save you. When they beat you,
they are trying to kill you. ”

Chapter 18 “His TSonga name was identity

Page 250 Ngisaveni. It means ‘be afraid’. ”

Chapter 19 “That was my mom. Don't fight Identity of mom

Page 252 the system. Mock the system.”

Chapter 19 “I was never his son” family

Page 252

Chapter 19 “...horrified that these cops corruption

Page 2 wouldn't help her. ”

Chapter 19 “The police won't help me. The After the many instances of Abel corruption
Page 270 government won't protect me.” hitting his wife. She would call
the police and always try to get
reports and charges written but
they would always say, “we know
how it is with women. You're
good man”.

Chapter 19
Page 2