Born a Crime

In May 2022, roughly six years after the publication of Born a Crime, Trevor Noah’s beloved grandmother, Frances (also known as “Gogo/Koko”), passed away at the age of 95. Frances is an especially prominent figure in Chapters 1-5 of the book, as Noah recalls his experiences growing up in Soweto. In his tribute to Frances, Noah said: "Her house in Soweto wasn't just a home, it was a refuge. . . a place where other women would come when they had no other place to go, a place where members of the community would gather to pray together every single week, a place where everyone was guaranteed to feel the love emanating from her mighty chest."

What does Noah mean when he calls Frances’s home a “refuge,” knowing what you know from his stories about his grandmother from early chapters in the book?

Teaching Suggestion: As students think through this question, ask them to consider that Noah’s grandmother lived through the apartheid in its entirety and therefore held a special understanding of how Identity and Race in Apartheid South Africa was an oppressive, damaging regime. Having lived through such a difficult period, especially as a mother and Black woman, she intimately knew why creating a safe space for other Black people was important.