Born a crime Ch. 5-14

Chapter 5

1. Trevor divulges some of his family history, and explains some of the interrelated situations and hard pressures that his mother grew up in. 

2 Questions; 

a. How did his mother's defiance toward authority and societal expectations carry over into his own self conscious?

b. As an adult in the US, how does he feel his personal freedoms have changed as opposed to South Africa? Are there areas where he finds it preferable to be identified as Black here, when compared to White or Colored back home (depending on the situation)  

Chapter 6.

1. Trevor explains the challenges a high-spirited young man can present for a willful single mother, and his discovery that she has some unusual teaching methods.

2 Questions

a. Did challenging the institutions in his life provide him with an outlook that helped him endure the poor outlook of his circumstances?

b. As a child, did Trevor feel as if his penchant for risk taking guided his career path more than any other component of his upbringing?

Chapter 7

1. Trevor recalls the complicated situations of family pets in south Africa, and this chapter has it all; brutal mutilations, accusations of witchcraft, the violence of animal sibling rivalries, the purity of a pet's love, and the subsequent crush of betrayal.

a. Has Trevor made any efforts to have his own pets since childhood?

b. How does Trevor's upbringing affect his personal outlook on the subjects of animal rights grievances?

Chapter 8

1. We are regaled with the complicated enigma of Trevor's birth father.

2 Questions

a. How has the contrasting and sparse presence of his biological father served in him question the familial examples from his mother's side of the family? 

b. How has his distant, yet loving relationship with his father contributed to his ideas of masculinity?

Chapter 9

1. Trevor's tribulations as a child of mixed descent and unique outlook, and the darker side of his future Father-in-law is revealed.

2 Questions

a. How widely among other societies are people of mixed ancestries suffering similar treatment that Trevor experienced during his upbringing?

b. How common are the actions of Abel among abusers in relationships?

Chapter 10

1. This is a chapter dealing with the brutality of affairs of the heart for a young man, and whom a colored is supposed to be with.

a. How much do the prevailing racial stigmas affect the social workings of school-age children in matters concerning romantic pursuits in other communities?

b. How did Lorenzo's family and friends react to his interest in a girl outside of his own racial enclave?

Chapter 11

1. Navigating high school, finding his identity, and gaining notoriety for certain qualities that ultimately helped Trevor establish his own uniqueness from others.

a. As a loner, did Trevor feel better about not belonging to any single group due to his choices of financial gain?

b. Did Trevor's reliance on fulfilling a need develop an instinct for manipulating situations in his favor?

Chapter 12

1. Trevor experiences a lesson of the heart during a time when puberty begins to deal him the perfect combination of physical awkwardness and general obliviousness.

a. After his formative experiences, has Trevor considered himself in the 'friend zone' the majority of his time as an adult where women are concerned?

b. How have the events of Trevor's unrequited love as a youth become an enduring centerpiece or peripheral during the progression of his career? 

Chapter 13

1. Trevor discovers the thrill of maladaptive behaviors as he discovers a long awaited kinship with a fellow scalawag, along with the potential consequences or their actions.

a. How much did Trevor's various socioeconomic calamities play into his willingness to engage in risky behaviors?

b. Has Trevor felt a need to reconnect with childhood friends as an adult to reconcile the outcome of any unfortunate events?

Chapter 14.

1. Trevor discovers the importance of details, the power of nescience, and the self-realization of how he views the objects of his affection.

a. Could Trevor's objectification of a girl to the point of not realizing she didn't speak the same language be indicative of his habit of self-loathing?

b. Is it plausible to attribute a fair amount of Trevor's social mishaps on a set of self-fulfilling prophecies governed largely by how he values himself?