Born a Crime
Citing specific examples from the book, discuss at least two moments where Noah acts like a chameleon. In assessing each example, note the benefits and costs of this ability to adapt to a number of situations.
- Throughout Born a Crime, Noah prides himself on his ability to fit in in a variety of situations and forge friendships with different groups of young people. For example, as a young child, Noah talks about how he quickly realized the power of speaking numerous languages, “I became a chameleon. My color didn’t change, I could change your perception of my color” (p. 56). In school he observed, “Ever the outsider, I created my own strange little world” (p. 139). He continues, “Since I belonged to no group I learned to move seamlessly between groups. I was a chameleon, still, a cultural chameleon”.