Born a Crime is an autobiography written by comedian Trevor Noah, where he reflects on his childhood under the racist laws of apartheid. It is thrilling to follow his experience because it showcases the horrors and unfairness of racism. He talks about being a chameleon among African people as a child of a black woman and a white man. He belonged to no group and tried to find his place in the world as a mix-raced person. The book explores his identity, the places he did not feel different, and reviews his life in detail, which can teach a person to be more understanding, socially responsible, and tolerant.
Firstly, in his book, Noah talks about ‘being a chameleon’, which is an exciting part of the book. He is a person of color, which was considered illegal during apartheid. Yet he thought of himself as a black person because of his upbringing and the knowledge of several different African languages (Noah 40). As written in the book, he stayed the same color, but the perception of his color changed instantly when he changed the language he spoke. It was the benefit of knowing several African languages – he could respond to a robber in his native language, which instantly made Trevor a part of the robber’s culture, and that is why he was never robbed (Noah 42-43). However, the cost of that knowledge and the power to fit in almost with any group was the difficulty of finding his native identity. He did not know who he was, because he always had to choose sides ‘black or white, he did not realize his national identity because he belonged to Xhosa just as much as he belonged to the Swiss community.
As mentioned in the title of a book, Trevor was ‘born a crime’; he was living evidence of the ‘crime’ his parents committed under a racist regime. He was ‘too white’ to be considered black, and at the same time, he was ‘too black’ to be considered white (Noah, 44). However, there was one place where he felt like race did not matter and he was accepted. It was the Maryvale school, where children did not get teased because of the color of their skin, they were instead teased for general things like being too smart, too dumb, too skinny, or too fat (Noah 44-45). In that place, he felt as if he was accepted, which changed as he entered the new school H.A. Jack Primary, where he again became different. Black kids and one Indian kid recognized him, but he was still an anomaly, an exception, a crime (Noah 44-45). Although he felt like an outsider most of his life because of his skin color, he learned to live with those feelings and accept his identity.
Trevor Noah was a multilingual child with English as his first and primary language. In his book, he explained how under apartheid different languages resulted in greater oppression and division. For example, white people were discouraged from learning African languages because from early childhood, they were taught that those languages were beneath them (Noah 44). If one wanted to be employed somewhere of high prestige, one had to know English; otherwise, there was no chance to work in prestigious establishments. African languages and their language-bearers were also divided by different schools and believed that other words are enemy ones (Noah 43). When Trevor spoke to others in their native language, they viewed him as a person from their tribe’, as their own, and that is how he and his mother escaped various challenging situations throughout their life.
Language plays a rather important part in creating and sharing culture because the culture is often transferred through the tongue. A language has been created in a specific locality to preserve and pass down the culture of the people who are speaking it. One can observe the historical examples of how the national identity of some nations was ruined by destroying their native language first (as in the case of Romansh language, which people try to restore). A word can create unity because if one can understand the language another person speaks, primarily if this occurs in a foreign country, they feel like family or close friends. At the same time, if one language is demonized, using it in public can completely change the perception of another person.
As a bilingual person, I can share some advantages and disadvantages of knowing two languages. For example, when I speak to the other person, I can use the words from another language, as sometimes I can forget the most straightforward word in the needed language. It helps to understand a person from another country; it can be a great conversation starter that would interest many people. It would be easier for me to learn another language than for a person who can speak only one language. However, there are several disadvantages, for example, I can struggle to speak at an appropriate level in a professional setting. In addition, sometimes I can forget how to talk at all because, although I try to keep in mind and recycle both languages, I will always be better at one and worse at the other.
Speaking about the incidents I remembered the most in the book Born a Crime, it was an episode in the very beginning, where the mother was forced to throw her son out of the moving car to save his life. The man driving them was cursing the family for nothing and threatening to rape the mother and do worse to the children (Noah 16). That was when Patricia decided not to accept her fate calmly, but she made a choice, which saved her life and the lives of her children. After this situation, I started to look at that woman with admiration, because that episode not only showcased her inner strength, but she was wise enough not to make her children panic ahead of time. As the autobiography progressed, there were many similar stories, which showed her strength and will, but this one made the most significant impact on my mind.
There are many characters in Born a Crime; however, the one who exemplifies Francian Values the most is Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah Trevor’s mother. First of all, as Lourdes is a community of learning, Patricia teaches her son English, to read, to write, to understand the world around him. She showed him the truth and tried to make him know that the world is big and following one’s dreams is necessary (Noah 51). As Lourdes is a community of reverence, Patricia recognized and respected all human beings, their dignity, and their worth. As much as she was strong, she saw the better in prostitutes, gangsters, and robbers. Patricia’s heart accepted Jesus, and that is why she was incredibly respectful, even though she could talk back to anyone to protect her dignity. As Lourdes is a community of service, she challenged her son to help those in need. Even in her childhood, Patricia gave everything to the children who had less than her. She tried to help everybody, which is why I think she is the best example of Francian values’ human embodiment.
This book teaches that living in a diverse community is more comfortable than living in a society when one person is unique. For example, the reader can observe how Trevor was treated in an all-black neighborhood, where he was exceptional. Older people were afraid of giving him proper punishments; they believed his prayers were better-heard because he prayed in English; he was a miracle, an abnormality (Noah 40). However, when his environment became more diverse, people stopped thinking that he was not normal and accepted him. If more diversity were implemented globally, people would forget about racism as they would stop judging a person based on one’s race. After all, different races would not be considered an abnormality. It became a part of my way of thinking as it should because the distinction of races ultimately creates more racism and unfairness.
To conclude, Born a Crime teaches the reader about integrity, being kind, and being open to everyone despite his physical traits, such as race. It also teaches one to be ethical and not to divide people into white, black, and people of color. Lastly, it teaches one to be socially responsible, like the mother of the main character. Patricia gave everything she could to her son, including proper education and a sense of morality. She had a responsibility as a parent and gave everything she could to all three of her children, even if that meant that Patricia herself would suffer from abusive relationships. Her social responsibility paid off at the end of the story when her son helped her pay for her treatment. She was responsible for him, and he responded with his responsible behavior towards her.
Work Cited
Noah, Trevor. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. Hachette UK, 2016.
The Life Of Celebration’s Community
Belief Pattern
- Predominant ethnical group – Caucasian;
- Predominant spiritual beliefs – Catholic;
- Low availability of spiritual resources;
- No data available on health promotion;
- Community values unity above all else;
- No data is available for fund spending.
Note
As stated, the predominant ethnical group is Caucasian; it makes up 94.4% of all Celebration population with African American citizens being the second biggest ethnicity (“Celebration demographics profile,” 2017). The predominant religious belief in Celebration is Catholicism, while most of the population is atheistic (“Religion,” 2017). Therefore, spiritual resources are rather low in numbers. It is likely that no certain health and health care influences are present in the community. Because Celebration is a small community, some pieces of information never receive open access which explains the unavailable data.
Health Management
- No data available for predominant conditions;
- Most of the population is vaccinated;
- No data available for morbidity rates;
- Healthy People prevention initiative;
- Jonathan Lee – available health professional;
- No known referrals to outside agencies.
Note
As it becomes evident, vaccination policy is developed rather significantly in Celebration (“Celebration pediatrics vaccine policy statement,” 2017). Celebration health care authorities try to ensure that proper immunization is delivered to every citizen. The main prevention initiative county-wise is Healthy People (“Osceola County community health improvement plan 2013-2016,” 2013). The only available health professional is Jonathan Lee (“Health professionals in Celebration, FL,” 2017); no data on health resources is available.
Nutrition
- No reported signs of nutrient deficiency;
- No available data on obesity rates;
- Affordable food throughout Osceola County;
- Affordable water sources;
- Low fast-food availability;
- High quality of food consumption;
- Availability of provisions for special diets;
- The high number of school nutrition programs;
Note
All in all, Celebration tends to have a high level of concern regarding food consumption. Healthy food is preferred over junk food. There are a number of nutrition services promoting available healthy food. Although Florida Hospital Celebration Health has an obesity department, levels of the obese population tend to remain significantly low. Also, health care leaderships pay a great deal of attention to implementing new nutrition services for families, school students, and citizens in general.
Elimination
- No significant contaminants’ impact;
- Low noise levels;
- Waste is disposed of properly;
- Significant pesticides usage coverage;
- Healthy hygiene practices;
- No data available for bathroom numbers;
- No data for universal precaution practices;
- Proper temperature control;
- High safety levels;
Note
There are all precautions regarding environmental health concerns in Celebration. The environment in itself is rather healthy and clean. Levels of safety are adequately high. A number of environment protection policies are implemented by the authorities.
Activity
- Standard fitness programs;
- The high number of recreational facilities;
- High level of safety;
- No data available for injury statistics;
- No data for sedentary leisure activities;
- Standard transportation services.
Note
The celebration has a number of recreational facilities. Recreational zones are mostly represented by parks that have trained staff that educates citizens and ensures proper safety measures. Safety levels are properly monitored. Authorities tend to promote an active and healthy lifestyle.
Sleep and Rest
- No data available for sleep hours;
- No data available for general “restiveness;”
- Day shifts prevalent;
- Proper environment for sleep and rest;
- No data for drug consumption;
- Overall healthy community.
Note
Celebration’s community seems to be generally healthy and well-rested. Environmental hazards that may prevent a citizen from having proper rest are thoroughly monitored and managed. Since the authorities promote a healthy and friendly environment, alcohol, nicotine, and drugs consumption levels are presumably low.
References
Celebration demographics profile. (2017).
Celebration Pediatrics Vaccine Policy Statement. (2017). Web.
Health professionals in Celebration, FL. (2017). Web.
Osceola County community health improvement plan 2013-2016. (2013).
Religion. (2017). Web.
Effective Communication In Close Romantic Relationships In The First Year
Introduction
Building a successful romantic relationship requires the possession of key interpersonal communication proficiencies. Many people lack the skills that are necessary for the development and growth of close romantic relationships. Three steps can improve the process of conveying information between two people if applied effectively. They are proper timing, choosing an effective technique, and demonstrating empathy. It is important to choose a suitable time to talk about pressing issues, prepare the message and be willing to listen attentively and think about how the other party will receive the message. Communication between partners cannot be perfect because of factors such as differences in values and beliefs. However, certain measures can be implemented to ensure that there is enhanced understanding and minimize conflicts. These include identifying a partner’s communication style, developing knowledge of the other person’s needs, practicing honesty, transparency, and empathy, and attentive listening. When speaking to a loved one, it is important to be considerate, candid, open, and empathetic. Understanding and embracing the other person’s means of emotional expression, respecting boundaries, and being attentive during conversations are key aspects of communicating effectively in romantic relationships, especially during the first year.
Fundamentals of Communication
Communication can be defined as the conveyance of information from one person to another using a certain channel and medium. It is founded on certain basic concepts that include the prerequisites that must be fulfilled for the transfer of information to occur. These include a communicator (sender and receiver), a message, a channel, a medium, the environment, and feedback. Others include code and noise (Fujishin 40). Effective interaction in a romantic relationship is based on the acquisition of basic knowledge regarding the aforementioned concepts and how they relate with each other. Communication involves the exchange of information between a sender and a receiver (Adler et al. 67). In a relationship, it encompasses two people who love each other, with one sending the message and the other receiving it. The roles of both parties could be fixed or fluid, and they reverse regularly depending on the topic of discussion. A message is a verbal or nonverbal utterance that is aimed at conveying certain information while a code is a system that communicators use to formulate messages (Fujishin 43). A channel refers to the means used to transmit a message and a medium is a form through which communication takes place (Adler et al. 68). Noise refers to any type of internal, external, or semantic interference that affects the transmission of a message.
The environment is defined as the context in which communication occurs. It is an important factor because it influences how the sender and receiver react to a specific message. In a relationship, feedback is an invaluable aspect because it conveys information about how a receiver takes a certain message. The sender adjusts their method based on whether it is positive or negative. There are several levels, namely intrapersonal, interpersonal, public, mass, and computer-mediated communication (Fujishin 47). These concepts help people in romantic relationships to understand how to interact effectively and how to adjust their actions to suit different situations. People communicate in different ways. Some are subtle, others are direct, while others prefer either consensus or confrontation. In many instances, effective interaction is characterized by the frequent adjustment of the style used, depending on the circumstances and personalities involved in a conversation.
Keys to Effective Communication
The most common misconception that people have is the idea that talking or discussing an issue amounts to effective communication. In a romantic relationship, the most important aspect is emotional connection. This is achieved through the proper utilization of verbal and nonverbal skills in order to fulfill the other person’s needs and desires. Small talk is a critical component in a successful conversation. However, many people overplay its importance in romantic relationships because understanding a partner’s point of view, showing empathy, and listening attentively is more important. Moreover, learning the proper use of body language and other non-verbal cues can mean the difference between proper communication and engagement in conversations that lead to misunderstanding and conflicts.
Identify Communication Styles
Every individual has a distinct style that they use to interact with other people and exchange information. In a romantic relationship, each party has a different communication preference. For instance, some people prefer to talk while others respond better to minimal conversation accompanied by nonverbal cues. Understanding one’s preference is insufficient because a romantic relationship comprises two people. Therefore, learning about the other person’s inclinations is critical. People communicate their needs and desires in diverse ways (Adler et al. 24). In that regard, the most important part of developing a lasting relationship is learning about how one’s partner conveys certain information. Miscommunication leads to the emergence of conflict and frustration as trust and intimacy fail to flourish.
There are four main types of communication that people adopt in romantic relationships. They are passive, assertive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive (Fujishin 64). Passive individuals avoid talking directly about their needs, wants, desires, likes, and dislikes. Aggressive people usually cross the boundaries when expressing their feelings, needs, and opinions (Lane 44). Passive-aggressive individuals pretend to be fine, but their speech and actions are characterized by hostility and dissatisfaction. Their goal is to have certain needs met without dealing directly with the person who is responsible for their predicament. Assertive people state their needs, desires, and opinions openly and honestly, and do not violate other people’s boundaries (Lane 44). One of the aforementioned styles is always at play during any conversation. Therefore, gaining knowledge about an individual’s preference is key to the success of a romantic relationship.
Timely Communication
Timely communication is a key ingredient of effective interaction in a romantic relationship in the first year. Partners should pick an appropriate time to talk about issues that concern them. Many relationships break down because some people choose the wrong time to dialogue with their partners (Lane 52). For instance, it is ill-timed to talk about serious matters after a long day at work because of the probability that one partner could be unreceptive due to fatigue or an unpleasant mood. Therefore, important conversations should be put off until a time when both parties are fully prepared. Initiating them at inappropriate times leads to unnecessary conflicts. For example, starting a discussion when one of the parties is angry or emotionally perturbed can cause misunderstanding that is likely to hamper proper communication (Lane 57). Couples should set aside a specific time to discuss their relationship issues when they are both emotionally and physically ready.
Proper Preparation
Discussions in romantic relationships are usually deep and unpredictable because they involve emotions. The twists and turns caused by unexpected comments and feedback necessitate proper preparation. Detachment and flexibility are skills that enhance communication between partners (Lane 71). For example, many people become disappointed because they approach a conversation with an attachment to how it should play out. Their rigidity compels them to embrace a communication style that is inappropriate for the attainment of specific goals (Wood 51). Therefore, it is important to be in the moment and to respond to issues as they emerge. Preparation for such a discussion involves knowing what to say, how to say it, and being aware of the boundaries. For instance, if a conversation is about the failure to spend sufficient time together, then being assertive is the best style to use. Such an issue requires both partners to talk candidly about what they want.
Empathy
Empathy is defined as the ability to tune into other people’s emotions and understand their perspectives in different situations. It is one of the most important building blocks of strong relationships. In communication, it is applied when an individual considers what they do, how they do it, and its impact on other people’s welfare (Wood 66). Empathy is a skill that allows people to express their needs and desires directly, give and receive feedback without blame, listen attentively, and talk honestly without crossing boundaries (Lane 84). In order to communicate effectively, individuals must think about their partner’s needs and perspectives regarding certain issues. Applying empathy is an effective way of building trust and resolving conflicts for the reason that imagining oneself in other people’s situations implies understanding (Wood 87). Romantic relationships are strengthened by partners’ willingness to identify and understand each other’s feelings, experiences, and thoughts, and this promotes the feeling of being valued and loved.
There are several ways that people can demonstrate empathy during communication: talking less and listening more, allowing other people to speak first, and paying attention in order to connect (Wood 93). Empathetic communication is impossible without attentive listening, which involves the application of all senses and a high level of concentration. It is important to let people speak without interrupting them or allowing the mind to think about unrelated matters. People feel understood when they are given the opportunity to speak without unnecessary interjections.
Conclusion
Effective communication is an important component of a close romantic relationship. Basic concepts include a sender, receiver, message, code, channel, medium, and feedback. The acquisition of knowledge about these aspects makes interactions better and more fruitful. Effective communication in romantic relationships is primarily dependent on certain key factors. These include an awareness of the other person’s style, empathy, proper preparation, and the ability to choose an appropriate time to discuss issues. People have different methods of conveying information. Therefore, understanding how they pass certain messages along is important. Proper communication necessitates sufficient preparation. Every individual should know what they want to say, how they intend to say it, and its potential effect on others. This is directly connected to the ability to choose the most appropriate time to talk about certain matters. Both partners should be mentally and physically healthy before talking about issues in their relationship. Otherwise, misunderstandings and conflicts could render their communication ineffective. Listening to connect emotionally rather than respond builds trust and allows people to practice empathy.
Works Cited
Adler, Ronald Brian, Rosenfeld, Lawrence, and Russell Proctor. Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication. 13th ed., Oxford University Press, 2015.
Fujishin, Randy. Natural Bridges: A Guide to Interpersonal Communication. Routledge, 2016.
Lane, Shelly D. Interpersonal Communication: Competence and Contexts. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2016.
Wood, Julia T. Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. 8th ed., Cengage Learning, 2016.