K’s Reviews > Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood > Status Update

“Our family was an archaeologist’s nightmare. We left n o bones behind.”

“Learn from your past and be better because of your past, but don’t cry about your past. Life is full of pain. Let the pain sharpen you, but don’t hold on to it. Don’t be bitter.”

“Racism exists. People are getting hurt, and just become it’s not happening to you doesn’t mean it’s not happening. And at some point, you have to choose. Black or white. Pick a side. You can try to hide from it. You can say, “Oh, I don’t pick sides,“ but at some point life will force you to pick a side.“

“I became a chameleon. My color didn’t change but I could change your perception of my color. If you spoke to me in Zulu, I replied to you in Zulu. If you spoke to me in Tswana, I replied to you in Tswana. Maybe I didn’t look like you, but if I spoke like you, I was you.”