Where most children are proof of their parents' love, I was the proof of their criminality (27).
Trevor Noah was quite literally born a crime during apartheid. His mother, Patricia, lived in a town where it was illegal to live in as a black woman and his father was a Swiss-German man. I grew up in South Africa during apartheid, which was awkward because I was raised in a mixed family, with me being the mixed one (Noah 21). Since his birth parents could not be seen together, eventually, Noah and Robert lost touch when he moved to Cape Town.
Slajd: 2
Mom said run, and I ran. Like a gazelle runs form the lion, I ran (16).
Trevor was a mischievous kid growing up. But he and his family seem to spend a lot of his time running...
Slajd: 3
What just happened? Who'd have thought a woman with two small children could run so fast (16)?
What was that!? Why are we running?
What do you mean, 'Why are we running?' Those men were trying to kill us (17)
Each Sunday, Trevor's mother brings him ad his baby brother to church. However, one morning, their car was not starting and they had to take the minibus. It was a Zulu driver who began lecturing Patricia about getting in a car with a man other than her husband. Patricia fought back and then the driver was not stopping the bus. She pushed Trevor out and she followed out with the baby. They both ran and ran to the police station.
Slajd: 4
Teddy, this way!
No, it's a dead end!
We can get through! Follow me!
These people had been so fucked by their own construct of race that they could not see that the white person they were looking for was sitting right in front of them (159).
Trevor and his friend Teddy almost got caught shoplifting at their local mall. They realized they could reach the alcoholic candy from a shop by reaching their arms through the gate. A security guard saw them one night and the chase was on. Trevor ran and Teddy ended up not following and got arrested for shoplifting. Trevor was luckily not caught, as his skin tone showed up as white on camera, in comparison to Teddys darker complexion.
Slajd: 5
'You killed my mom.' Yes. And if I could find you, I would kill you as well.' Then he hung up. It was the most chilling moment. It was terrifying (277).
You've stolen my life. You've taken everything away from me. Now I'm going to kill all of you.
RUN!!!
Abel, drunken and upset, followed her home from church one day with her new husband and family. He exclaimed he was killing everybody. Patricia jumped in front of the gun when he started shooting. She was shot first in the leg, then the gun misfired 4 times as it was pointed at her head. She jumped up, shoved him aside and ran for the car. Abel fired from the back of the car and the bullet went in the back of her head and exited through her nose.
Slajd: 6
My child, you must look on the bright side.
What? What are you talking about, 'the bright side'? Mom, you were shot int he face. There is no bright side.
Of course there is. Now you're officially the best-looking person in the family.
My mother was out of the hospital in four days. She was back at work in seven (280).
Trevor owes his strength and determination to his mother, Patricia. She miraculously survived the gunshots without and issues, and is able to continue on with her daily life as before.