What is Apartheid? You may use research and Trevor Noah’s explanation to help you.
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2. Why do you think Trevor Noah begins his book with a description of the Immorality Act of 1927? How might this be significant?
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3. According to Trevor Noah, which two South African dominant groups were against each other? Out of these two, which does Trevor’s mother belong to?
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4. Trevor Noah shares that “Like indigenous peoples around the world, black South Africans adopted the religion of our colonizers. By “adopt,” I mean it was forced on us” (5).
Based on this information, what does the following quote tell us about which religion is considered the most “normal” in South Africa? Why is this religion considered the most socially acceptable?
“The more we went to church and the longer I sat in those pews the more I learned about how Christianity works: If you’re Native American and you pray to the wolves, you’re a savage. If you’re an African and you pray to your ancestors, you’re a primitive. But when white people pray to a guy who turns water into wine, well, that’s just common sense” (6).
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5. What is the difference between the three churches that Trevor and his mom attend each week? What does each church offer based on the demographic of people who attend it?
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6. Despite the long service, what entertaining event in Black church was considered Trevor Noah’s ”saving grace?” How would you react if you saw the same thing?
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7. Why does Trevor Noah hate secondhand cars?
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8. What was Trevor’s relationship like with his mom growing up? Retell one story from the text that represents the type of relationship they had.
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9. How did Trevor Noah’s mother react to the violence and rioting that took place after Nelson Mandela's release (a crucial point in the ending of Apartheid)? What does this tell us about Trevor’s mom?
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10. Why was the minibus organization created? What were the problems with it?
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11. How did the Zulu minibus driver use Apartheid-based stereotypes to insult Trevor’s mom, a Xhosa? (Remember, Zulu and Xhosa people were rivals during Apartheid).
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12. Despite their argumentative relationship, how do we know that Trevor and his mom have a close bond? Explain your answer with a quote from the text to support it. (This is at the end of Chapter 1.)
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