Chapter 1
What is Apartheid?
A system of laws in South Africa that segregated people by race. It functioned to ensure political, economic, and social domination by the white minority.
What was the penalty for being in an interracial relationship?
5 years in prison
While many South African people practiced Christianity, what other system of belief did they hold at the same time?
The belief in witchcraft
Why did the children in Soweto run away from Trevor?
They thought he was white.
What was the name of the Black township outside Johannesburg where Trevor grew up?
Soweto
Describe the difference between the Zulu and Xhosa people.
Zulu: More physically aggressive; the warriors; act without thinking
Xhosa: The thinkers, come with a plan, more strategic
What happened when Trevor ran up to his dad at the park screaming, “Daddy!, Daddy!, Daddy!’?
Trevor’s dad ran away from Trevor.
Trevor describes growing up in a world run by women, absent of men. What contributed to this?
Apartheid separated families based on race, job assignments, prison, etc. Women kept the community together.
How did Trevor get the Zulu men not to mug him?
He spoke to them in their language.
According to the chapter title, what was Trevor’s mom called in her family because she was not the first daughter?
The second girl
What 3 types of churches does Trevor attend? Describe them.
Mixed: Cheerful, Loud Music, Megachurch
White: More analytical, quick (only 1 hour), Trevor got to go to Youth Group
Black: Spent more time here (3-4 Hours), Outdoors/in tents, Pastor cast out demons, Trevor felt close to God here
Who did Trevor’s Mom tell the doctors who Trecor’s father was?
She said his father was a man from Swaziland, a tiny landlocked kingdom in the west of South Africa.
Why does Trevor describe Soweto as magical and aspirational?
He describes how being stuck in a ghetto allows people to dream of transforming it to be a place that better serves the community.
At H.A. Jack Primary, Trevor describes himself and Theesan as “anomalies” for being in the smart classes. What is an anomaly?
An anomaly is a deviation from the norm, representing something unexpected, irregular, or different from the standard
At the age of 21, Trevor’s mom works as a secretary, but where does most of her money go?
Supporting her family/”the black tax”
What did Trevor foreshadow when explaining that he and his mom won the Maryvale College sports day running competition?
He foreshadows them running away from the Zulu minibus driver.
Why couldn’t Trevor walk with mother out in public?
He was light-skinned, while his mom was dark-skinned. People would suspect she had am interracial relationship.
Describe some of the ways the people of Soweto transformed their township.
They built up a black market economy including: auto mechanics, day cares, spaza shoppers, sheebeens, etc. This allowed the people to live fuller lives and have more conveniences at home.
Explain why Trevor asked his counselor to switch him from the A classes to the B classes?
Trevor wanted to be surrounded by his culture, language and people rather than being isolated in the A-classes which were predominantly attended by white kids– even if it meant getting a lower quality education.
When Trevor and Patricia move to Eden Park, they are able to buy a car and live in a bigger place, but Patricia only spends money on necessities. What does this show about her?
She lives simply/frugality/careful spending
Why do you think Trevor describes his relationship with his mom as very “Tom and Jerry”? Support your thinking with paraphrased evidence.
*Answers will vary: They have a back and forth- he is naughty & she is a disciplinarian; He is relaxed in his religion, she is devout, etc
How did South Africa learn how to set up the most advanced racial system known to man?
A commission was set up to go out around the world and study what worked and what didn’t work with institutionalized racism.
Describe the internal conflict that Trevor faces when his family discovers his “sin” in the trash can and forces him to partake in the community prayer circle. Infer why he struggles with this.
*Answers will vary: Trevor struggles with knowing that he is wasting God’s time and is fearful of the consequences. I can infer that he struggles with this because he is connected to his religion and respects his family. He may feel guilty for knowing he caused chaos over something small.
Explain Trevor’s concept of being a chameleon. How does he embody this idea? Paraphrase evidence to support your thinking.
Answers will vary: Trevor says language is a bridge and an excellent way to bond and build connection. It opens the door to belonging.
Trevor says that he was able to blend in with other kids using language (the kids on the playground)
Trevor was able to camouflage using language to get out of trouble with the Zulu men.
How does Patricia teach Trevor to see the world differently despite living under apartheid and not having a lot of money?
Exposing him to new experiences/showing him that his ideas and decisions matter/encouraging him to follow him dreams