diff --git "a/data/en/asr_test.tsv" "b/data/en/asr_test.tsv" --- "a/data/en/asr_test.tsv" +++ "b/data/en/asr_test.tsv" @@ -1,371 +1,371 @@ id raw_text normalized_text speaker_id split gender is_gold_transcript accent -10.3 Those tribes and other non-whites were systematically classified into various groups and subgroups. Those tribes and other non whites were systematically classified into various groups and subgroups. 1 test male False None -100.1 But I was nine years old and I knew better. I wasn't gonna keep quiet this time. But I was nine years old and I knew better. I wasn't gonna keep quiet this time. 1 test male False None -1003 I asked Bongani if he spoke Betty. He didn't. I ran inside to the dance and ran around looking for someone who spoke Betty to help me to convince her to come in. Do you speak Betty? Do you speak Betty? Do you speak Betty? Nobody spoke Betty. I asked Bongani if he spoke Betty. He didn't. I ran inside to the dance and ran around looking for someone who spoke Betty to help me to convince her to come in. Do you speak Betty? Do you speak Betty? Do you speak Betty? Nobody spoke Betty. 1 test male False None -1008 Then, out of nowhere, she leaned over and gave me a kiss. Like, a real kiss. A proper kiss. The kind of kiss that made me forget that the whole disaster had just happened. I was so confused. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. Then, out of nowhere, she leaned over and gave me a kiss. Like, a real kiss. A proper kiss. The kind of kiss that made me forget that the whole disaster had just happened. I was so confused. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. 1 test male False None -1012 Part 3 Part three . 1 test male False None -1013.05 British schools treat colonialism the same way, to an extent. British schools treat colonialism the same way, to an extent. 1 test male False None -1015 Facts, but not many. And never the emotional or moral dimension. It was as if the teachers, many of whom were white, had been given a mandate. Whatever you do, don't make the kids angry. Facts, but not many. And never the emotional or moral dimension. It was as if the teachers, many of whom were white, had been given a mandate. Whatever you do, don't make the kids angry. 1 test male False None -102 She broke out in a huge smile and started laughing. I started laughing too. And we stood there, this little boy and his mom, our arms and legs covered in blood and dirt, laughing together through the pain in the light of a petrol station on the side of the road in the middle of the night. She broke out in a huge smile and started laughing. I started laughing too. And we stood there, this little boy and his mom, our arms and legs covered in blood and dirt, laughing together through the pain in the light of a petrol station on the side of the road in the middle of the night. 1 test male False None -1024 I had an instinct for business, but at the time I knew nothing about music, which was odd for someone running a music pirating business. The only music I knew still was Christian music from church. The only music allowed in my mother's house. The CD writer Andrew gave me was a 1X CD writer, which meant it copied at the speed it played. Every day I'd leave school, go to my room and sit for five to six hours copying CDs. I had my own surround sound system built I had an instinct for business, but at the time I knew nothing about music, which was odd for someone running a music pirating business. The only music I knew still was Christian music from church. The only music allowed in my mother's house. The CD writer Andrew gave me was a one X CD writer, which meant it copied at the speed it played. Every day I'd leave school, go to my room and sit for five to six hours copying CDs. I had my own surround sound system built. 1 test male False None -1029 Business was booming. By metric, I was bawling, making 500 rand a week. To put that in perspective, there are maids in South Africa who still earn less than that today. It's a shit salary if you're trying to support a family, but as a 16 year old living at home with no real expenses, I was living the dream. For the first time in my life, I had money, and it was the most liberating thing in the world. The first thing I learned about having money was that it gives you choices. Business was booming. By metric, I was bawling, making five hundred rand a week. To put that in perspective, there are maids in South Africa who still earn less than that today. It's a shit salary if you're trying to support a family, but as a sixteen year old living at home with no real expenses, I was living the dream. For the first time in my life, I had money, and it was the most liberating thing in the world. The first thing I learned about having money was that it gives you choices. 1 test male False None -1033 They didn't have super size at the time. Large was the biggest. So I walked up to the counter, feeling very impressed with myself, and I put down my money and said, I'll have a large number one. They didn't have super size at the time. Large was the biggest. So I walked up to the counter, feeling very impressed with myself, and I put down my money and said, I'll have a large number one. 1 test male False None -1038 Life was good, and none of it would have happened without Andrew. Without him, I would never have mastered the world of music piracy and lived a life of endless McDonald's. What he did on a small scale showed me how important it is to empower the dispossessed and the disenfranchised in the wake of oppression. Life was good, and none of it would have happened without Andrew. Without him, I would never have mastered the world of music piracy and lived a life of endless McDonald's. What he did on a small scale showed me how important it is to empower the dispossessed and the disenfranchised in the wake of oppression. 1 test male False None -1042 Working with Andrew was the first time in my life I realized you need someone from the privileged world to come to you and say, okay, here's what you need and here's how it works. Talent alone would have gotten me nowhere without Andrew giving me the CD writer. People say, oh, that's a handout. No, I still have to work to profit by it, but I don't stand a chance without it. Working with Andrew was the first time in my life I realized you need someone from the privileged world to come to you and say, okay, here's what you need and here's how it works. Talent alone would have gotten me nowhere without Andrew giving me the CD writer. People say, oh, that's a handout. No, I still have to work to profit by it, but I don't stand a chance without it. 1 test male False None -1047 Our first gig was a New Year's Eve party the summer we graduated from Sandringham. Bologna and I took my tower, my giant monitor, and all the cables and the keyboard and the mouse. We loaded everything up in a minibus and brought it over to Alex. We took over the street in front of his house, ran the electricity out of his place, set up the computer, set up the speakers, and borrowed a tent. And people came. It was explosive. Our first gig was a New Year's Eve party the summer we graduated from Sandringham. Bologna and I took my tower, my giant monitor, and all the cables and the keyboard and the mouse. We loaded everything up in a minibus and brought it over to Alex. We took over the street in front of his house, ran the electricity out of his place, set up the computer, set up the speakers, and borrowed a tent. And people came. It was explosive. 1 test male False None -1051 Thanks to my computer and modem, I was getting exclusive tracks few people had access to, but that created a problem for me. Sometimes, I'd play the new music at parties and people would stand around going, what is this? How do you dance to it? For example, if a DJ plays a song like, watch me whip, watch me nae nae, yeah, it's a catchy song, but what is a whip? What is a nae nae? For that song to be popular, you have to know how to do the whip Thanks to my computer and modem, I was getting exclusive tracks few people had access to, but that created a problem for me. Sometimes, I'd play the new music at parties and people would stand around going, what is this? How do you dance to it? For example, if a DJ plays a song like, watch me whip, watch me nae nae, yeah, it's a catchy song, but what is a whip? What is a nae nae? For that song to be popular, you have to know how to do the whip. 1 test male False None -1056 9 times out of 10, your European name was chosen at random, plucked from the Bible or taken from a Hollywood celebrity or a famous politician in the news. I know guys named after Mussolini and Napoleon and of course Hitler. nine times out of ten , your European name was chosen at random, plucked from the Bible or taken from a Hollywood celebrity or a famous politician in the news. I know guys named after Mussolini and Napoleon and of course Hitler. 1 test male False None -1060 At Sandringham, we were taught more about World War II than the typical black kids in the townships were, but only in a basic way. We weren't taught to think critically about Hitler and anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. We weren't taught, for instance, that the architects of apartheid were big fans of Hitler, and that the racist policies they put in place were inspired in part by the racist policies of the Third Reich. We weren't taught how to think about how Hitler related to the world we lived in. At Sandringham, we were taught more about World War II than the typical black kids in the townships were, but only in a basic way. We weren't taught to think critically about Hitler and anti Semitism and the Holocaust. We weren't taught, for instance, that the architects of apartheid were big fans of Hitler, and that the racist policies they put in place were inspired in part by the racist policies of the Third Reich. We weren't taught how to think about how Hitler related to the world we lived in. 1 test male False None -1065 So in Europe and America, yes, Hitler is the greatest madman in history. In Africa, he's just another strong man from the history books. In all my time hanging out with Hitler, I never once asked myself, why is his name Hitler? His name was Hitler because his mom named him Hitler. So in Europe and America, yes, Hitler is the greatest madman in history. In Africa, he's just another strong man from the history books. In all my time hanging out with Hitler, I never once asked myself, why is his name Hitler? His name was Hitler because his mom named him Hitler. 1 test male False None -107 As the British Empire fell, the Afrikaner rose up to claim South Africa as his rightful inheritance. To maintain power in the face of the country's rising and restless black majority, the government realized they needed a newer and more robust set of tools. They set up a formal commission to go out and study institutionalized racism all over the world. They went to Australia. They went to the Netherlands. They went to America. They saw what worked, what didn't. Then they came back As the British Empire fell, the Afrikaner rose up to claim South Africa as his rightful inheritance. To maintain power in the face of the country's rising and restless black majority, the government realized they needed a newer and more robust set of tools. They set up a formal commission to go out and study institutionalized racism all over the world. They went to Australia. They went to the Netherlands. They went to America. They saw what worked, what didn't. Then they came back. 1 test male False None -1074 My mind was racing, trying to figure out what she was talking about. Then it clicked. Hitler had a special dance move called Ospana Vah. It means where you work. And it was very sexual. His hips would gyrate and thrust like he was fucking the air. That was the move he was doing at the moment the teacher ran out. So clearly, the dance was the thing she found so disgusting. My mind was racing, trying to figure out what she was talking about. Then it clicked. Hitler had a special dance move called Ospana Vah. It means where you work. And it was very sexual. His hips would gyrate and thrust like he was fucking the air. That was the move he was doing at the moment the teacher ran out. So clearly, the dance was the thing she found so disgusting. 1 test male False None -1079 When democracy came, people flooded into Alex from the homelands, building new shacks in the backyards of other shacks with still more shacks attached to the backside of those shacks, growing more dense and more compressed, leaving close to 200,000 people living in a few square kilometers. Even if you go back today, Alex hasn't changed. It can't change. It's physically impossible for it to change. It can only be what it is. When democracy came, people flooded into Alex from the homelands, building new shacks in the backyards of other shacks with still more shacks attached to the backside of those shacks, growing more dense and more compressed, leaving close to two hundred , zero people living in a few square kilometers. Even if you go back today, Alex hasn't changed. It can't change. It's physically impossible for it to change. It can only be what it is. 1 test male False None -1083 Mungani lived in Alex, but I never visited him there while we were still in school. He'd always come to my house in Highlands North. Mungani lived in Alex, but I never visited him there while we were still in school. He'd always come to my house in Highlands North. 1 test male False None -1088 It's the same bustling, chaotic third world marketplace you see in James Bond and Jason Bourne movies. It's Grand Central Station, but outdoors. Everything's dynamic. Everything's in motion. Nothing feels like it was there yesterday, and nothing feels like it'll be there tomorrow. But every day, it looks exactly the same. It's the same bustling, chaotic third world marketplace you see in James Bond and Jason Bourne movies. It's Grand Central Station, but outdoors. Everything's dynamic. Everything's in motion. Nothing feels like it was there yesterday, and nothing feels like it'll be there tomorrow. But every day, it looks exactly the same. 1 test male False None -1092 Then, ten minutes later, it's like it never happened. Everyone's back to hanging out, back to the hustle, coming and going, running around. Then, ten minutes later, it's like it never happened. Everyone's back to hanging out, back to the hustle, coming and going, running around. 1 test male False None -1097 The hood was a complete sensory overload for me. But within the chaos there was order, a system, a social hierarchy based on where you lived. First Avenue was not cool at all because it was right next to the commotion of the minibus rank. Second Avenue was nice because it had semi-houses that were built when there was still some sort of formal settlement going on. Third, fourth and fifth avenues were nicer for the township. These were the established families. The hood was a complete sensory overload for me. But within the chaos there was order, a system, a social hierarchy based on where you lived. First Avenue was not cool at all because it was right next to the commotion of the minibus rank. Second Avenue was nice because it had semi houses that were built when there was still some sort of formal settlement going on. Third, fourth and fifth avenues were nicer for the township. These were the established families. 1 test male False None -1100 Another nice thing about the hood was that it's super cheap. You can get by on next to nothing. There's a meal you can get in the hood called a gorta. It's a quarter loaf of bread. You scrape out the bread, then you fill it with fried potatoes, a slice of bologna, and some pickled mango relish called acha. That costs a couple of rand. The more money you have, the more upgrades you can buy. If you have a bit more money, you can throw in a hot dog. If you have a bit more than that, Another nice thing about the hood was that it's super cheap. You can get by on next to nothing. There's a meal you can get in the hood called a gorta. It's a quarter loaf of bread. You scrape out the bread, then you fill it with fried potatoes, a slice of bologna, and some pickled mango relish called acha. That costs a couple of rand. The more money you have, the more upgrades you can buy. If you have a bit more money, you can throw in a hot dog. If you have a bit more than that,. 1 test male False None -1105 The unemployment rate, technically speaking, was lower in South Africa during apartheid. Which makes sense. There was slavery. That's how everyone was employed. When democracy came, everyone had to be paid a minimum wage. The cost of labor went up and suddenly, millions of people were out of work. The unemployment rate, technically speaking, was lower in South Africa during apartheid. Which makes sense. There was slavery. That's how everyone was employed. When democracy came, everyone had to be paid a minimum wage. The cost of labor went up and suddenly, millions of people were out of work. 1 test male False None -111 Imagine all three of those things happening to the same group of people at the same time. Imagine all three of those things happening to the same group of people at the same time. 1 test male False None -1114 When things were slow, we'd wander back and forth between the container and the wall, talking and hanging out with the other people with nothing to do in the middle of the day. We'd talk to drug dealers, talk to gangsters. Every now and then, the cops would come crashing through. A day in the life of the hood. Next day, same thing. When things were slow, we'd wander back and forth between the container and the wall, talking and hanging out with the other people with nothing to do in the middle of the day. We'd talk to drug dealers, talk to gangsters. Every now and then, the cops would come crashing through. A day in the life of the hood. Next day, same thing. 1 test male False None -1119 Cash is the one thing everyone in the hood needs. Everyone's looking for a short-term loan for something, to pay a bill, or pay a fine, or just hold things together. People started coming to us and asking for money. Bongani would cut a deal and then he'd come to me. Yo, we're going to make a deal with this guy. We're going to loan him a hundred and he's going to give us back 120 at the end of the week. I'd say okay. Then the guy would come back and give us 120 rand. Then we did it again. Cash is the one thing everyone in the hood needs. Everyone's looking for a short term loan for something, to pay a bill, or pay a fine, or just hold things together. People started coming to us and asking for money. Bongani would cut a deal and then he'd come to me. Yo, we're going to make a deal with this guy. We're going to loan him a hundred and he's going to give us back one hundred and twenty at the end of the week. I'd say okay. Then the guy would come back and give us one hundred and twenty rand. Then we did it again. 1 test male False None -1123 I understand you can't pay for the DVD player now, Bongani says. But how much are you willing to pay for it? I'll pay $120, he says. Okay, cool. Then Bongani takes the crackhead aside. How much do you want for the DVD player? I want $140. Okay, listen. You're a crackhead. This is a stolen DVD player. I'm gonna give you $50. I understand you can't pay for the DVD player now, Bongani says. But how much are you willing to pay for it? I'll pay one hundred and twenty , he says. Okay, cool. Then Bongani takes the crackhead aside. How much do you want for the DVD player? I want one hundred and forty . Okay, listen. You're a crackhead. This is a stolen DVD player. I'm gonna give you fifty . 1 test male False None -1127.02 I remember one time, we bought a car stereo or something like that. I remember one time, we bought a car stereo or something like that. 1 test male False None -1127.07 Yeah, when white people lose stuff, they have insurance policies that pay them cash for what they've lost. Yeah, when white people lose stuff, they have insurance policies that pay them cash for what they've lost. 1 test male False None -1128 And that was as far as we ever thought about it. When white people lose stuff, they get money. Just another nice perk of being white. And that was as far as we ever thought about it. When white people lose stuff, they get money. Just another nice perk of being white. 1 test male False None -1132 When Bongani first said to me, let's go to the hood, I thought we were going to sell CDs and DJ parties in the hood. It turned out that we were selling CDs and DJing parties in order to capitalize a payday lending and pawn shop operation in the hood. Very quickly, that became our core business. When Bongani first said to me, let's go to the hood, I thought we were going to sell CDs and DJ parties in the hood. It turned out that we were selling CDs and DJing parties in order to capitalize a payday lending and pawn shop operation in the hood. Very quickly, that became our core business. 1 test male False None -1137 After lunch, business would die down, and that's when we'd get our lunch, usually the cheapest thing we could afford, like a smiley with some maize meal. A smiley is a goat's head. They are boiled and covered with chili pepper. We call them smileys because when you're done eating all the meat off of it, the goat looks like it's smiling at you from the plate. The cheeks and the tongue are quite delicious, but the eyes are disgusting. After lunch, business would die down, and that's when we'd get our lunch, usually the cheapest thing we could afford, like a smiley with some maize meal. A smiley is a goat's head. They are boiled and covered with chili pepper. We call them smileys because when you're done eating all the meat off of it, the goat looks like it's smiling at you from the plate. The cheeks and the tongue are quite delicious, but the eyes are disgusting. 1 test male False None -1141 They went to school, came straight home and went straight into the house. They weren't allowed to leave. Boys weren't allowed to talk to them, weren't even allowed to hang around the house, none of that. Some guy was always going on about some locked away girl. She's so beautiful, I'll do anything to get with her. But he couldn't, nobody could. They went to school, came straight home and went straight into the house. They weren't allowed to leave. Boys weren't allowed to talk to them, weren't even allowed to hang around the house, none of that. Some guy was always going on about some locked away girl. She's so beautiful, I'll do anything to get with her. But he couldn't, nobody could. 1 test male False None -1146.01 after work was when business started to pick up. after work was when business started to pick up. 1 test male False None -1146.06 DVD players, CD players, PlayStation games. DVD players, CD players, PlayStation games. 1 test male False None -1146.11 It's a guy selling shoes. It's a guy selling shoes. 1 test male False None -1147 One time he brought us an electric razor. What the hell is this? It's an electric razor. An electric razor? We're black! Do you know what these things do to our skin? Do you see anyone around here who can use an electric razor? One time he brought us an electric razor. What the hell is this? It's an electric razor. An electric razor? We're black! Do you know what these things do to our skin? Do you see anyone around here who can use an electric razor?. 1 test male False None -1151 The tricky thing about the hood is that you're always working, working, working, and you feel like something's happening. But rarely, nothing's happening at all. The tricky thing about the hood is that you're always working, working, working, and you feel like something's happening. But rarely, nothing's happening at all. 1 test male False None -1156 When I first went into Alex, I was drawn by the electricity and the excitement of it. But more important, I was accepted there. More so than I'd been in high school or anywhere else. When I first showed up, a couple of people raised an eyebrow. Who is this colored kid? But the hood doesn't judge. If you want to be there, you can be there. Because I didn't live in the hood, I was technically an outsider in the hood. But for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like one. When I first went into Alex, I was drawn by the electricity and the excitement of it. But more important, I was accepted there. More so than I'd been in high school or anywhere else. When I first showed up, a couple of people raised an eyebrow. Who is this colored kid? But the hood doesn't judge. If you want to be there, you can be there. Because I didn't live in the hood, I was technically an outsider in the hood. But for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like one. 1 test male False None -1160 People take care of one another. The way it works in the hood is that if any mom asks you to do something, you have to say yes. Can I send you is the phrase. It's like everyone's your mom and you're everyone's kid. Can I send you? Yeah, what do you need? I need you to go buy milk and bread. Yeah, cool. People take care of one another. The way it works in the hood is that if any mom asks you to do something, you have to say yes. Can I send you is the phrase. It's like everyone's your mom and you're everyone's kid. Can I send you? Yeah, what do you need? I need you to go buy milk and bread. Yeah, cool. 1 test male False None -1165 The hood was strangely comforting, but comfort can be dangerous. Comfort provides a floor, but also a ceiling. In our crew, our friend G was like the rest of us, unemployed, hanging out. Then he got a job at a nice clothing store. Every morning, he went to work, and the guys would tease him about going to work. We'd see him headed out, all dressed up, and everyone would be laughing at him. The hood was strangely comforting, but comfort can be dangerous. Comfort provides a floor, but also a ceiling. In our crew, our friend G was like the rest of us, unemployed, hanging out. Then he got a job at a nice clothing store. Every morning, he went to work, and the guys would tease him about going to work. We'd see him headed out, all dressed up, and everyone would be laughing at him. 1 test male False None -117 In any society built on institutionalized racism, race mixing doesn't merely challenge the system as unjust, it reveals the system as unsustainable and incoherent. Race mixing proves that races can mix, and in a lot of cases, want to mix. Because a mixed person embodies that rebuke to the logic of the system, race mixing becomes a crime worse than treason. In any society built on institutionalized racism, race mixing doesn't merely challenge the system as unjust, it reveals the system as unsustainable and incoherent. Race mixing proves that races can mix, and in a lot of cases, want to mix. Because a mixed person embodies that rebuke to the logic of the system, race mixing becomes a crime worse than treason. 1 test male False None -1174 Windows 95 took forever to shut down. I was closing windows, shutting down programs. I had one of those fat Seagate drives that damaged easily and I didn't want to cut the power and possibly damage the drive. This cop clearly didn't give a fuck about any of that. Shut it down! Shut it down! I am shutting it down. I have to close the programs. The crowd was getting angry and the cop was getting nervous. He turned his gun away from me and shut the computer. Windows ninety five took forever to shut down. I was closing windows, shutting down programs. I had one of those fat Seagate drives that damaged easily and I didn't want to cut the power and possibly damage the drive. This cop clearly didn't give a fuck about any of that. Shut it down! Shut it down! I am shutting it down. I have to close the programs. The crowd was getting angry and the cop was getting nervous. He turned his gun away from me and shut the computer. 1 test male False None -1179 I'll never forget that camera. It was a digital camera. We bought it from him, and I took it and turned it on. It was full of pictures of a nice white family on vacation, and I felt like shit. The other things we'd bought had never mattered to me. Nikes, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, who cares? I'll never forget that camera. It was a digital camera. We bought it from him, and I took it and turned it on. It was full of pictures of a nice white family on vacation, and I felt like shit. The other things we'd bought had never mattered to me. Nikes, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, who cares?. 1 test male False None -1183 We live in a world where we don't see the ramifications of what we do to others, because we don't live with them. It would be a whole lot harder for an investment banker to rip off people with subprime mortgages if he actually had to live with the people he was ripping off. We live in a world where we don't see the ramifications of what we do to others, because we don't live with them. It would be a whole lot harder for an investment banker to rip off people with subprime mortgages if he actually had to live with the people he was ripping off. 1 test male False None -1188 We took a minibus over to Diebglueff the night of the dance. Me and Bongani, Mz and Beggy and G and Hitler. Hector won the competition. Then G was caught kissing one of their girls and it turned into a fight and everything broke down. We took a minibus over to Diebglueff the night of the dance. Me and Bongani, Mz and Beggy and G and Hitler. Hector won the competition. Then G was caught kissing one of their girls and it turned into a fight and everything broke down. 1 test male False None -1192 At a certain point, we realized what was going on. This cop was shaking us down for a bribe. Spot-Fine is the euphemism everyone uses. You go through this elaborate dance with the cop where you say the thing without saying the thing. At a certain point, we realized what was going on. This cop was shaking us down for a bribe. Spot Fine is the euphemism everyone uses. You go through this elaborate dance with the cop where you say the thing without saying the thing. 1 test male False None -1197 We spent the night. We spent the night. 1 test male False None -12.3 He puts his head down and fights. He puts his head down and fights. 1 test male False None -1201 The guard looked at me confused. Eventually, he let me go on the assumption that I was some wayward orphan, because what mother would send her ten-year-old child to jail? The guard looked at me confused. Eventually, he let me go on the assumption that I was some wayward orphan, because what mother would send her ten year old child to jail?. 1 test male False None -1205.02 It was so common that out on the corner we had a sign for it, a shorthand, clapping your wrists together like you were being put in handcuffs. It was so common that out on the corner we had a sign for it, a shorthand, clapping your wrists together like you were being put in handcuffs. 1 test male False None -1205.07 She didn't hate them personally, she hated what they represented. She didn't hate them personally, she hated what they represented. 1 test male False None -1207 One morning, I saw an ad in the paper. Some shop was having a clearance sale on mobile phones, and they were selling them at such a ridiculous price, I knew Bongani and I could flip them in the hood for a profit. This shop was out in the suburbs, too far to walk and too out of the way to take a minibus. Fortunately, my stepfather's workshop and a bunch of old cars were in our backyard. One morning, I saw an ad in the paper. Some shop was having a clearance sale on mobile phones, and they were selling them at such a ridiculous price, I knew Bongani and I could flip them in the hood for a profit. This shop was out in the suburbs, too far to walk and too out of the way to take a minibus. Fortunately, my stepfather's workshop and a bunch of old cars were in our backyard. 1 test male False None -1211 When the cop pulled me over, it was one of those situations where I wanted to say, When the cop pulled me over, it was one of those situations where I wanted to say,. 1 test male False None -1216 I was in deep, deep trouble. I had only one lifeline. My parents. I was in deep, deep trouble. I had only one lifeline. My parents. 1 test male False None -1220 I needed someone sympathetic to my plight, and I didn't believe she was that person. So I didn't call my parents. I decided I didn't need them. I was a man. I could go it alone. I needed someone sympathetic to my plight, and I didn't believe she was that person. So I didn't call my parents. I decided I didn't need them. I was a man. I could go it alone. 1 test male False None -1225 This cop pulled me aside and said, listen, you don't want to go to a bail hearing. They'll give you a state attorney who won't know what's going on. He'll have no time for you. He'll ask the judge for a postponement and then maybe you'll go free or maybe you won't. Trust me, you don't want to do that. You have the right to stay here for as long as you like. You want to meet with a lawyer and set yourself up before you go anywhere near a court or a judge. This cop pulled me aside and said, listen, you don't want to go to a bail hearing. They'll give you a state attorney who won't know what's going on. He'll have no time for you. He'll ask the judge for a postponement and then maybe you'll go free or maybe you won't. Trust me, you don't want to do that. You have the right to stay here for as long as you like. You want to meet with a lawyer and set yourself up before you go anywhere near a court or a judge. 1 test male False None -123 If you ask my mother whether she ever considered the ramifications of having a mixed child under apartheid, she will say no. She wanted to do something, figured out a way to do it, and then she did it. She had a level of fearlessness that you have to possess to take on something like she did. If you ask my mother whether she ever considered the ramifications of having a mixed child under apartheid, she will say no. She wanted to do something, figured out a way to do it, and then she did it. She had a level of fearlessness that you have to possess to take on something like she did. 1 test male False None -1234 I'm thinking, I'm going to get raped. I'm going to get raped. I'm going to get raped. Of course, I didn't get raped because this wasn't prison. It was jail. And there's a big difference as I would soon come to understand. I'm thinking, I'm going to get raped. I'm going to get raped. I'm going to get raped. Of course, I didn't get raped because this wasn't prison. It was jail. And there's a big difference as I would soon come to understand. 1 test male False None -1239 By the time I was a teenager, anytime I was profiled by cops or security guards, it usually wasn't because I was black, but because I looked colored. I went to a club once with my cousin and his friend. The bouncer searched him lungisi, waved him in. He searched our friend, waved him in. Then he searched me and got up in my face. Where's your knife? I don't have a knife. I know you have a knife somewhere. Where is it? He searched and searched. By the time I was a teenager, anytime I was profiled by cops or security guards, it usually wasn't because I was black, but because I looked colored. I went to a club once with my cousin and his friend. The bouncer searched him lungisi, waved him in. He searched our friend, waved him in. Then he searched me and got up in my face. Where's your knife? I don't have a knife. I know you have a knife somewhere. Where is it? He searched and searched. 1 test male False None -1240.004 Anytime the cops asked me questions, I started speaking in broken-off recounts with a thick-colored accent. Anytime the cops asked me questions, I started speaking in broken off recounts with a thick colored accent. 1 test male False None -1240.009 This was my brilliant plan to survive incarceration. This was my brilliant plan to survive incarceration. 1 test male False None -1240.014 When I walked in that first night, everyone was giving me this look. When I walked in that first night, everyone was giving me this look. 1 test male False None -1240.019 Then, the next day, everything turned over quickly. Then, the next day, everything turned over quickly. 1 test male False None -1241 At a certain point, it occurred to me that every single person in that cell might be faking it. We were all decent guys from nice neighborhoods and good families, picked up for unpaid parking tickets and other infractions. We could have been having a great time, sharing meals, playing cards and talking about women and soccer. But that didn't happen, because everyone had adopted this dangerous pose and nobody talked because everyone was afraid of who the other guys were pretending to be. At a certain point, it occurred to me that every single person in that cell might be faking it. We were all decent guys from nice neighborhoods and good families, picked up for unpaid parking tickets and other infractions. We could have been having a great time, sharing meals, playing cards and talking about women and soccer. But that didn't happen, because everyone had adopted this dangerous pose and nobody talked because everyone was afraid of who the other guys were pretending to be. 1 test male False None -1246 For whatever reason, this guy was half naked when the cops picked him up. He was wearing clothes the police had scrounged up for him at the station. This torn-up wife-beater that was way too small. Pants so short on him they looked like capris. He looked like a black version of the Incredible Hulk. This guy went and sat alone in the corner. Nobody said a word. Everyone watched and waited, nervously, to see what he would do. For whatever reason, this guy was half naked when the cops picked him up. He was wearing clothes the police had scrounged up for him at the station. This torn up wife beater that was way too small. Pants so short on him they looked like capris. He looked like a black version of the Incredible Hulk. This guy went and sat alone in the corner. Nobody said a word. Everyone watched and waited, nervously, to see what he would do. 1 test male False None -1250 That is exactly what happened with the Hulk. The second I spoke to him, this face that it seems so threatening and mean lit up with gratitude. Ah, nakans, a nakans, a nakans, a yu enamani. Mufana wa kalid. Ui sti bakwini stu chongga. Uma kwini. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Who are you? How does a kalid guy know chongga? Where are you from? That is exactly what happened with the Hulk. The second I spoke to him, this face that it seems so threatening and mean lit up with gratitude. Ah, nakans, a nakans, a nakans, a yu enamani. Mufana wa kalid. Ui sti bakwini stu chongga. Uma kwini. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Who are you? How does a kalid guy know chongga? Where are you from?. 1 test male False None -1255 Then apartheid ends, and he doesn't even have that anymore. Then apartheid ends, and he doesn't even have that anymore. 1 test male False None -126 So, true to her nature, she found an option that was not among the ones presented to her. She took a secretarial course, a typing class. At the time, a black woman learning how to type was like a blind person learning how to drive. It's an admirable effort, but you're unlikely to ever be called upon to execute the task. So, true to her nature, she found an option that was not among the ones presented to her. She took a secretarial course, a typing class. At the time, a black woman learning how to type was like a blind person learning how to drive. It's an admirable effort, but you're unlikely to ever be called upon to execute the task. 1 test male False None -1264 Angas en gibon in tote en te ganga gaga. Guzo fiwa nam shanje. Angas en gibon in tote en te ganga gaga. Guzo fiwa nam shanje. 1 test male False None -1269 That day, I picked white. They just didn't look like they could hurt me. It was a handful of average middle-aged white dudes. I walked over to them. We hung out for a while, chatted a bit. They were mostly in for white-collar crimes, money schemes, fraud and racketeering. They'd be useless if anyone came over looking to start trouble. They'd get their asses kicked as well, but they weren't going to do anything to me. I was safe. That day, I picked white. They just didn't look like they could hurt me. It was a handful of average middle aged white dudes. I walked over to them. We hung out for a while, chatted a bit. They were mostly in for white collar crimes, money schemes, fraud and racketeering. They'd be useless if anyone came over looking to start trouble. They'd get their asses kicked as well, but they weren't going to do anything to me. I was safe. 1 test male False None -1273 The bailiff read out my case number and the judge looked up at me. The bailiff read out my case number and the judge looked up at me. 1 test male False None -1278 The thought of anything worse, the thought of doing real time in prison, I couldn't even imagine. The thought of anything worse, the thought of doing real time in prison, I couldn't even imagine. 1 test male False None -1282 Who do you think paid your lawyer? Who do you think paid your lawyer?. 1 test male False None -1287 If I don't punish you, the world will punish you, even worse. The world doesn't love you. If the police get you, the police don't love you. When I beat you, I'm trying to save you. If I don't punish you, the world will punish you, even worse. The world doesn't love you. If the police get you, the police don't love you. When I beat you, I'm trying to save you. 1 test male False None -1291 My mom and I had different ideas about how Jesus worked. She believed that you pray to Jesus and then Jesus pitches up and does the thing you need. My views on Jesus were more reality-based. My mom and I had different ideas about how Jesus worked. She believed that you pray to Jesus and then Jesus pitches up and does the thing you need. My views on Jesus were more reality based. 1 test male False None -1296 I can only assume that my mother broke more than a few hearts in her day. But from the time I was born, there were only two men in her life. My father and my stepfather. I can only assume that my mother broke more than a few hearts in her day. But from the time I was born, there were only two men in her life. My father and my stepfather. 1 test male False None -13.2 pride themselves on being the thinkers. pride themselves on being the thinkers. 1 test male False None -13.7 Let's see what tools they possess that can be useful to us. Let's see what tools they possess that can be useful to us. 1 test male False None -1301 Abel was always cool with me. He wasn't trying to be my dad, and my dad was still in my life, so I wasn't looking for anyone to replace him. That's mom's cool friend, is how I thought of him. He started coming out to stay with us in Eden Park. Some nights he'd want us to crash with him at his converted garage flat in Orange Grove, which we did. Then I burned down the white people's house and that was the end of that. From then on, we lived together in Eden Park. Abel was always cool with me. He wasn't trying to be my dad, and my dad was still in my life, so I wasn't looking for anyone to replace him. That's mom's cool friend, is how I thought of him. He started coming out to stay with us in Eden Park. Some nights he'd want us to crash with him at his converted garage flat in Orange Grove, which we did. Then I burned down the white people's house and that was the end of that. From then on, we lived together in Eden Park. 1 test male False None -1306 If there was any doubt about Abel, the truth was right there in front of us all along, in his name. He was Abel, the good brother, the good son, a name straight out of the Bible, and he lived up to it as well. He was the firstborn, dutiful, took care of his mother, took care of his siblings. He was the pride of his family. But Abel was his English name. His Tzonga name was Ngisaveni. It means, be afraid. If there was any doubt about Abel, the truth was right there in front of us all along, in his name. He was Abel, the good brother, the good son, a name straight out of the Bible, and he lived up to it as well. He was the firstborn, dutiful, took care of his mother, took care of his siblings. He was the pride of his family. But Abel was his English name. His Tzonga name was Ngisaveni. It means, be afraid. 1 test male False None -1310 I was made to run off and have fun while my girl's step cousins had to clean the house and help the women cook. I was in heaven. I was made to run off and have fun while my girl's step cousins had to clean the house and help the women cook. I was in heaven. 1 test male False None -1315 To Abel, it looked like his wife didn't respect him. Every other man had some docile girl from the village, and here he'd come with this modern woman, a cosa woman no less, a culture whose women were thought of as particularly loud-mouthed and promiscuous. The two of them fought and bickered the whole time, and after that first trip, my mother refused to go back. To Abel, it looked like his wife didn't respect him. Every other man had some docile girl from the village, and here he'd come with this modern woman, a cosa woman no less, a culture whose women were thought of as particularly loud mouthed and promiscuous. The two of them fought and bickered the whole time, and after that first trip, my mother refused to go back. 1 test male False None -132 The ultimate goal of apartheid was to make South Africa a white country, with every black person stripped of his or her citizenship and relocated to live in the homelands, the Bantu Stands, semi-sovereign black territories that were in reality puppet states of the government in Pretoria. But this so-called white country could not function without black labor to produce its wealth, which meant black people had to be allowed to live near white areas in the townships. Government plan ghettos built to house The ultimate goal of apartheid was to make South Africa a white country, with every black person stripped of his or her citizenship and relocated to live in the homelands, the Bantu Stands, semi sovereign black territories that were in reality puppet states of the government in Pretoria. But this so called white country could not function without black labor to produce its wealth, which meant black people had to be allowed to live near white areas in the townships. Government plan ghettos built to house. 1 test male False None -1324 He's like an exotic bird collector, she said. He only wants a woman who is free, because his dream is to put her in a cage. He's like an exotic bird collector, she said. He only wants a woman who is free, because his dream is to put her in a cage. 1 test male False None -1329 She came back into the bedroom, picked up the phone and called my grandmother. She started going on and on about Abel and his drinking. This man, he is going to kill us one day. He almost burnt the house down. Abel walked into the bedroom, very calm, very quiet. His eyes were blood red, his eyelids heavy. He put his finger on the cradle and hung up the call. My mom lost it. How dare you? She came back into the bedroom, picked up the phone and called my grandmother. She started going on and on about Abel and his drinking. This man, he is going to kill us one day. He almost burnt the house down. Abel walked into the bedroom, very calm, very quiet. His eyes were blood red, his eyelids heavy. He put his finger on the cradle and hung up the call. My mom lost it. How dare you?. 1 test male False None -1333 My mom kept insisting that they take a statement and open a case. And they actually refused. They refused to write up a charge sheet. This is a family thing, they said. You don't want to involve the police. Maybe you want to think it over and come back in the morning. My mom kept insisting that they take a statement and open a case. And they actually refused. They refused to write up a charge sheet. This is a family thing, they said. You don't want to involve the police. Maybe you want to think it over and come back in the morning. 1 test male False None -1338 My grandmother convinced my mom that she should give Abel a second chance. Her argument was basically, all men do it. My grandfather, temperance, had hit her. Leaving Abel was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again. And at least Abel was willing to apologize. So my mom decided to give him another chance. We drove back to Eden Park together. And for years, nothing. For years, Abel didn't lay a finger on her. My grandmother convinced my mom that she should give Abel a second chance. Her argument was basically, all men do it. My grandfather, temperance, had hit her. Leaving Abel was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again. And at least Abel was willing to apologize. So my mom decided to give him another chance. We drove back to Eden Park together. And for years, nothing. For years, Abel didn't lay a finger on her. 1 test male False None -1342 When you first go into business, there are so many things nobody tells you. That's especially true when you are two young black people, a secretary and a mechanic, coming out of a time when blacks had never been allowed to own businesses at all. One of the things nobody tells you is that when you buy a business, you buy its debt. After my mom and Abel opened up the books on Mighty Mechanic and came to a full realization of what they'd bought, they saw how much trouble the company was already in. When you first go into business, there are so many things nobody tells you. That's especially true when you are two young black people, a secretary and a mechanic, coming out of a time when blacks had never been allowed to own businesses at all. One of the things nobody tells you is that when you buy a business, you buy its debt. After my mom and Abel opened up the books on Mighty Mechanic and came to a full realization of what they'd bought, they saw how much trouble the company was already in. 1 test male False None -1347 Since Mighty Mechanics was now a family business, and I was family, I also had to work. There was no more time for play. There wasn't even time for homework. I'd walk home, the school uniform would come off, the overalls would go on, and I'd get under the hood of some sedan. I got to a point where I could do a basic service on a car by myself, and often I did. Abel would say, that Honda, minor service. And I'd get under the hood, day in and day out. Since Mighty Mechanics was now a family business, and I was family, I also had to work. There was no more time for play. There wasn't even time for homework. I'd walk home, the school uniform would come off, the overalls would go on, and I'd get under the hood of some sedan. I got to a point where I could do a basic service on a car by myself, and often I did. Abel would say, that Honda, minor service. And I'd get under the hood, day in and day out. 1 test male False None -1351 They're these spiny, brightly colored caterpillars the size of your finger. They're nothing like escargot, where someone took a snail and gave it a fancy name. They're fucking worms. They have black spines that prick the roof of your mouth as you're eating them. When you bite into a mopaniworm, it's not uncommon for its yellow-green excrement to squirt into your mouth. They're these spiny, brightly colored caterpillars the size of your finger. They're nothing like escargot, where someone took a snail and gave it a fancy name. They're fucking worms. They have black spines that prick the roof of your mouth as you're eating them. When you bite into a mopaniworm, it's not uncommon for its yellow green excrement to squirt into your mouth. 1 test male False None -1356 At a certain point, in order to try to save the garage, my mother quit her job at ICI and stepped in to help him run the workshop. She brought her office skills to the garage full-time and started keeping the books, making the schedule, balancing the accounts. And it was going well. Until Abel started to feel like she was running his business. People started commenting on it as well. Clients were getting their cars on time. Vendors were getting paid on time. And they would say, hey, A.B., At a certain point, in order to try to save the garage, my mother quit her job at ICI and stepped in to help him run the workshop. She brought her office skills to the garage full time and started keeping the books, making the schedule, balancing the accounts. And it was going well. Until Abel started to feel like she was running his business. People started commenting on it as well. Clients were getting their cars on time. Vendors were getting paid on time. And they would say, hey, A.B.,. 1 test male False None -1360 I grew up in a world of violence, but I myself was never violent at all. Yes, I played pranks and set fires and broke windows, but I never attacked people. I never hit anyone. I was never angry. I just didn't see myself that way. My mother had exposed me to a different world than the one she grew up in. She bought me the books she never got to read. She took me to the schools that she never got to go to. I grew up in a world of violence, but I myself was never violent at all. Yes, I played pranks and set fires and broke windows, but I never attacked people. I never hit anyone. I was never angry. I just didn't see myself that way. My mother had exposed me to a different world than the one she grew up in. She bought me the books she never got to read. She took me to the schools that she never got to go to. 1 test male False None -1365.01 I started stammering out more bullshit. I started stammering out more bullshit. 1 test male False None -1365.06 He was that strong. He was that strong. 1 test male False None -1365.11 It was the most terrifying moment of my life. It was the most terrifying moment of my life. 1 test male False None -1365.16 It didn't feel like something that would end with me learning a lesson about forging my mom's signature. It felt like something that would end when he wanted it to end. It didn't feel like something that would end with me learning a lesson about forging my mom's signature. It felt like something that would end when he wanted it to end. 1 test male False None -1368 The moment I saw him, I put my head down and ran. I ran like the devil was chasing me. Abel was bigger and faster. But this was my neighborhood. You couldn't catch me in my neighborhood. I knew every alley and every street, every wall to climb over, every fence to slip through. I was ducking through traffic, cutting through yards. I have no idea when he gave up because I never looked back. I ran and ran and ran as far as my legs would carry me. The moment I saw him, I put my head down and ran. I ran like the devil was chasing me. Abel was bigger and faster. But this was my neighborhood. You couldn't catch me in my neighborhood. I knew every alley and every street, every wall to climb over, every fence to slip through. I was ducking through traffic, cutting through yards. I have no idea when he gave up because I never looked back. I ran and ran and ran as far as my legs would carry me. 1 test male False None -1372 When Mighty Mechanics went under, Abel had to get his cars out. Someone was taking over the property, there were liens against his assets. It was a mess. That's when he started running his workshop out of our yard. It's also when my mother divorced him. When Mighty Mechanics went under, Abel had to get his cars out. Someone was taking over the property, there were liens against his assets. It was a mess. That's when he started running his workshop out of our yard. It's also when my mother divorced him. 1 test male False None -1377 No report was made, no charges were filed. No report was made, no charges were filed. 1 test male False None -1381 Abel was one of those drinkers where, once he was gone, you'd look into his eyes and you didn't even see the same person. Abel was one of those drinkers where, once he was gone, you'd look into his eyes and you didn't even see the same person. 1 test male False None -1386 I'd usually go find Fufi, wherever she was hiding, and be with her. I'd usually go find Fufi, wherever she was hiding, and be with her. 1 test male False None -1390 Slowly, slowly, life goes back to how it was. Six months, a year later, you do it all again. Slowly, slowly, life goes back to how it was. Six months, a year later, you do it all again. 1 test male False None -1395 It was also just time for me to go. Regardless of Abel, our plan had always been for me to move out after school. My mother never wanted me to be like my uncle, one of those men unemployed and still living at home with his mother. It was also just time for me to go. Regardless of Abel, our plan had always been for me to move out after school. My mother never wanted me to be like my uncle, one of those men unemployed and still living at home with his mother. 1 test male False None -14.1 The Zulu went to war with the white man. The Zulu went to war with the white man. 1 test male False None -140.04 My mother never knew whom to trust, whom I turn her into the police. My mother never knew whom to trust, whom I turn her into the police. 1 test male False None -1401 Abel and I, we made up. I moved back into the bedroom. It was just one night and then I became pregnant. I don't know how. She didn't know. She was 44 years old. She'd had her tubes tied after Andrew. Even her doctor said, this shouldn't be possible. We don't know how this happened. I was boiling with rage. All we had to do was wait for Andrew to grow up and it was going to be over. And now Abel and I, we made up. I moved back into the bedroom. It was just one night and then I became pregnant. I don't know how. She didn't know. She was forty four years old. She'd had her tubes tied after Andrew. Even her doctor said, this shouldn't be possible. We don't know how this happened. I was boiling with rage. All we had to do was wait for Andrew to grow up and it was going to be over. And now. 1 test male False None -1406 You can't keep doing this," I said. This is not right. You can't keep doing this," I said. This is not right. 1 test male False None -1410.01 when my mom had decided to keep Isaac. when my mom had decided to keep Isaac. 1 test male False None -1410.06 I was done. I was done. 1 test male False None -1412 Honey, I know what you're going through, she said. At one point I had to disown my family to go off and live my own life too. I understand why you need to do the same. Honey, I know what you're going through, she said. At one point I had to disown my family to go off and live my own life too. I understand why you need to do the same. 1 test male False None -1417 She never let me see us as victims. We were victims. Me and my mom, Andrew and Isaac. She never let me see us as victims. We were victims. Me and my mom, Andrew and Isaac. 1 test male False None -1421 Where does a woman go when she leaves one man who hits her and is just as likely to wind up with another man who hits her? Maybe even worse than the first. Where does a woman go when she's single with three kids and she lives in a society that makes her a pariah for being a manless woman? Where she's seen as a whore for doing that? Where does she go? What does she do? Where does a woman go when she leaves one man who hits her and is just as likely to wind up with another man who hits her? Maybe even worse than the first. Where does a woman go when she's single with three kids and she lives in a society that makes her a pariah for being a manless woman? Where she's seen as a whore for doing that? Where does she go? What does she do?. 1 test male False None -1426 Eventually, she did leave. What prompted her to leave? What the final breaking point was? I have no idea. I was gone. I was off becoming a comedian, touring the country, playing shows in England, hosting radio shows, hosting television shows. I'd moved in with my cousin, Lungisi, and made my own life separate from hers. I couldn't invest myself anymore, because it would have broken me into too many pieces. Eventually, she did leave. What prompted her to leave? What the final breaking point was? I have no idea. I was gone. I was off becoming a comedian, touring the country, playing shows in England, hosting radio shows, hosting television shows. I'd moved in with my cousin, Lungisi, and made my own life separate from hers. I couldn't invest myself anymore, because it would have broken me into too many pieces. 1 test male False None -1430 Then, one morning, I was in bed around 10am, and my phone rang. Then, one morning, I was in bed around ten am, and my phone rang. 1 test male False None -1435 Okay, so there were two strange things about the call. Okay, so there were two strange things about the call. 1 test male False None -144 I know that there was a genuine bond and a love between my parents. I saw it. But how romantic their relationship was, to what extent they were just friends, I can't say. These are things a child doesn't ask. All I do know is that one day she made her proposal. I know that there was a genuine bond and a love between my parents. I saw it. But how romantic their relationship was, to what extent they were just friends, I can't say. These are things a child doesn't ask. All I do know is that one day she made her proposal. 1 test male False None -1444 It was an expression of raw pain that came from an inability of my body to express that pain in any other way, shape or form. It was an expression of raw pain that came from an inability of my body to express that pain in any other way, shape or form. 1 test male False None -1449 The doctors kept working and there was nothing I could do to help her. I went back outside to be with Andrew. We sat down together and he told me the story. The doctors kept working and there was nothing I could do to help her. I went back outside to be with Andrew. We sat down together and he told me the story. 1 test male False None -145.05 I'm Catholic, he said. I'm Catholic, he said. 1 test male False None -145 I want to have a kid," she told him. I don't want kids, he said. I didn't ask you to have a kid. I asked you to help me to have my kid. I just want the sperm from you. I'm Catholic, he said. We don't do such things. You do know, she replied, that I could sleep with you and go away and you would never know if you had a child or not. But I don't want that. Honor me with your yes so that I can live peacefully. I want a child of my own. I want to have a kid," she told him. I don't want kids, he said. I didn't ask you to have a kid. I asked you to help me to have my kid. I just want the sperm from you. I'm Catholic, he said. We don't do such things. You do know, she replied, that I could sleep with you and go away and you would never know if you had a child or not. But I don't want that. Honor me with your yes so that I can live peacefully. I want a child of my own. 1 test male False None -1454 My mom had been shot by a man I despised. If anything, I felt vindicated. I'd been right about Abel all along. I could direct my anger and hatred toward him with no shame or guilt whatsoever. But Andrew's mother had been shot by Andrew's father, a father he loved. How does he reconcile his love with that situation? How does he carry on loving both sides? Both sides of himself? My mom had been shot by a man I despised. If anything, I felt vindicated. I'd been right about Abel all along. I could direct my anger and hatred toward him with no shame or guilt whatsoever. But Andrew's mother had been shot by Andrew's father, a father he loved. How does he reconcile his love with that situation? How does he carry on loving both sides? Both sides of himself?. 1 test male False None -1455.004 Isaac, go to your brother," Abel said. Isaac, go to your brother," Abel said. 1 test male False None -1455.009 Nothing. The gun misfired. Click. He pulled the trigger again. Same thing. Then again and again. Click, click, click, click. Four times he pulled the trigger and four times the gun misfired. Bullets were popping out of the ejection port, falling out of the gun, falling down on my mom and clattering to the ground. Nothing. The gun misfired. Click. He pulled the trigger again. Same thing. Then again and again. Click, click, click, click. Four times he pulled the trigger and four times the gun misfired. Bullets were popping out of the ejection port, falling out of the gun, falling down on my mom and clattering to the ground. 1 test male False None -1455.014 Her body slumped over the steering wheel. Her body slumped over the steering wheel. 1 test male False None -1458 Trevor Trevor. 1 test male False None -1462 It was the most chilling moment. It was terrifying. It was the most chilling moment. It was terrifying. 1 test male False None -1465.03 Yes, people say that, but without a guarantee Yes, people say that, but without a guarantee. 1 test male False None -1465.08 I don't care! I don't care!. 1 test male False None -1465.13 We have to do so many tests. One test alone could cost 2,000, 3,000 rand. We have to do so many tests. One test alone could cost two , zero , three , zero rand. 1 test male False None -1465 Sir, we can't. We need a form of payment. I'm your form of payment. I'll pay. Yes, people say that, but without a guarantee, I pulled out my credit card. Here, I said, take this. I'll pay. I'll pay for everything. Sir, hospital can be very expensive. I don't care. Sir, I don't think you understand. Hospital can be really expensive. Lady, I have money. I'll pay anything. Just help us. Sir, we can't. We need a form of payment. I'm your form of payment. I'll pay. Yes, people say that, but without a guarantee, I pulled out my credit card. Here, I said, take this. I'll pay. I'll pay for everything. Sir, hospital can be very expensive. I don't care. Sir, I don't think you understand. Hospital can be really expensive. Lady, I have money. I'll pay anything. Just help us. 1 test male False None -147 For my father's part, I know that for a long time he kept saying no. Eventually, he said yes. Why he said yes is a question I will never have the answer to. For my father's part, I know that for a long time he kept saying no. Eventually, he said yes. Why he said yes is a question I will never have the answer to. 1 test male False None -1474 But would you really? Would you do anything? But would you really? Would you do anything?. 1 test male False None -1479 Several hours later, the doctor finally came out of the emergency room to give us an update. Several hours later, the doctor finally came out of the emergency room to give us an update. 1 test male False None -1483 I don't like to use this word, he said, because I'm a man of science and I don't believe in it. I don't like to use this word, he said, because I'm a man of science and I don't believe in it. 1 test male False None -1488 My mother was out of the hospital in four days. My mother was out of the hospital in four days. 1 test male False None -1492 I went back first thing the next morning to be with my mother in her room and wait for her to wake up. I went back first thing the next morning to be with my mother in her room and wait for her to wake up. 1 test male False None -1497 After an hour or so of waiting, she opened her unbandaged eye. The second she did, I lost it. I started bawling. She asked for some water and I gave her a cup and she leaned forward a bit to sip through the straw. I kept bawling and bawling and bawling. I couldn't control myself. After an hour or so of waiting, she opened her unbandaged eye. The second she did, I lost it. I started bawling. She asked for some water and I gave her a cup and she leaned forward a bit to sip through the straw. I kept bawling and bawling and bawling. I couldn't control myself. 1 test male False None -15.3 For decades those feelings were held in check by a common enemy. For decades those feelings were held in check by a common enemy. 1 test male False None -1502 I wasn't going to die. I wasn't going to die. It's okay. I wasn't going to die. I wasn't going to die. I wasn't going to die. It's okay. I wasn't going to die. 1 test male False None -1507 You must look on the bright side. What? You must look on the bright side. What?. 1 test male False None -1511 When my mother was shot, so much happened so quickly. We were only able to piece the whole story together after the fact, as we collected all the different accounts from everyone who was there. Waiting around at the hospital that day, we had so many unanswered questions, like, what happened to Isaac? Where was Isaac? We only found out after we found him, and he told us. When my mother was shot, so much happened so quickly. We were only able to piece the whole story together after the fact, as we collected all the different accounts from everyone who was there. Waiting around at the hospital that day, we had so many unanswered questions, like, what happened to Isaac? Where was Isaac? We only found out after we found him, and he told us. 1 test male False None -1516 The uncle Abel was talking about was not a real uncle, but a friend. He dropped Isaac off with his friend and then he drove off. The uncle Abel was talking about was not a real uncle, but a friend. He dropped Isaac off with his friend and then he drove off. 1 test male False None -1520 Abel broke down and handed his gun over to the cousin. The cousin drove him to the police station and Abel turned himself in. Abel broke down and handed his gun over to the cousin. The cousin drove him to the police station and Abel turned himself in. 1 test male False None -1525 She jumped up, shoved him away, and ran for the car. Andrew leapt in beside her, and she turned the ignition, and then her memory went blank. She jumped up, shoved him away, and ran for the car. Andrew leapt in beside her, and she turned the ignition, and then her memory went blank. 1 test male False None -153 Under apartheid, the government labelled everything on your birth certificate. Race, tribe, nationality. Everything had to be categorised. Under apartheid, the government labelled everything on your birth certificate. Race, tribe, nationality. Everything had to be categorised. 1 test male False None -1534 This has been an Audible Studios production of Born a Crime, stories from a South African childhood. Written and performed by Trevor Noah. Executive producers, Heath O'Connell and Mike Charzak. Producer, Neil Baysick. Edited by Brian Corcoran. Mixed and mastered by Darren Vermas. Copyright 2016. This has been an Audible Studios production of Born a Crime, stories from a South African childhood. Written and performed by Trevor Noah. Executive producers, Heath O'Connell and Mike Charzak. Producer, Neil Baysick. Edited by Brian Corcoran. Mixed and mastered by Darren Vermas. Copyright two thousand and sixteen . 1 test male False None -157 The next week she went to visit him with no baby. The next week she went to visit him with no baby. 1 test male False None -161 Where most children are proof of their parents' love, I was the proof of their criminality. The only time I could be with my father was indoors. If we left the house, he'd have to walk across the street from us. My mom and I used to go to Jubeir Park all the time. It's the central park of Johannesburg. Beautiful gardens, a zoo, a giant chessboard with human-sized pieces that people would play. Where most children are proof of their parents' love, I was the proof of their criminality. The only time I could be with my father was indoors. If we left the house, he'd have to walk across the street from us. My mom and I used to go to Jubeir Park all the time. It's the central park of Johannesburg. Beautiful gardens, a zoo, a giant chessboard with human sized pieces that people would play. 1 test male False None -166 So my mom moved me around the world as a colored child. She found a creche in a colored area where she could leave me while she was at work. So my mom moved me around the world as a colored child. She found a creche in a colored area where she could leave me while she was at work. 1 test male False None -170 I have so many memories from the place that in my mind, it's like we lived there too. I have so many memories from the place that in my mind, it's like we lived there too. 1 test male False None -175 In the white areas, you rarely saw police. And if you did, it was officer-friendly in his collared shirt and pressed pants. In Soweto, the police were an occupying army. They didn't wear collared shirts. They wore riot gear. They were militarized. They operated in teams known as flying squads, because they would swoop in out of nowhere, riding in armored personnel carriers. Hippos, we called them. Tanks with enormous tires and slotted holes in the sides of the vehicle to fire their guns out of the way. In the white areas, you rarely saw police. And if you did, it was officer friendly in his collared shirt and pressed pants. In Soweto, the police were an occupying army. They didn't wear collared shirts. They wore riot gear. They were militarized. They operated in teams known as flying squads, because they would swoop in out of nowhere, riding in armored personnel carriers. Hippos, we called them. Tanks with enormous tires and slotted holes in the sides of the vehicle to fire their guns out of the way. 1 test male False None -18 I was nine years old when my mother threw me out of a moving car. It happened on a Sunday. I know it was a Sunday because we were coming home from church, and every Sunday in my childhood meant church. We never missed church. My mother was and still is a deeply religious woman. Very Christian. Like indigenous peoples around the world, Black South Africans adopted the religion of our colonizers. And by adopt, I mean it was forced on us. The white man was quite stern with the native. I was nine years old when my mother threw me out of a moving car. It happened on a Sunday. I know it was a Sunday because we were coming home from church, and every Sunday in my childhood meant church. We never missed church. My mother was and still is a deeply religious woman. Very Christian. Like indigenous peoples around the world, Black South Africans adopted the religion of our colonizers. And by adopt, I mean it was forced on us. The white man was quite stern with the native. 1 test male False None -184 Obviously, I was not the only child born to black and white parents during apartheid. Traveling around the world today, I meet other mixed South Africans all the time. Our stories start off identically. We're around the same age. Their parents met at some underground party in Hillbrow or Cape Town. They lived in an illegal flat. Obviously, I was not the only child born to black and white parents during apartheid. Traveling around the world today, I meet other mixed South Africans all the time. Our stories start off identically. We're around the same age. Their parents met at some underground party in Hillbrow or Cape Town. They lived in an illegal flat. 1 test male False None -189 You hit the ground and break all your bones. You go to the hospital and you heal and you move on and finally put the whole thing behind you. And then one day somebody tells you about parachutes. That's how I felt. I couldn't understand why we'd stayed. I went straight home and asked my mom, why? Why didn't we just leave? Why didn't we go to Switzerland? You hit the ground and break all your bones. You go to the hospital and you heal and you move on and finally put the whole thing behind you. And then one day somebody tells you about parachutes. That's how I felt. I couldn't understand why we'd stayed. I went straight home and asked my mom, why? Why didn't we just leave? Why didn't we go to Switzerland?. 1 test male False None -193 I come from a country where people are more likely to visit Sangomas, shamans, traditional healers, pejoratively known as witch doctors, than they are to visit doctors of Western medicine. I come from a country where people have been arrested and tried for witchcraft, in a court of law. I'm not talking about the 1700s, I'm talking about five years ago. I remember a man being on trial for striking another person with lightning. That happens a lot in the homelands. There are no tall buildings, few tall trees, I come from a country where people are more likely to visit Sangomas, shamans, traditional healers, pejoratively known as witch doctors, than they are to visit doctors of Western medicine. I come from a country where people have been arrested and tried for witchcraft, in a court of law. I'm not talking about the one thousand, seven hundred s, I'm talking about five years ago. I remember a man being on trial for striking another person with lightning. That happens a lot in the homelands. There are no tall buildings, few tall trees,. 1 test male False None -198 My father was loving and devoted, but I could only see him when and where apartheid allowed. My uncle, Velile, my mom's younger brother, lived with my grandmother, but he spent most of his time at the local tavern getting into fights. My father was loving and devoted, but I could only see him when and where apartheid allowed. My uncle, Velile, my mom's younger brother, lived with my grandmother, but he spent most of his time at the local tavern getting into fights. 1 test male False None -201 We found out much later in life that he was bipolar. But before that, we just thought he was eccentric. We found out much later in life that he was bipolar. But before that, we just thought he was eccentric. 1 test male False None -203.04 He was in his 80s. He was in his eighty s. 1 test male False None -203 When he was up, you couldn't stop him. But his mood swings were wild. In his youth, he'd been a boxer. And one day, he said I'd disrespected him, and now he wanted to box me. He was in his 80s. I was 12. He had his fists up circling me. Let's go, Trevor. Come on. Put your fists up. Hit me. I'll show you I'm still a man. Let's go. I couldn't hit him because I wasn't about to hit my elder. Plus, I'd never been in a fight, and I wasn't going to have my first When he was up, you couldn't stop him. But his mood swings were wild. In his youth, he'd been a boxer. And one day, he said I'd disrespected him, and now he wanted to box me. He was in his eighty s. I was twelve . He had his fists up circling me. Let's go, Trevor. Come on. Put your fists up. Hit me. I'll show you I'm still a man. Let's go. I couldn't hit him because I wasn't about to hit my elder. Plus, I'd never been in a fight, and I wasn't going to have my first. 1 test male False None -208 So I only saw my grandfather now and then, and when he was gone, the house was in the hands of women. So I only saw my grandfather now and then, and when he was gone, the house was in the hands of women. 1 test male False None -212 That was the talk you'd hear from men in bars and in the streets. That was the talk you'd hear from men in bars and in the streets. 1 test male False None -216 My grandmother, Frances Noah, was the family matriarch. She ran the house, looked after the kids, did the cooking and the cleaning. She's barely five feet tall, hunched over from years in the factory, but rock hard and still to this day very active and very much alive. Where my grandfather was big and boisterous, my grandmother was calm, calculated, with a mind as sharp as anything. If you need to know anything in the family history, going back to the 1930s, she can tell you what day My grandmother, Frances Noah, was the family matriarch. She ran the house, looked after the kids, did the cooking and the cleaning. She's barely five feet tall, hunched over from years in the factory, but rock hard and still to this day very active and very much alive. Where my grandfather was big and boisterous, my grandmother was calm, calculated, with a mind as sharp as anything. If you need to know anything in the family history, going back to the one thousand, nine hundred and thirty s, she can tell you what day. 1 test male False None -220 Coco and my gran would sit and have long conversations. But as a five year old, I didn't think of Coco as a real person. Since her body didn't move, she was like a brain with a mouth. Our relationship was nothing but command prompts and replies. Like talking to a computer. Good morning, Coco. Good morning, Trevor. Coco, did you eat? Yes, Trevor. Coco, I'm going out. Okay, be careful. Bye, Coco. Bye, Trevor. Coco and my gran would sit and have long conversations. But as a five year old, I didn't think of Coco as a real person. Since her body didn't move, she was like a brain with a mouth. Our relationship was nothing but command prompts and replies. Like talking to a computer. Good morning, Coco. Good morning, Trevor. Coco, did you eat? Yes, Trevor. Coco, I'm going out. Okay, be careful. Bye, Coco. Bye, Trevor. 1 test male False None -225 My mom would always ask my uncle Velile to join and he'd say, I would join if there were more men, but I can't be the only one here. Then the singing and praying would start and that was his cue to leave. My mom would always ask my uncle Velile to join and he'd say, I would join if there were more men, but I can't be the only one here. Then the singing and praying would start and that was his cue to leave. 1 test male False None -23 Completely by coincidence, as we moved back and forth between these churches, I noticed that each one had its own distinct racial makeup. Jubilant church was mixed church. Analytical church was white church. And passionate cathartic church, that was black church. Completely by coincidence, as we moved back and forth between these churches, I noticed that each one had its own distinct racial makeup. Jubilant church was mixed church. Analytical church was white church. And passionate cathartic church, that was black church. 1 test male False None -234 The Shabines were unlawful bars in the back of someone's house. They'd put chairs in their backyard and hang out an awning and run a speakeasy. The Shabines were where men would go to drink after work and during prayer meetings and most any other time of day as well. The Shabines were unlawful bars in the back of someone's house. They'd put chairs in their backyard and hang out an awning and run a speakeasy. The Shabines were where men would go to drink after work and during prayer meetings and most any other time of day as well. 1 test male False None -237.03 Over time, you'd save up money and build a brick wall. Over time, you'd save up money and build a brick wall. 1 test male False None -237.08 one room for everyone in your family to sleep, eat, do everything. one room for everyone in your family to sleep, eat, do everything. 1 test male False None -237.13 There was no way for them to go, so they'd move in with you. There was no way for them to go, so they'd move in with you. 1 test male False None -239 My mom and I would stay there during school holidays. My aunt and cousins would be there whenever she was on the outs with Dinky. We all slept on the floor in one room. My mom and me, my aunt and my cousins, my uncle and my grandmother and my great-grandmother. The adults each had their own foam mattresses, and there was one big one that we'd roll out into the middle, and the kids slept on that. My mom and I would stay there during school holidays. My aunt and cousins would be there whenever she was on the outs with Dinky. We all slept on the floor in one room. My mom and me, my aunt and my cousins, my uncle and my grandmother and my great grandmother. The adults each had their own foam mattresses, and there was one big one that we'd roll out into the middle, and the kids slept on that. 1 test male False None -243 The thing I couldn't handle about the outhouse was the flies. It was a long drop to the bottom and they were always down there eating on the pile and I had an irrational, all-consuming fear that they were going to fly up and into my bum. The thing I couldn't handle about the outhouse was the flies. It was a long drop to the bottom and they were always down there eating on the pile and I had an irrational, all consuming fear that they were going to fly up and into my bum. 1 test male False None -248 I knew I'd made an excellent choice and I was very proud of myself for making it. I'd reached that moment where I could relax and be with myself. I knew I'd made an excellent choice and I was very proud of myself for making it. I'd reached that moment where I could relax and be with myself. 1 test male False None -252 I held my breath and waited. I held my breath and waited. 1 test male False None -257 Finally, after what felt like forever, I finished. I stood up, took the newspaper, which is not the quietest thing, and I slowly folded it over. It crinkled. Who's there? Again, I paused. Waited. Finally, after what felt like forever, I finished. I stood up, took the newspaper, which is not the quietest thing, and I slowly folded it over. It crinkled. Who's there? Again, I paused. Waited. 1 test male False None -261 Mission accomplished. Mission accomplished. 1 test male False None -266 Koko told her the story, the sounds, the smells, Koko told her the story, the sounds, the smells,. 1 test male False None -270 What? How did it get there? What? How did it get there?. 1 test male False None -271.05 There's shit in the bottom of the dustbin! There's shit in the bottom of the dustbin!. 1 test male False None -271.10 My mother gasped. We've been bewitched. It's a demon. My mother gasped. We've been bewitched. It's a demon. 1 test male False None -273.03 She took my hand and dragged me out of bed. It was all hands on deck time for action She took my hand and dragged me out of bed. It was all hands on deck time for action. 1 test male False None -273.08 The alarm was raised. The alarm was raised. 1 test male False None -274 Moments later, the grannies came streaming in with their Bibles through the gate and up the driveway. A dozen or more at least. Everyone went inside. The house was packed. This was by far the biggest prayer meeting we'd ever had. The biggest thing that had ever happened in the history of our home. Period. Everyone sat in the circle praying and praying and the prayers were strong. The grannies were chanting and murmuring and swaying back and forth, speaking in tongues. I was doing my best to keep my head low. Moments later, the grannies came streaming in with their Bibles through the gate and up the driveway. A dozen or more at least. Everyone went inside. The house was packed. This was by far the biggest prayer meeting we'd ever had. The biggest thing that had ever happened in the history of our home. Period. Everyone sat in the circle praying and praying and the prayers were strong. The grannies were chanting and murmuring and swaying back and forth, speaking in tongues. I was doing my best to keep my head low. 1 test male False None -279 It was not my best performance. Eventually, I wrapped it up and sat back down. The praying continued. It went on for some time. Pray, sing, pray, sing, pray, sing, sing, sing, pray, pray, pray. Then, everyone finally felt that the demon was gone and life could continue. And we had the big Amen. And everyone said goodnight and went home. It was not my best performance. Eventually, I wrapped it up and sat back down. The praying continued. It went on for some time. Pray, sing, pray, sing, pray, sing, sing, sing, pray, pray, pray. Then, everyone finally felt that the demon was gone and life could continue. And we had the big Amen. And everyone said goodnight and went home. 1 test male False None -283 When you pray, he stops, and he takes his time and he listens. And I had subjected him to two hours of old grannies praying, when I knew that with all the pain and suffering in the world, he had more important things to deal with than my shit. When you pray, he stops, and he takes his time and he listens. And I had subjected him to two hours of old grannies praying, when I knew that with all the pain and suffering in the world, he had more important things to deal with than my shit. 1 test male False None -284.05 Most of them were dubbed into African languages. Most of them were dubbed into African languages. 1 test male False None -284.10 Watching those shows Watching those shows. 1 test male False None -284 When I was growing up, we used to get American TV shows rebroadcast on our stations. Doogie Howser, M.D., Murder She Wrote, Rescue 911 with William Shatner. Most of them were dubbed into African languages. A.L.F. was in Afrikaans. Transformers was in Sootoo. But if you wanted to watch them in English, the original American audio would be simulcast on the radio. You could mute your TV and listen to that. Watching those shows, I realized that whenever black people When I was growing up, we used to get American TV shows rebroadcast on our stations. Doogie Howser, M.D., Murder She Wrote, Rescue nine hundred and eleven with William Shatner. Most of them were dubbed into African languages. A.L.F. was in Afrikaans. Transformers was in Sootoo. But if you wanted to watch them in English, the original American audio would be simulcast on the radio. You could mute your TV and listen to that. Watching those shows, I realized that whenever black people. 1 test male False None -289 However, if the person who doesn't look like you speaks like you, your brain short-circuits because your racism program has none of those instructions in the code. Wait, wait, your mind says. The racism code says if he doesn't look like me, he isn't like me. But the language code says if he speaks like me, he is like me? Something is off here. I can't figure this out. However, if the person who doesn't look like you speaks like you, your brain short circuits because your racism program has none of those instructions in the code. Wait, wait, your mind says. The racism code says if he doesn't look like me, he isn't like me. But the language code says if he speaks like me, he is like me? Something is off here. I can't figure this out. 1 test male False None -293 Then you should hit him. Then you should hit him. 1 test male False None -298 I went with the cookies. I went with the cookies. 1 test male False None -301 I had no other points of reference. There were no other mixed kids around so that I could say, oh, this happens to us. I had no other points of reference. There were no other mixed kids around so that I could say, oh, this happens to us. 1 test male False None -306 I'd go to funerals and I'd walk in and the bereaved would look up and see me and they'd stop crying. They'd start whispering. Then they'd wave and say, oh, like they were more shocked by me walking in than by the death of their loved ones. I'd go to funerals and I'd walk in and the bereaved would look up and see me and they'd stop crying. They'd start whispering. Then they'd wave and say, oh, like they were more shocked by me walking in than by the death of their loved ones. 1 test male False None -310 Neighbors and acquaintances eat outside in the yard and in the street, and the family eats indoors. Every funeral I ever went to, I ate indoors. It didn't matter if we knew the deceased or not. The family would see me and invite me in. You can't let the white child stand outside. Bring him in here. Neighbors and acquaintances eat outside in the yard and in the street, and the family eats indoors. Every funeral I ever went to, I ate indoors. It didn't matter if we knew the deceased or not. The family would see me and invite me in. You can't let the white child stand outside. Bring him in here. 1 test male False None -315 After English, tossa was what we spoke around the house. When my mother was angry, she'd fall back on her home language. As a naughty child, I was well versed in tossa threats. They were the first phrases I picked up, mostly for my own safety. Phrases like, I'll knock you upside the head or You idiot of a child. It's a very passionate language. Outside of that, my mother picked up different After English, tossa was what we spoke around the house. When my mother was angry, she'd fall back on her home language. As a naughty child, I was well versed in tossa threats. They were the first phrases I picked up, mostly for my own safety. Phrases like, I'll knock you upside the head or You idiot of a child. It's a very passionate language. Outside of that, my mother picked up different. 1 test male False None -32 I eventually decided black people needed more time with Jesus because we suffered more. I eventually decided black people needed more time with Jesus because we suffered more. 1 test male False None -324 As apartheid was coming to an end, South Africa's elite private school started accepting children of all colors. My mother's company offered bursaries, scholarships for underprivileged families, and she managed to get me into Maryvale College, an expensive private Catholic school. Classes taught by nuns, mass on Fridays, the whole bit. I started preschool there when I was three, primary school when I was five. In my class, we had all kinds of kids. Black kids, white kids, As apartheid was coming to an end, South Africa's elite private school started accepting children of all colors. My mother's company offered bursaries, scholarships for underprivileged families, and she managed to get me into Maryvale College, an expensive private Catholic school. Classes taught by nuns, mass on Fridays, the whole bit. I started preschool there when I was three, primary school when I was five. In my class, we had all kinds of kids. Black kids, white kids,. 1 test male False None -329 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. 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. 1 test male False None -333 The white kids I'd met that morning, they went in one direction, the black kids went in another direction, and I was left standing in the middle totally confused. Were we gonna meet up later on? I did not understand what was happening. I was 11 years old, and it was like I was seeing my country for the first time. The white kids I'd met that morning, they went in one direction, the black kids went in another direction, and I was left standing in the middle totally confused. Were we gonna meet up later on? I did not understand what was happening. I was eleven years old, and it was like I was seeing my country for the first time. 1 test male False None -338 I stood there awkwardly by myself in this no man's land in the middle of the playground. Luckily, I was rescued by the Indian kid from my class, a guy named Thessen Pillay. Thessen was one of the few Indian kids in school, so he'd noticed me, another obvious outsider right away. He ran over to introduce himself. I stood there awkwardly by myself in this no man's land in the middle of the playground. Luckily, I was rescued by the Indian kid from my class, a guy named Thessen Pillay. Thessen was one of the few Indian kids in school, so he'd noticed me, another obvious outsider right away. He ran over to introduce himself. 1 test male False None -342 At some point, I turned to one of them and said, hey, how come I don't see you guys in any of my classes? It turned out they were in the B classes, which also happened to be the black classes. At some point, I turned to one of them and said, hey, how come I don't see you guys in any of my classes? It turned out they were in the B classes, which also happened to be the black classes. 1 test male False None -347 Yeah, but that class is... Those kids are going to hold you back. You want to be in the smart class. But surely there must be some smart kids in the B class? No, there aren't. But all my friends are there. You don't want to be friends with those kids. Yes, I do. We went back and forth. Yeah, but that class is... Those kids are going to hold you back. You want to be in the smart class. But surely there must be some smart kids in the B class? No, there aren't. But all my friends are there. You don't want to be friends with those kids. Yes, I do. We went back and forth. 1 test male False None -351 I moved to the B classes with the black kids. I decided I'd rather be held back with the people I liked than move ahead with the people I didn't know. I moved to the B classes with the black kids. I decided I'd rather be held back with the people I liked than move ahead with the people I didn't know. 1 test male False None -356 Before apartheid, any black South African who received a formal education was likely taught by European missionaries, foreign enthusiasts eager to Christianize and westernize the natives. In the mission schools, black people learned English, European literature, medicine, the law. It's no coincidence that nearly every major black leader of the anti-apartheid movement, from Nelson Mandela to Steve Biko, was educated by the missionaries. A knowledgeable man is a free man, or at least a man who Before apartheid, any black South African who received a formal education was likely taught by European missionaries, foreign enthusiasts eager to Christianize and westernize the natives. In the mission schools, black people learned English, European literature, medicine, the law. It's no coincidence that nearly every major black leader of the anti apartheid movement, from Nelson Mandela to Steve Biko, was educated by the missionaries. A knowledgeable man is a free man, or at least a man who. 1 test male False None -360 It does not serve the Bantu to learn history and science because he is primitive," the government said. This will only mislead him, showing him pastures in which he is not allowed to graze. To their credit, they were simply being honest. It does not serve the Bantu to learn history and science because he is primitive," the government said. This will only mislead him, showing him pastures in which he is not allowed to graze. To their credit, they were simply being honest. 1 test male False None -365 What happened with education in South Africa, with the Mission schools and the Bantu schools, offers a neat comparison of the two groups of whites who oppressed us, the British and the Afrikaners. The difference between British racism and Afrikaner racism was that at least the British gave the natives something to aspire to. If they could learn to speak correct English and dress in proper clothes, if they could Anglicise and civilise themselves, one day they might be welcome in society. What happened with education in South Africa, with the Mission schools and the Bantu schools, offers a neat comparison of the two groups of whites who oppressed us, the British and the Afrikaners. The difference between British racism and Afrikaner racism was that at least the British gave the natives something to aspire to. If they could learn to speak correct English and dress in proper clothes, if they could Anglicise and civilise themselves, one day they might be welcome in society. 1 test male False None -37 Christian karaoke, badass action stories, and violent faith healers. Man, I loved church. The thing I didn't love was the lengths we had to go to in order to get to church. It was an epic slog. Christian karaoke, badass action stories, and violent faith healers. Man, I loved church. The thing I didn't love was the lengths we had to go to in order to get to church. It was an epic slog. 1 test male False None -374 When my mother was nine years old, she told my gran that she didn't want to live with her anymore. She wanted to live with her father. When my mother was nine years old, she told my gran that she didn't want to live with her anymore. She wanted to live with her father. 1 test male False None -379 The homelands were, ostensibly, the original homes of South Africa's tribes. Sovereign and semi-sovereign nations, where black people would be free. Of course, this was a lie. For starters, despite the fact that black people made up over 80% of South Africa's population, the territory allocated for the homelands was about 13% of the country's land. There was no running water, no electricity. People lived in huts. The homelands were, ostensibly, the original homes of South Africa's tribes. Sovereign and semi sovereign nations, where black people would be free. Of course, this was a lie. For starters, despite the fact that black people made up over eighty percent of South Africa's population, the territory allocated for the homelands was about thirteen percent of the country's land. There was no running water, no electricity. People lived in huts. 1 test male False None -383 She and her cousins were up at half past four, ploughing fields and herding animals before the sun baked the soil as hard as cement and made it too hot to be anywhere but in the shade. She and her cousins were up at half past four, ploughing fields and herding animals before the sun baked the soil as hard as cement and made it too hot to be anywhere but in the shade. 1 test male False None -388 When my mom turned 21, her aunt fell ill, and that family could no longer keep her in Tron Sky. When my mom turned twenty one , her aunt fell ill, and that family could no longer keep her in Tron Sky. 1 test male False None -392 Working for the family in Soweto, my mom had no more freedom than she'd had in Transkaie. So she ran away. She ran all the way down to the train station and jumped on a train and disappeared into the city, determined to sleep in public restrooms and rely on the kindness of prostitutes until she could make her own way in the world. Working for the family in Soweto, my mom had no more freedom than she'd had in Transkaie. So she ran away. She ran all the way down to the train station and jumped on a train and disappeared into the city, determined to sleep in public restrooms and rely on the kindness of prostitutes until she could make her own way in the world. 1 test male False None -397 Just as she let the past go, she was determined not to repeat it. My childhood would bear no resemblance to hers. She started with my name. The names Tossa families give their children always have a meaning, and that meaning has a way of becoming self-fulfilling. You have my cousin, Umm Lungisi, the Fixer. That's who he is. Whenever I got into trouble, he was the one trying to help fix it. He was always the good kid, doing chores, helping around the house. Just as she let the past go, she was determined not to repeat it. My childhood would bear no resemblance to hers. She started with my name. The names Tossa families give their children always have a meaning, and that meaning has a way of becoming self fulfilling. You have my cousin, Umm Lungisi, the Fixer. That's who he is. Whenever I got into trouble, he was the one trying to help fix it. He was always the good kid, doing chores, helping around the house. 1 test male False None -400 When it was time to pick my name, she chose Trevor. A name with no meaning whatsoever in South Africa. No precedent in my family. It's not even a biblical name. It's just a name. My mother wanted her child beholden to no fates. She wanted me to be free to go anywhere. Do anything. Be anyone. When it was time to pick my name, she chose Trevor. A name with no meaning whatsoever in South Africa. No precedent in my family. It's not even a biblical name. It's just a name. My mother wanted her child beholden to no fates. She wanted me to be free to go anywhere. Do anything. Be anyone. 1 test male False None -405 This lion, she said, he's a false god, a false idol. You remember what happened when Moses came down from the mountain after he got the tablets? Yes, mom, I explained. But the lion is a Christ figure. Technically, he is Jesus. It's a story to explain Jesus. She wasn't comfortable with that. No, no, no false idols, my friend. This lion, she said, he's a false god, a false idol. You remember what happened when Moses came down from the mountain after he got the tablets? Yes, mom, I explained. But the lion is a Christ figure. Technically, he is Jesus. It's a story to explain Jesus. She wasn't comfortable with that. No, no, no false idols, my friend. 1 test male False None -41 My mom had this ancient, broken down, bright tangerine Volkswagen Beetle that she picked up for next to nothing. The reason she got it for next to nothing was because it was always breaking down. My mom had this ancient, broken down, bright tangerine Volkswagen Beetle that she picked up for next to nothing. The reason she got it for next to nothing was because it was always breaking down. 1 test male False None -414 Eden Park was a coloured neighbourhood adjacent to several black townships on the East Rand. Eden Park was a coloured neighbourhood adjacent to several black townships on the East Rand. 1 test male False None -419 It was flat, not many trees, the same dusty red clay dirt and grass as Soweto, but with proper houses and paved roads and a sense of suburbia to it. Ours was a tiny house at the bend in the road right off Toyota Street. It was modest and cramped inside, but walking in I thought, wow. It was flat, not many trees, the same dusty red clay dirt and grass as Soweto, but with proper houses and paved roads and a sense of suburbia to it. Ours was a tiny house at the bend in the road right off Toyota Street. It was modest and cramped inside, but walking in I thought, wow. 1 test male False None -423 I understood even from an early age that we weren't just mother and son. We were a team. I understood even from an early age that we weren't just mother and son. We were a team. 1 test male False None -428 On the commute to work and school, there was a long stretch of the road into town that was completely deserted. That's where Mom would let me drive. On the highway. I was six. On the commute to work and school, there was a long stretch of the road into town that was completely deserted. That's where Mom would let me drive. On the highway. I was six. 1 test male False None -432 She poured herself into me. She would find places for us to go where we didn't have to spend money. We must have gone to every park in Johannesburg. She poured herself into me. She would find places for us to go where we didn't have to spend money. We must have gone to every park in Johannesburg. 1 test male False None -437 We always wore secondhand clothes from Goodwill stores or that were giveaways from white people at church. All the other kids at school got brands Nike and Adidas. I never got brands. One time I asked my mom for Adidas sneakers. She came home with some knockoff brand, Abidas. Mom, these are fake. I said, I don't see the difference. Look at the logo. There are four stripes instead of three. Lucky you, she said. We always wore secondhand clothes from Goodwill stores or that were giveaways from white people at church. All the other kids at school got brands Nike and Adidas. I never got brands. One time I asked my mom for Adidas sneakers. She came home with some knockoff brand, Abidas. Mom, these are fake. I said, I don't see the difference. Look at the logo. There are four stripes instead of three. Lucky you, she said. 1 test male False None -441 As modestly as we lived at home, I never felt poor because our lives were so rich with experience. We were always out doing something, going somewhere. My mom used to take me on drives through fancy white neighborhoods. We'd go look at people's houses, look at their mansions. We'd look at their walls mostly because that's all we could see from the road. We'd look at a wall that ran from one end of the block to the other and go, wow, that's only one house? All of that is for one family? As modestly as we lived at home, I never felt poor because our lives were so rich with experience. We were always out doing something, going somewhere. My mom used to take me on drives through fancy white neighborhoods. We'd go look at people's houses, look at their mansions. We'd look at their walls mostly because that's all we could see from the road. We'd look at a wall that ran from one end of the block to the other and go, wow, that's only one house? All of that is for one family?. 1 test male False None -446 We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine. And depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited. We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine. And depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited. 1 test male False None -450 The thing that always amazed me about her life was that no one showed her. No one chose her. She did it on her own. She found her way through sheer force of will. The thing that always amazed me about her life was that no one showed her. No one chose her. She did it on her own. She found her way through sheer force of will. 1 test male False None -455 People thought my mom was crazy. Ice rinks and drive-ins and suburbs. These things were izinto zabe lungo, the things of white people. People thought my mom was crazy. Ice rinks and drive ins and suburbs. These things were izinto zabe lungo, the things of white people. 1 test male False None -46 When the folks of Auckland refused to start, inside my head I was praying, please say we'll just stay home. Please say we'll just stay home. And then I glanced over to see the determined look on my mother's face, her jaw set, and I knew I had a long day ahead of me. Come, she said, we're going to catch minibuses. When the folks of Auckland refused to start, inside my head I was praying, please say we'll just stay home. Please say we'll just stay home. And then I glanced over to see the determined look on my mother's face, her jaw set, and I knew I had a long day ahead of me. Come, she said, we're going to catch minibuses. 1 test male False None -464 My mom thought having a child was going to be like having a partner. But every child is born the center of its own universe, incapable of understanding the world beyond its own wants and needs. And I was no different. I was a voracious kid. I consumed boxes of books and wanted more, more, more. I ate like a pig. The way I ate, I should have been obese. At a certain point, the family thought I had worms. Whenever I went to my cousin's house for the holidays, My mom thought having a child was going to be like having a partner. But every child is born the center of its own universe, incapable of understanding the world beyond its own wants and needs. And I was no different. I was a voracious kid. I consumed boxes of books and wanted more, more, more. I ate like a pig. The way I ate, I should have been obese. At a certain point, the family thought I had worms. Whenever I went to my cousin's house for the holidays,. 1 test male False None -466.04 with Sunday School teachers. with Sunday School teachers. 1 test male False None -468 Anytime my extra energy wasn't burned off, it would find its way into general naughtiness and misbehavior. I prided myself on being the ultimate prankster. Every teacher at school used overhead projectors to put their notes up on the wall during class. One day, I went around and took the magnifying glass out of every projector in every classroom. Another time, I emptied a fire extinguisher into the school piano because I knew we were going to have a performance at a Anytime my extra energy wasn't burned off, it would find its way into general naughtiness and misbehavior. I prided myself on being the ultimate prankster. Every teacher at school used overhead projectors to put their notes up on the wall during class. One day, I went around and took the magnifying glass out of every projector in every classroom. Another time, I emptied a fire extinguisher into the school piano because I knew we were going to have a performance at a. 1 test male False None -472 Huh? Go to the bathroom and look at yourself. Huh? Go to the bathroom and look at yourself. 1 test male False None -477 Ten minutes later, the child is drawing on the wall. You start screaming, why the hell are you drawing on the wall? The child looks at you and he genuinely has no idea why he drew on the wall. As a kid, I remember having that feeling all the time. Every time I got punished as my mom was whipping my ass, I'd be thinking, why did I just do that? I knew not to do that. She told me not to do that. Then once the hiding was over, I'd say to myself, I'm going to be so good from here. Ten minutes later, the child is drawing on the wall. You start screaming, why the hell are you drawing on the wall? The child looks at you and he genuinely has no idea why he drew on the wall. As a kid, I remember having that feeling all the time. Every time I got punished as my mom was whipping my ass, I'd be thinking, why did I just do that? I knew not to do that. She told me not to do that. Then once the hiding was over, I'd say to myself, I'm going to be so good from here. 1 test male False None -481 One Sunday, we were at the shops and there was a big display of toffee apples. I loved toffee apples and I kept nagging her the whole way through the shop. Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? One Sunday, we were at the shops and there was a big display of toffee apples. I loved toffee apples and I kept nagging her the whole way through the shop. Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple?. 1 test male False None -486 I was so confused. You're my mother. I was so confused. You're my mother. 1 test male False None -490 I dropped the toffee apple, ran out behind her in tears, and caught up to her at the car. She turned around, laughing hysterically, like she'd really got me good. Why are you crying? she asked. Because you said you weren't my mother. Why did you say you weren't my mother? Because you wouldn't shut up about the toffee apple. Now get in the car. Let's go. I dropped the toffee apple, ran out behind her in tears, and caught up to her at the car. She turned around, laughing hysterically, like she'd really got me good. Why are you crying? she asked. Because you said you weren't my mother. Why did you say you weren't my mother? Because you wouldn't shut up about the toffee apple. Now get in the car. Let's go. 1 test male False None -495 Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 1 test male False None -5 CHEW CHEW. 1 test male False None -503 Those were the polite letters. If we were having a real full-on argument, or if I'd gotten into trouble at school, I'd find more accusatory missives waiting for me when I got home. Those were the polite letters. If we were having a real full on argument, or if I'd gotten into trouble at school, I'd find more accusatory missives waiting for me when I got home. 1 test male False None -508 The way you treat me and the way you treat your teachers will be the way you treat other women in the world. Learn to buck that trend now and you will be a better man because of it. The way you treat me and the way you treat your teachers will be the way you treat other women in the world. Learn to buck that trend now and you will be a better man because of it. 1 test male False None -512 I'll go to my room, get out a pen and paper, sit at my little desk and go after her arguments one by one. I'll go to my room, get out a pen and paper, sit at my little desk and go after her arguments one by one. 1 test male False None -517 Then I'd go to my room and wait for her reply. This sometimes went back and forth for days. Then I'd go to my room and wait for her reply. This sometimes went back and forth for days. 1 test male False None -521 One thing I respected about my mom was that she never left me in any doubt as to why I was receiving the hiding. It wasn't rage or anger. It was discipline from a place of love. One thing I respected about my mom was that she never left me in any doubt as to why I was receiving the hiding. It wasn't rage or anger. It was discipline from a place of love. 1 test male False None -526 When it came to discipline, Catholic school was no joke. Whenever I got into trouble with the nuns at Maryville College, they'd wrap me on the knuckles with the edge of a metal ruler. For cursing, they'd wash my mouth out with soap. When it came to discipline, Catholic school was no joke. Whenever I got into trouble with the nuns at Maryville College, they'd wrap me on the knuckles with the edge of a metal ruler. For cursing, they'd wash my mouth out with soap. 1 test male False None -530 Every psychologist who examined me came back and said, there's nothing wrong with this kid. Every psychologist who examined me came back and said, there's nothing wrong with this kid. 1 test male False None -535 They never had a satisfactory reply. They never had a satisfactory reply. 1 test male False None -54 The last thing I wanted to do that Sunday morning was climb into some crowded minibus. But the second I heard my mom say, I knew my fate was sealed. She gathered up Andrew and we climbed out of the Volkswagen and went out to try to catch a ride. The last thing I wanted to do that Sunday morning was climb into some crowded minibus. But the second I heard my mom say, I knew my fate was sealed. She gathered up Andrew and we climbed out of the Volkswagen and went out to try to catch a ride. 1 test male False None -544 A kid was bullying me. He said he was going to beat me up, and I brought one of my knives to school. I wasn't going to use it. I just wanted to have it. The school didn't care. That was the last straw for them. I wasn't expelled exactly. The principal sat me down and said, Trevor, we can expel you. You need to think hard about whether you really want to be at Maryvale next year. I think he thought he was giving me an ultimatum that would get me to shape up, but I felt like he was offering me an hour. A kid was bullying me. He said he was going to beat me up, and I brought one of my knives to school. I wasn't going to use it. I just wanted to have it. The school didn't care. That was the last straw for them. I wasn't expelled exactly. The principal sat me down and said, Trevor, we can expel you. You need to think hard about whether you really want to be at Maryvale next year. I think he thought he was giving me an ultimatum that would get me to shape up, but I felt like he was offering me an hour. 1 test male False None -549 Mrs. Noah, your son was laughing while we were hitting him. Mrs. Noah, your son was laughing while we were hitting him. 1 test male False None -553 The only authority my mother recognized was God's. God is love and the Bible is truth. Everything else was up for debate. She taught me to challenge authority and question the system. The only way it backfired on her was that I constantly challenged and questioned her. The only authority my mother recognized was God's. God is love and the Bible is truth. Everything else was up for debate. She taught me to challenge authority and question the system. The only way it backfired on her was that I constantly challenged and questioned her. 1 test male False None -558 This white family also had a black maid who lived in the servants' quarters in the backyard, and I'll play with her son whenever we stayed there. This white family also had a black maid who lived in the servants' quarters in the backyard, and I'll play with her son whenever we stayed there. 1 test male False None -562 You had to aim the lens and get the focus just right. And then you got the flame and then you moved it slowly and you could burn shapes and letters and patterns. I was fascinated by it. You had to aim the lens and get the focus just right. And then you got the flame and then you moved it slowly and you could burn shapes and letters and patterns. I was fascinated by it. 1 test male False None -567 When we came back a few minutes later, we found the shed had one of those doors that self-locks from the inside. We couldn't get back in without going to get his mother. So we decided to run around and play in the yard. When we came back a few minutes later, we found the shed had one of those doors that self locks from the inside. We couldn't get back in without going to get his mother. So we decided to run around and play in the yard. 1 test male False None -571 The family said nothing to me. The family said nothing to me. 1 test male False None -576 Abel basically lived with us from then on. He and my mom got into a huge fight. Your son has burned down my life, but there was no punishment for me that day. My mom was too much in shock. Abel basically lived with us from then on. He and my mom got into a huge fight. Your son has burned down my life, but there was no punishment for me that day. My mom was too much in shock. 1 test male False None -580 My cousin Amlungisi, to this day, cannot comprehend how I survived being as naughty as I was for as long as I did. My cousin Amlungisi, to this day, cannot comprehend how I survived being as naughty as I was for as long as I did. 1 test male False None -585 I grew up in a black family, in a black neighborhood, in a black country. I grew up in a black family, in a black neighborhood, in a black country. 1 test male False None -59 As the apartheid regime fell, we knew that the black man was now going to rule. The question was, which black man? Spates of violence broke out between the Inkata Freedom Party and the ANC, the African National Congress, as they jockeyed for power. As the apartheid regime fell, we knew that the black man was now going to rule. The question was, which black man? Spates of violence broke out between the Inkata Freedom Party and the ANC, the African National Congress, as they jockeyed for power. 1 test male False None -594 In a black neighborhood, you wouldn't dare own a cat, especially a black cat. That would be like wearing a sign that said, hello, I am a witch. That would be suicide. In a black neighborhood, you wouldn't dare own a cat, especially a black cat. That would be like wearing a sign that said, hello, I am a witch. That would be suicide. 1 test male False None -599 After the cats were killed, we took a break from pets for a while. After the cats were killed, we took a break from pets for a while. 1 test male False None -602 Given the finite number of traits a dog can have, pretty much everyone's dogs have the same names. People just recycle them. Given the finite number of traits a dog can have, pretty much everyone's dogs have the same names. People just recycle them. 1 test male False None -607 Years later, Fufi died when a burglar was trying to break into our house. He pushed the gate over and it fell on her back and broke her spine. We took her to the vet and she had to be put down. After examining her, the vet came over and gave us the news. Years later, Fufi died when a burglar was trying to break into our house. He pushed the gate over and it fell on her back and broke her spine. We took her to the vet and she had to be put down. After examining her, the vet came over and gave us the news. 1 test male False None -611 Fuffi could do all sorts of tricks. She could jump super high. I mean, Fuffi could jump. I could hold a piece of food out above my own head and she'd leap up and grab it like it was nothing. If YouTube had been around, Fuffi would have been a star. Fuffi was a little rascal as well. During the day, we kept the dogs in the backyard, which was enclosed by a wall at least five feet high. After a while, every day we'd come home and Fuffi would be sitting outside the gate waiting for us. Fuffi could do all sorts of tricks. She could jump super high. I mean, Fuffi could jump. I could hold a piece of food out above my own head and she'd leap up and grab it like it was nothing. If YouTube had been around, Fuffi would have been a star. Fuffi was a little rascal as well. During the day, we kept the dogs in the backyard, which was enclosed by a wall at least five feet high. After a while, every day we'd come home and Fuffi would be sitting outside the gate waiting for us. 1 test male False None -616 I couldn't believe this was happening. I ran out front, grabbed my bicycle, and followed her to see where she was going. I couldn't believe this was happening. I ran out front, grabbed my bicycle, and followed her to see where she was going. 1 test male False None -620 Yeah, my dog is in your yard. Yeah, my dog is in your yard. 1 test male False None -625 I started crying. Why are you stealing my dog? I turned to Fuffie and begged her. Fuffie, why are you doing this to me? Why, Fuffie, why? I called to her. I begged her to come. I started crying. Why are you stealing my dog? I turned to Fuffie and begged her. Fuffie, why are you doing this to me? Why, Fuffie, why? I called to her. I begged her to come. 1 test male False None -63 hundreds of rioters in the street. My mom would edge the car slowly through the crowds and around blockades made of flaming tires. Nothing burns like a tire. It rages with the fury you can't imagine. As we drove past the burning blockades, it felt like we were inside an oven. I used to say to my mom, I think Satan burns tires in hell. hundreds of rioters in the street. My mom would edge the car slowly through the crowds and around blockades made of flaming tires. Nothing burns like a tire. It rages with the fury you can't imagine. As we drove past the burning blockades, it felt like we were inside an oven. I used to say to my mom, I think Satan burns tires in hell. 1 test male False None -634 They went back and forth. This woman wasn't budging. So we went home to get evidence, pictures of us with the dogs, certificates from the vet. I was crying the whole time and my mom was losing her patience with me. Stop crying. We'll get the dog. Calm down. They went back and forth. This woman wasn't budging. So we went home to get evidence, pictures of us with the dogs, certificates from the vet. I was crying the whole time and my mom was losing her patience with me. Stop crying. We'll get the dog. Calm down. 1 test male False None -639 Until I knew that she was going out on her own during the day, her other relationship hadn't affected me at all. Fuffie had no malicious intent. Until I knew that she was going out on her own during the day, her other relationship hadn't affected me at all. Fuffie had no malicious intent. 1 test male False None -643 I don't need him for that," I said. I know who I am. I don't need him for that," I said. I know who I am. 1 test male False None -648 I've never met my Swiss grandparents. I don't know their names or anything about them. I do know my dad has an older sister, but I've never met her either. I've never met my Swiss grandparents. I don't know their names or anything about them. I do know my dad has an older sister, but I've never met her either. 1 test male False None -652 I know that he never married. I know that he never married. 1 test male False None -657 Africa is full of black people, he would say. So why would you come all the way to Africa if you hate black people? If you hate black people so much, why did you move into their house? To him it was insane. Because racism never made sense to my father. He never subscribed to any of the rules of apartheid. Africa is full of black people, he would say. So why would you come all the way to Africa if you hate black people? If you hate black people so much, why did you move into their house? To him it was insane. Because racism never made sense to my father. He never subscribed to any of the rules of apartheid. 1 test male False None -661 The restaurant closed only because a few people in the neighborhood took it upon themselves to complain. They filed petitions and the government started looking for ways to shut my dad down. The restaurant closed only because a few people in the neighborhood took it upon themselves to complain. They filed petitions and the government started looking for ways to shut my dad down. 1 test male False None -666 Immigrants were pouring in from Nigeria and Ghana and all over the continent, bringing different food and exciting music. Rocky Street was the main strip, and its sidewalks were filled with street vendors and restaurants and bars. It was an explosion of culture. Immigrants were pouring in from Nigeria and Ghana and all over the continent, bringing different food and exciting music. Rocky Street was the main strip, and its sidewalks were filled with street vendors and restaurants and bars. It was an explosion of culture. 1 test male False None -670 My father and I lived on a schedule. My father and I lived on a schedule. 1 test male False None -675 We'd talk about the food he was making, talk about the F1 racing we'd watched. Every now and then he'd drop a tidbit of information about a place he'd visited or his steakhouse, but that was it. Being with my dad was like watching a web series. I'd get a few minutes of information, a few minutes at a time. Then I'd have to wait a week for the next installment. We'd talk about the food he was making, talk about the F one racing we'd watched. Every now and then he'd drop a tidbit of information about a place he'd visited or his steakhouse, but that was it. Being with my dad was like watching a web series. I'd get a few minutes of information, a few minutes at a time. Then I'd have to wait a week for the next installment. 1 test male False None -68 She'd tell me not to worry. She always came back to the phrase she lived by. She'd tell me not to worry. She always came back to the phrase she lived by. 1 test male False None -684 Then, he was gone. Then, he was gone. 1 test male False None -689 You have your dead smile. You have your dead smile. 1 test male False None -693 She'd say to me, don't ever forget, he chose you. And ultimately, when I turned 24, it was my mom who made me track him down. She'd say to me, don't ever forget, he chose you. And ultimately, when I turned twenty four , it was my mom who made me track him down. 1 test male False None -698 Look kid, they said. We can't help you. We're the Swiss Embassy. Do you know nothing about the Swiss? Discretion is kind of our thing. That's what we do. Tough luck. Look kid, they said. We can't help you. We're the Swiss Embassy. Do you know nothing about the Swiss? Discretion is kind of our thing. That's what we do. Tough luck. 1 test male False None -701 I'll never forget that day. It was probably one of the weirdest days of my life. Going to meet a person I knew and yet did not know at all. I'll never forget that day. It was probably one of the weirdest days of my life. Going to meet a person I knew and yet did not know at all. 1 test male False None -706 While I was eating, he got up and went and picked up this book, an oversized photo album, and brought it back to the table. I've been following you, he said, and he opened it up. While I was eating, he got up and went and picked up this book, an oversized photo album, and brought it back to the table. I've been following you, he said, and he opened it up. 1 test male False None -710 but he'd been with me the whole time. He'd always been proud of me. Circumstance had pulled us apart, but he was never not my father. but he'd been with me the whole time. He'd always been proud of me. Circumstance had pulled us apart, but he was never not my father. 1 test male False None -715 As soon as I arrived, I started peppering him with questions. Where are you from? Where did you go to school? Why did you do this? How did you do that? He started getting visibly irritated. What is this? he said. Why are you interrogating me? What's going on here? I want to get to know you. As soon as I arrived, I started peppering him with questions. Where are you from? Where did you go to school? Why did you do this? How did you do that? He started getting visibly irritated. What is this? he said. Why are you interrogating me? What's going on here? I want to get to know you. 1 test male False None -72 In those days, with all the violence and riots going on, you did not want to be out that late at night. We were standing at the corner of Jellicoe Avenue and Oxford Road, right in the heart of Johannesburg's wealthy white suburbia. And there were no minibuses. The streets were empty. In those days, with all the violence and riots going on, you did not want to be out that late at night. We were standing at the corner of Jellicoe Avenue and Oxford Road, right in the heart of Johannesburg's wealthy white suburbia. And there were no minibuses. The streets were empty. 1 test male False None -724 While settling in Cape Town and the surrounding frontier, the white colonists had their way with the Khoisan women, and the first mixed people of South Africa were born. While settling in Cape Town and the surrounding frontier, the white colonists had their way with the Khoisan women, and the first mixed people of South Africa were born. 1 test male False None -729 For all that black people have suffered, they know who they are. Colored people don't. For all that black people have suffered, they know who they are. Colored people don't. 1 test male False None -733 I was the anomaly wherever we lived. I was the anomaly wherever we lived. 1 test male False None -738 People are willing to accept you if they see you as an outsider trying to assimilate into their world. But when they see you as a fellow tribe member attempting to disavow the tribe, that is something they will never forgive. That is what happened to me in Eden Park. People are willing to accept you if they see you as an outsider trying to assimilate into their world. But when they see you as a fellow tribe member attempting to disavow the tribe, that is something they will never forgive. That is what happened to me in Eden Park. 1 test male False None -742 If you were applying to be white, the pencil went into your hair. If it fell out, you were white. If it stayed in, you were colored. You were what the government said you were. If you were applying to be white, the pencil went into your hair. If it fell out, you were white. If it stayed in, you were colored. You were what the government said you were. 1 test male False None -747 Many colored people lived in this limbo, a true purgatory, always yearning for the white fathers who disowned them, and they could be horribly racist to one another as a result. The most common colored slur was Bushman, Bushman, Bushy, because it called out their blackness, their primitiveness. The worst way to insult a colored person was to infer that they were in some way black. One of the most sinister things about apartheid was that it taught colored people Many colored people lived in this limbo, a true purgatory, always yearning for the white fathers who disowned them, and they could be horribly racist to one another as a result. The most common colored slur was Bushman, Bushman, Bushy, because it called out their blackness, their primitiveness. The worst way to insult a colored person was to infer that they were in some way black. One of the most sinister things about apartheid was that it taught colored people. 1 test male False None -751 Then all of a sudden, it's Planet of the Apes, and the monkeys have taken over. Then all of a sudden, it's Planet of the Apes, and the monkeys have taken over. 1 test male False None -756 Hey, she said, can I ride your bike? I was completely shocked. Oh wow, I thought. I made a friend. Yeah, of course, I said. I got off and she got on and rode about 20 or 30 feet. Some random older kid came running up to the street. She stopped and got off and he climbed on and rode away. I was so happy that a girl had spoken to me that it didn't fully sink in that they'd stolen my bicycle. I ran Hey, she said, can I ride your bike? I was completely shocked. Oh wow, I thought. I made a friend. Yeah, of course, I said. I got off and she got on and rode about twenty or thirty feet. Some random older kid came running up to the street. She stopped and got off and he climbed on and rode away. I was so happy that a girl had spoken to me that it didn't fully sink in that they'd stolen my bicycle. I ran. 1 test male False None -760 Then, one of them, this kid who was the ringleader of the group, walked over. My first thought again was, oh cool, I made a friend. I held up my hand and showed him my mulberries. Then, he knocked them out of my hand and smushed them into the ground. The other kid started laughing. I stood there and looked at him a moment. By that point, I developed thick skin. I was used to being bullied. Then, one of them, this kid who was the ringleader of the group, walked over. My first thought again was, oh cool, I made a friend. I held up my hand and showed him my mulberries. Then, he knocked them out of my hand and smushed them into the ground. The other kid started laughing. I stood there and looked at him a moment. By that point, I developed thick skin. I was used to being bullied. 1 test male False None -765 Half an hour later, Abel showed up. At that point, Abel was still my mom's boyfriend. He wasn't trying to be my father, or even a stepfather, really. He was more like a big brother than anything. He'd joke around with me, have fun. I didn't know him that well, but one thing I didn't know about him was that he had a temper. Very charming when he wanted to be. Incredibly funny. But fuck, he could be mean. He'd grown up in the homelands, where you had to fight to survive. Half an hour later, Abel showed up. At that point, Abel was still my mom's boyfriend. He wasn't trying to be my father, or even a stepfather, really. He was more like a big brother than anything. He'd joke around with me, have fun. I didn't know him that well, but one thing I didn't know about him was that he had a temper. Very charming when he wanted to be. Incredibly funny. But fuck, he could be mean. He'd grown up in the homelands, where you had to fight to survive. 1 test male False None -767.04 My mother cut me off. My mother cut me off. 1 test male False None -767.09 It's nothing, she said. It's nothing, she said. 1 test male False None -767.14 He never came home from work sober, and the drinking always made his temper worse. He never came home from work sober, and the drinking always made his temper worse. 1 test male False None -767 What happened, he said. I started to explain. My mother cut me off. Don't tell him, she said. She knew what would happen. She knew better than me. Don't tell me what, Abel said. It's nothing, she said. It's not nothing, I said. She glared at me. Don't tell him. Abel was getting frustrated. What? Don't tell me what. He'd been drinking. He never came home from work sober. And the drinking always made his temper worse. What happened, he said. I started to explain. My mother cut me off. Don't tell him, she said. She knew what would happen. She knew better than me. Don't tell me what, Abel said. It's nothing, she said. It's not nothing, I said. She glared at me. Don't tell him. Abel was getting frustrated. What? Don't tell me what. He'd been drinking. He never came home from work sober. And the drinking always made his temper worse. 1 test male False None -771 Then, very calm and deliberate, he stood up. Take me to these boys, he said. Yes, I thought. This is it. Big brother is going to get my revenge for me. Then, very calm and deliberate, he stood up. Take me to these boys, he said. Yes, I thought. This is it. Big brother is going to get my revenge for me. 1 test male False None -776 Once this kid was beat to shit, Abel dragged him over to the car and held him up in front of me. Say you're sorry. The kid was whimpering, trembling. He looked me in the eye, and I had never seen fear in someone's eyes like I saw in his. He'd been beaten by a stranger, in a way I don't think he'd ever been beaten before. He said he was sorry, but it was like his apology wasn't for what he'd done to me. It was like he was sorry for every bad thing he'd ever done in his life. Once this kid was beat to shit, Abel dragged him over to the car and held him up in front of me. Say you're sorry. The kid was whimpering, trembling. He looked me in the eye, and I had never seen fear in someone's eyes like I saw in his. He'd been beaten by a stranger, in a way I don't think he'd ever been beaten before. He said he was sorry, but it was like his apology wasn't for what he'd done to me. It was like he was sorry for every bad thing he'd ever done in his life. 1 test male False None -780 Once the kid apologized, Abel shoved him away and kicked him. Go! The kid ran off, and we drove back to the house in silence. Once the kid apologized, Abel shoved him away and kicked him. Go! The kid ran off, and we drove back to the house in silence. 1 test male False None -785 The guy turned quickly and got back in his car and drove away. The guy turned quickly and got back in his car and drove away. 1 test male False None -79 drivers who stole roots would get killed. drivers who stole roots would get killed. 1 test male False None -794 I understood Valentine's Day as a concept. The naked baby shoots you with an arrow and you fall in love. I got that part. But this was my first time being introduced to it as an activity. At H.A. Jack, Valentine's Day was used as a fundraiser. Pupils were going around selling flowers and cards, and I had to go ask a friend what was happening. I understood Valentine's Day as a concept. The naked baby shoots you with an arrow and you fall in love. I got that part. But this was my first time being introduced to it as an activity. At H.A. Jack, Valentine's Day was used as a fundraiser. Pupils were going around selling flowers and cards, and I had to go ask a friend what was happening. 1 test male False None -799 I honestly hadn't thought of asking Meilin, but when the girls brought it up, that thing happened, where someone plants the idea in your head and it changes your perception. Meilin's totally got a thing for you. Does she? Yeah, you guys are great together. Are we? Totally! Well, okay, if you say so. I honestly hadn't thought of asking Meilin, but when the girls brought it up, that thing happened, where someone plants the idea in your head and it changes your perception. Meilin's totally got a thing for you. Does she? Yeah, you guys are great together. Are we? Totally! Well, okay, if you say so. 1 test male False None -802 Her friends say, okay, sounds good. We have to run it by Meilin. They go to Meilin, they consult, they tell her what they think. Trevor says he likes you, we're in favor. We think you'd be good together. What do you say? Meilin says, I like Trevor. They say, okay, let's move forward. They come back to us. Meilin says she approves and she's waiting for Trevor's Valentine's Day advance. Her friends say, okay, sounds good. We have to run it by Meilin. They go to Meilin, they consult, they tell her what they think. Trevor says he likes you, we're in favor. We think you'd be good together. What do you say? Meilin says, I like Trevor. They say, okay, let's move forward. They come back to us. Meilin says she approves and she's waiting for Trevor's Valentine's Day advance. 1 test male False None -807 Valentine's Day is coming up. Valentine's Day is coming up. 1 test male False None -811 It was just a peck. Our lips touched for only a few seconds, but it set off explosions in my head. Yes! Oh yes! This! I don't know what this is, but I like it. Something had awakened, and it was right outside McDonald's, so it was extra special. It was just a peck. Our lips touched for only a few seconds, but it set off explosions in my head. Yes! Oh yes! This! I don't know what this is, but I like it. Something had awakened, and it was right outside McDonald's, so it was extra special. 1 test male False None -816 Finally, Meilin showed up and walked over to me. I was about to say, Happy Valentine's Day! When she stopped me and said, Oh, hi Trevor. Finally, Meilin showed up and walked over to me. I was about to say, Happy Valentine's Day! When she stopped me and said, Oh, hi Trevor. 1 test male False None -820 But at the same time, some part of me said, well, this makes sense. Lorenzo was everything I wasn't. He was popular. He was white. He'd upset the balance of everything by asking out the only colored girl in school. Girls loved him, and he was dumb as rocks. A nice guy, but kind of a bad boy. Girls did his homework for him. He was that guy. He was really good looking too. It was like when he was creating his character, he traded in all his intelligence But at the same time, some part of me said, well, this makes sense. Lorenzo was everything I wasn't. He was popular. He was white. He'd upset the balance of everything by asking out the only colored girl in school. Girls loved him, and he was dumb as rocks. A nice guy, but kind of a bad boy. Girls did his homework for him. He was that guy. He was really good looking too. It was like when he was creating his character, he traded in all his intelligence. 1 test male False None -825 Because the other kids were coming in on that same road to school, I'd take my blazer off so that no one could tell what school I went to. And I would bury my head and push the car, hoping no one would recognize me. Because the other kids were coming in on that same road to school, I'd take my blazer off so that no one could tell what school I went to. And I would bury my head and push the car, hoping no one would recognize me. 1 test male False None -83 We hadn't gone 10 feet when suddenly a minibus swerved right in front of the car and cut us off. We hadn't gone ten feet when suddenly a minibus swerved right in front of the car and cut us off. 1 test male False None -834 Thanks to my long walk to school, I was late every single day. I'd have to stop off in the prefix office to write my name down for detention. I was the patron saint of detention. Already late, I'd run to join my morning classes. Math, English, Biology, whatever. The last period before break was assembly. The pupils would come together in the assembly hall. Each grade seated, row by row, and the teachers on the prefix would get up on stage and go over the business of what was happening in the school. Thanks to my long walk to school, I was late every single day. I'd have to stop off in the prefix office to write my name down for detention. I was the patron saint of detention. Already late, I'd run to join my morning classes. Math, English, Biology, whatever. The last period before break was assembly. The pupils would come together in the assembly hall. Each grade seated, row by row, and the teachers on the prefix would get up on stage and go over the business of what was happening in the school. 1 test male False None -839.001 I was an overnight success. I was an overnight success. 1 test male False None -839.006 I had a rule. I would take five orders a day. High bidders only. I had a rule. I would take five orders a day. High bidders only. 1 test male False None -839.011 I'd found my niche. I'd found my niche. 1 test male False None -839.016 I popped around to everyone working, chatting, telling jokes, making deliveries. I popped around to everyone working, chatting, telling jokes, making deliveries. 1 test male False None -839.021 For me, it was humor. For me, it was humor. 1 test male False None -843 I wonder what would have. I wonder what would have. 1 test male False None -848 After suffering my Valentine's Day heartbreak at the hands of Maylene and the handsome, charming Lorenzo, I learned a valuable lesson about dating. What I learned was that cool guys get girls, and funny guys get to hang out with the cool guys with their girls. I was not a cool guy. Therefore, I did not have girls. I understood that formula very quickly, and I knew my place. I didn't ask girls out, I didn't have a girlfriend, I didn't even try. After suffering my Valentine's Day heartbreak at the hands of Maylene and the handsome, charming Lorenzo, I learned a valuable lesson about dating. What I learned was that cool guys get girls, and funny guys get to hang out with the cool guys with their girls. I was not a cool guy. Therefore, I did not have girls. I understood that formula very quickly, and I knew my place. I didn't ask girls out, I didn't have a girlfriend, I didn't even try. 1 test male False None -852 Outwardly, I had carefully cultivated my status as the funny, non-threatening guy, but secretly, I had the hugest crush on Zaheera. She was so pretty and so funny. We'd hang out and have great conversations. I thought about her constantly. But for the life of me, I never considered myself worthy of dating her. I told myself, I'm gonna have a crush on her forever, and that's all that's ever gonna happen. Outwardly, I had carefully cultivated my status as the funny, non threatening guy, but secretly, I had the hugest crush on Zaheera. She was so pretty and so funny. We'd hang out and have great conversations. I thought about her constantly. But for the life of me, I never considered myself worthy of dating her. I told myself, I'm gonna have a crush on her forever, and that's all that's ever gonna happen. 1 test male False None -857 Zihira and Gary broke up. Then they got back together. Then they broke up. Then they got back together. They kissed once, but she didn't like it, so they never kissed again. Then, they broke up for real. I bided my time through it all. I watched popular Gary go down in flames, and I was still the good friend. Yep, the plan is working. But trick dance, here we come. Only two and a half years to go. Zihira and Gary broke up. Then they got back together. Then they broke up. Then they got back together. They kissed once, but she didn't like it, so they never kissed again. Then, they broke up for real. I bided my time through it all. I watched popular Gary go down in flames, and I was still the good friend. Yep, the plan is working. But trick dance, here we come. Only two and a half years to go. 1 test male False None -861 In every nice neighborhood, there's one white family that does not give a fuck. You know the family I'm talking about. They don't do their lawn, don't paint the fence, don't fix the roof. Their house is shit. My mom found that house and bought it, which is how she snuck a black family into a place as white as Highlands North. In every nice neighborhood, there's one white family that does not give a fuck. You know the family I'm talking about. They don't do their lawn, don't paint the fence, don't fix the roof. Their house is shit. My mom found that house and bought it, which is how she snuck a black family into a place as white as Highlands North. 1 test male False None -866 It was only after a year or so that I figured out the key to making black friends in the suburbs. The children of domestics. Many domestic workers in South Africa, when they get pregnant, they get fired. Or if they're lucky, the family they work for lets them stay on and they can have the baby. But then the baby goes back to live with the relatives in the homelands. Then, the black mother raises the white children, seeing her own child only once a year at the holidays. But a handful of families would let their domestics keep It was only after a year or so that I figured out the key to making black friends in the suburbs. The children of domestics. Many domestic workers in South Africa, when they get pregnant, they get fired. Or if they're lucky, the family they work for lets them stay on and they can have the baby. But then the baby goes back to live with the relatives in the homelands. Then, the black mother raises the white children, seeing her own child only once a year at the holidays. But a handful of families would let their domestics keep. 1 test male False None -870 Walking home from school, we'd throw rocks through windows just to see them shatter, and then we'd run away. We got detention together all the time. The teachers, the pupils, the principal, everyone at school knew Teddy and Trevor, thick as thieves. Walking home from school, we'd throw rocks through windows just to see them shatter, and then we'd run away. We got detention together all the time. The teachers, the pupils, the principal, everyone at school knew Teddy and Trevor, thick as thieves. 1 test male False None -875 We reached in, grabbed a few, drank the liquor inside and then gobbled down the chocolates. We'd hit the jackpot. We reached in, grabbed a few, drank the liquor inside and then gobbled down the chocolates. We'd hit the jackpot. 1 test male False None -878.003 I knew if a guard cuts us off at the exit, we'd be trapped. So we were hauling ass as fast as we could. I knew if a guard cuts us off at the exit, we'd be trapped. So we were hauling ass as fast as we could. 1 test male False None -878.008 These gods knew me. These gods knew me. 1 test male False None -878.013 I was dead. I was dead. 1 test male False None -878.018 And now, the chase was on. I was loving it. I was shitting myself, but also loving it. And now, the chase was on. I was loving it. I was shitting myself, but also loving it. 1 test male False None -878.023 As a kid, wherever I went, whatever building I was in, I was always plotting my escape. As a kid, wherever I went, whatever building I was in, I was always plotting my escape. 1 test male False None -878.028 As Teddy and I booked past the fire station, there was a road off to the left, a dead end that ran into a metal fence. As Teddy and I booked past the fire station, there was a road off to the left, a dead end that ran into a metal fence. 1 test male False None -878.033 Teddy, this way!" I yelled. Teddy, this way!" I yelled. 1 test male False None -878.038 Half the mole cups followed him. Half the mole cups followed him. 1 test male False None -878.043 Another harmless pedestrian out for a stroll. Another harmless pedestrian out for a stroll. 1 test male False None -882 Now I was worried. Now I was worried. 1 test male False None -887 Huh, okay. My mom called me in. Do you know about this thing? What thing? Teddy Watch Caught Shoplifting. Huh, okay. My mom called me in. Do you know about this thing? What thing? Teddy Watch Caught Shoplifting. 1 test male False None -891 Finally, the principal Mr. Friedman walked out. Trevor, come in. Finally, the principal Mr. Friedman walked out. Trevor, come in. 1 test male False None -896 Okay, he stood up and walked over to a television in the corner of the room Trevor The police have video footage of the whole thing. We'd like you to take a look. Fuck My heart was pounding in my chest Okay, he stood up and walked over to a television in the corner of the room Trevor The police have video footage of the whole thing. We'd like you to take a look. Fuck My heart was pounding in my chest. 1 test male False None -9.2 Yet they were divided into different tribes with different languages. Yet they were divided into different tribes with different languages. 1 test male False None -901 Do you know of any white kids that Teddy hangs out with? Do you know of any white kids that Teddy hangs out with?. 1 test male False None -906 English is the international language and the language of money and of the media, so we had to keep that. Most people were forced to learn at least some of her cons, so it's useful to keep that too. Plus, we didn't want the white minority to feel ostracized in the new South Africa, or else they'd take all their money and leave. English is the international language and the language of money and of the media, so we had to keep that. Most people were forced to learn at least some of her cons, so it's useful to keep that too. Plus, we didn't want the white minority to feel ostracized in the new South Africa, or else they'd take all their money and leave. 1 test male False None -910 By the end of high school, I'd become a mogul. My tux shop business had evolved into a mini empire that included selling pirates at CDs I'd made at home. I convinced my mother, as frugal as she was, that I needed a computer for school. I didn't. I wanted it so I could surf the internet and play Leisure Suit Larry. But I was very convincing, and she broke down and got it for me. By the end of high school, I'd become a mogul. My tux shop business had evolved into a mini empire that included selling pirates at CDs I'd made at home. I convinced my mother, as frugal as she was, that I needed a computer for school. I didn't. I wanted it so I could surf the internet and play Leisure Suit Larry. But I was very convincing, and she broke down and got it for me. 1 test male False None -915 I had two middlemen working for me in my CD business, Bongani and Tom. They sold the CDs that I copied in exchange for a cut. I met Tom at the arcade at the Balfour Park Mall. Like Teddy, he lived nearby because his mom was a domestic worker. Tom was in my grade but went to a government school, Northview, a proper ghetto school. Tom handled my CD sales over there. I had two middlemen working for me in my CD business, Bongani and Tom. They sold the CDs that I copied in exchange for a cut. I met Tom at the arcade at the Balfour Park Mall. Like Teddy, he lived nearby because his mom was a domestic worker. Tom was in my grade but went to a government school, Northview, a proper ghetto school. Tom handled my CD sales over there. 1 test male False None -92 He raced along Oxford Road, the lanes empty, no other cars out. I was sitting closest to the minibus' sliding door. My mother sat next to me holding baby Andrew. She looked out the window at the passing road and then leaned over to me and whispered, Trevor, when he slows down at the next intersection, I'm going to open the door and we're going to jump. He raced along Oxford Road, the lanes empty, no other cars out. I was sitting closest to the minibus' sliding door. My mother sat next to me holding baby Andrew. She looked out the window at the passing road and then leaned over to me and whispered, Trevor, when he slows down at the next intersection, I'm going to open the door and we're going to jump. 1 test male False None -924 One afternoon, Tom came by my house and we started talking about the dance. I told him I didn't have a date, couldn't get a date, and wasn't going to get a date. One afternoon, Tom came by my house and we started talking about the dance. I told him I didn't have a date, couldn't get a date, and wasn't going to get a date. 1 test male False None -929 The two of us jumped on a bus and headed into the city. The two of us jumped on a bus and headed into the city. 1 test male False None -933 Good lord. Beautiful eyes. Beautiful golden yellow brown skin. It was like she glowed. Good lord. Beautiful eyes. Beautiful golden yellow brown skin. It was like she glowed. 1 test male False None -938 I had no idea how to talk to a girl that beautiful. She was shy and didn't speak much either. There was a bit of an awkward pause. Luckily, Tom's a guy who just talks and talks. He jumped right in and smoothed everything over. Trevor, this is Babiki, Babiki Trevor. He went on and on about how great I was, how much she was looking forward to the dance, when I would pick her up for the dance, all the details. We hung out for a few. I had no idea how to talk to a girl that beautiful. She was shy and didn't speak much either. There was a bit of an awkward pause. Luckily, Tom's a guy who just talks and talks. He jumped right in and smoothed everything over. Trevor, this is Babiki, Babiki Trevor. He went on and on about how great I was, how much she was looking forward to the dance, when I would pick her up for the dance, all the details. We hung out for a few. 1 test male False None -942 As the dance approached, I started getting nervous. I didn't have a car. I didn't have any decent clothes. This was my first time taking out a beautiful girl, and I wanted it to be perfect. As the dance approached, I started getting nervous. I didn't have a car. I didn't have any decent clothes. This was my first time taking out a beautiful girl, and I wanted it to be perfect. 1 test male False None -947 At the time, I had no clue about clothes. My idea of fashion was a brand of clothing called Powerhouse. It was the kind of stuff weightlifters wear down in Miami or out at Venice Beach. Baggy track pants with baggy sweatshirts. The logo was a cartoon of this giant bodybuilding bulldog wearing wrap-around sunglasses and smoking a cigar and flexing his muscles. On the pants, he was flexing all the way down your leg. On the shirts, he was flexing At the time, I had no clue about clothes. My idea of fashion was a brand of clothing called Powerhouse. It was the kind of stuff weightlifters wear down in Miami or out at Venice Beach. Baggy track pants with baggy sweatshirts. The logo was a cartoon of this giant bodybuilding bulldog wearing wrap around sunglasses and smoking a cigar and flexing his muscles. On the pants, he was flexing all the way down your leg. On the shirts, he was flexing. 1 test male False None -951 I told Bongani I wanted a leather coat, like Keanu Reeves wore. The ankle-length black one. Bongani shut that down. No, that's not practical. It's cool, but you'll never be able to wear it again. He took me shopping and we bought a calf-length black leather jacket, which would look ridiculous today, but at the time, thanks to Neo, it was very cool. That alone cost $1200 rand. Then we finished the outfit with a pair of simple black pants, suede, square-toe shoes, I told Bongani I wanted a leather coat, like Keanu Reeves wore. The ankle length black one. Bongani shut that down. No, that's not practical. It's cool, but you'll never be able to wear it again. He took me shopping and we bought a calf length black leather jacket, which would look ridiculous today, but at the time, thanks to Neo, it was very cool. That alone cost one thousand, two hundred rand. Then we finished the outfit with a pair of simple black pants, suede, square toe shoes,. 1 test male False None -956 Bongani dragged me to a second salon. I sat down in the chair and the woman took my hair and started painting this creamy white stuff in it. She was wearing rubber gloves to keep this chemical relaxer off her own skin, which should have been my first clue that maybe this wasn't such a great idea. Bongani dragged me to a second salon. I sat down in the chair and the woman took my hair and started painting this creamy white stuff in it. She was wearing rubber gloves to keep this chemical relaxer off her own skin, which should have been my first clue that maybe this wasn't such a great idea. 1 test male False None -960 She told me to tell her when it started burning. She should have told me to tell her when it started tingling. Because by the time it was actually burning, it had already taken off several layers of my scalp. I was well past tingling when I started to freak out. It's burning. It's burning. She rushed me over to the sink and started to rinse the relaxer out. What I didn't know is that the chemical doesn't really start to burn until they're rinsing it out. I felt like someone was pouring liquor She told me to tell her when it started burning. She should have told me to tell her when it started tingling. Because by the time it was actually burning, it had already taken off several layers of my scalp. I was well past tingling when I started to freak out. It's burning. It's burning. She rushed me over to the sink and started to rinse the relaxer out. What I didn't know is that the chemical doesn't really start to burn until they're rinsing it out. I felt like someone was pouring liquor. 1 test male False None -965 It was like the makeover scenes in my American movies, where they take the dorky guy or girl, fix the hair and change the clothes, and the ugly duckling becomes the swan. I'd been so convinced I'd never get a date that I never tried to look nice for a girl, so I didn't know that I could. The hair was good. My skin wasn't perfect, but it was getting better. The pustules had receded into regular pimples. I looked not bad. It was like the makeover scenes in my American movies, where they take the dorky guy or girl, fix the hair and change the clothes, and the ugly duckling becomes the swan. I'd been so convinced I'd never get a date that I never tried to look nice for a girl, so I didn't know that I could. The hair was good. My skin wasn't perfect, but it was getting better. The pustules had receded into regular pimples. I looked not bad. 1 test male False None -97 I still didn't know why any of this had happened. I'd been running on pure adrenaline. Once we stopped running, I realized how much pain I was in. I looked down and the skin on my arms was scraped and torn. I was cut up and bleeding all over. Mom was too. My baby brother was fine though, incredibly. My mom had wrapped herself around him and he'd come through without a scratch. I turned to her in shock. What was that? Why are we running? What do you mean why are we running? Those men were trying to kill us. I still didn't know why any of this had happened. I'd been running on pure adrenaline. Once we stopped running, I realized how much pain I was in. I looked down and the skin on my arms was scraped and torn. I was cut up and bleeding all over. Mom was too. My baby brother was fine though, incredibly. My mom had wrapped herself around him and he'd come through without a scratch. I turned to her in shock. What was that? Why are we running? What do you mean why are we running? Those men were trying to kill us. 1 test male False None -974 Wild car. The BMW you promised I could drive the BMW to the dance. First go buy me some beers, he said. Wild car. The BMW you promised I could drive the BMW to the dance. First go buy me some beers, he said. 1 test male False None -979 We took the shitty Mazda and drove to Babiki's house. I was an hour late picking her up. She was completely pissed off. Tom had to go in and convince her to come out. And eventually she did. We took the shitty Mazda and drove to Babiki's house. I was an hour late picking her up. She was completely pissed off. Tom had to go in and convince her to come out. And eventually she did. 1 test male False None -983 Babiki sat next to me, in stony silence the whole time. Clearly not feeling me, or this night at all. I was crashing hard. I was late. I didn't know where I was going. I was the worst date she'd ever had in her life. Babiki sat next to me, in stony silence the whole time. Clearly not feeling me, or this night at all. I was crashing hard. I was late. I didn't know where I was going. I was the worst date she'd ever had in her life. 1 test male False None -988 Finally I said, okay, I'll be right back. Finally I said, okay, I'll be right back. 1 test male False None -992 Most of the guys eventually wandered back inside. I was sitting on the pavement, taking swigs from the brandy bottle, getting buzzed. At some point, Bongani went back over to the car to try one last time to convince Babiki to come in. Most of the guys eventually wandered back inside. I was sitting on the pavement, taking swigs from the brandy bottle, getting buzzed. At some point, Bongani went back over to the car to try one last time to convince Babiki to come in. 1 test male False None -997 Tom had promised he'd get me a beautiful date for the dance, but he hadn't made any promises about any of her other qualities. Whenever we were together, she was speaking Bedi to Tom, and Tom was speaking English to me. But she didn't speak English, and I didn't speak Bedi. Abel spoke Bedi. He'd learned several South African languages in order to deal with his customers, so he'd spoken with her fluently when they met. But in that moment I realized I'd never actually heard Tom had promised he'd get me a beautiful date for the dance, but he hadn't made any promises about any of her other qualities. Whenever we were together, she was speaking Bedi to Tom, and Tom was speaking English to me. But she didn't speak English, and I didn't speak Bedi. Abel spoke Bedi. He'd learned several South African languages in order to deal with his customers, so he'd spoken with her fluently when they met. But in that moment I realized I'd never actually heard. 1 test male False None -999.4 I got enough of the gist of the conversation from everyone's English to know what was going on. I got enough of the gist of the conversation from everyone's English to know what was going on. 1 test male False None -999.9 which is how I'd been dating a girl for over a month. The girl I very much believed was my first girlfriend, without ever having had a single conversation with her. which is how I'd been dating a girl for over a month. The girl I very much believed was my first girlfriend, without ever having had a single conversation with her. 1 test male False None +"10.3" " Those tribes and other non-whites were systematically classified into various groups and subgroups." "Those tribes and other non whites were systematically classified into various groups and subgroups." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"100.1" " But I was nine years old and I knew better. I wasn't gonna keep quiet this time." "But I was nine years old and I knew better. I wasn't gonna keep quiet this time." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1003" " I asked Bongani if he spoke Betty. He didn't. I ran inside to the dance and ran around looking for someone who spoke Betty to help me to convince her to come in. Do you speak Betty? Do you speak Betty? Do you speak Betty? Nobody spoke Betty." "I asked Bongani if he spoke Betty. He didn't. I ran inside to the dance and ran around looking for someone who spoke Betty to help me to convince her to come in. Do you speak Betty? Do you speak Betty? Do you speak Betty? Nobody spoke Betty." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1008" " Then, out of nowhere, she leaned over and gave me a kiss. Like, a real kiss. A proper kiss. The kind of kiss that made me forget that the whole disaster had just happened. I was so confused. I didn't know what I was supposed to do." "Then, out of nowhere, she leaned over and gave me a kiss. Like, a real kiss. A proper kiss. The kind of kiss that made me forget that the whole disaster had just happened. I was so confused. I didn't know what I was supposed to do." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1012" " Part 3" "Part three ." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1013.05" " British schools treat colonialism the same way, to an extent." "British schools treat colonialism the same way, to an extent." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1015" " Facts, but not many. And never the emotional or moral dimension. It was as if the teachers, many of whom were white, had been given a mandate. Whatever you do, don't make the kids angry." "Facts, but not many. And never the emotional or moral dimension. It was as if the teachers, many of whom were white, had been given a mandate. Whatever you do, don't make the kids angry." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"102" " She broke out in a huge smile and started laughing. I started laughing too. And we stood there, this little boy and his mom, our arms and legs covered in blood and dirt, laughing together through the pain in the light of a petrol station on the side of the road in the middle of the night." "She broke out in a huge smile and started laughing. I started laughing too. And we stood there, this little boy and his mom, our arms and legs covered in blood and dirt, laughing together through the pain in the light of a petrol station on the side of the road in the middle of the night." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1024" " I had an instinct for business, but at the time I knew nothing about music, which was odd for someone running a music pirating business. The only music I knew still was Christian music from church. The only music allowed in my mother's house. The CD writer Andrew gave me was a 1X CD writer, which meant it copied at the speed it played. Every day I'd leave school, go to my room and sit for five to six hours copying CDs. I had my own surround sound system built" "I had an instinct for business, but at the time I knew nothing about music, which was odd for someone running a music pirating business. The only music I knew still was Christian music from church. The only music allowed in my mother's house. The CD writer Andrew gave me was a one X CD writer, which meant it copied at the speed it played. Every day I'd leave school, go to my room and sit for five to six hours copying CDs. I had my own surround sound system built." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1029" " Business was booming. By metric, I was bawling, making 500 rand a week. To put that in perspective, there are maids in South Africa who still earn less than that today. It's a shit salary if you're trying to support a family, but as a 16 year old living at home with no real expenses, I was living the dream. For the first time in my life, I had money, and it was the most liberating thing in the world. The first thing I learned about having money was that it gives you choices." "Business was booming. By metric, I was bawling, making five hundred rand a week. To put that in perspective, there are maids in South Africa who still earn less than that today. It's a shit salary if you're trying to support a family, but as a sixteen year old living at home with no real expenses, I was living the dream. For the first time in my life, I had money, and it was the most liberating thing in the world. The first thing I learned about having money was that it gives you choices." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1033" " They didn't have super size at the time. Large was the biggest. So I walked up to the counter, feeling very impressed with myself, and I put down my money and said, I'll have a large number one." "They didn't have super size at the time. Large was the biggest. So I walked up to the counter, feeling very impressed with myself, and I put down my money and said, I'll have a large number one." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1038" " Life was good, and none of it would have happened without Andrew. Without him, I would never have mastered the world of music piracy and lived a life of endless McDonald's. What he did on a small scale showed me how important it is to empower the dispossessed and the disenfranchised in the wake of oppression." "Life was good, and none of it would have happened without Andrew. Without him, I would never have mastered the world of music piracy and lived a life of endless McDonald's. What he did on a small scale showed me how important it is to empower the dispossessed and the disenfranchised in the wake of oppression." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1042" " Working with Andrew was the first time in my life I realized you need someone from the privileged world to come to you and say, okay, here's what you need and here's how it works. Talent alone would have gotten me nowhere without Andrew giving me the CD writer. People say, oh, that's a handout. No, I still have to work to profit by it, but I don't stand a chance without it." "Working with Andrew was the first time in my life I realized you need someone from the privileged world to come to you and say, okay, here's what you need and here's how it works. Talent alone would have gotten me nowhere without Andrew giving me the CD writer. People say, oh, that's a handout. No, I still have to work to profit by it, but I don't stand a chance without it." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1047" " Our first gig was a New Year's Eve party the summer we graduated from Sandringham. Bologna and I took my tower, my giant monitor, and all the cables and the keyboard and the mouse. We loaded everything up in a minibus and brought it over to Alex. We took over the street in front of his house, ran the electricity out of his place, set up the computer, set up the speakers, and borrowed a tent. And people came. It was explosive." "Our first gig was a New Year's Eve party the summer we graduated from Sandringham. Bologna and I took my tower, my giant monitor, and all the cables and the keyboard and the mouse. We loaded everything up in a minibus and brought it over to Alex. We took over the street in front of his house, ran the electricity out of his place, set up the computer, set up the speakers, and borrowed a tent. And people came. It was explosive." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1051" " Thanks to my computer and modem, I was getting exclusive tracks few people had access to, but that created a problem for me. Sometimes, I'd play the new music at parties and people would stand around going, what is this? How do you dance to it? For example, if a DJ plays a song like, watch me whip, watch me nae nae, yeah, it's a catchy song, but what is a whip? What is a nae nae? For that song to be popular, you have to know how to do the whip" "Thanks to my computer and modem, I was getting exclusive tracks few people had access to, but that created a problem for me. Sometimes, I'd play the new music at parties and people would stand around going, what is this? How do you dance to it? For example, if a DJ plays a song like, watch me whip, watch me nae nae, yeah, it's a catchy song, but what is a whip? What is a nae nae? For that song to be popular, you have to know how to do the whip." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1056" " 9 times out of 10, your European name was chosen at random, plucked from the Bible or taken from a Hollywood celebrity or a famous politician in the news. I know guys named after Mussolini and Napoleon and of course Hitler." " nine times out of ten , your European name was chosen at random, plucked from the Bible or taken from a Hollywood celebrity or a famous politician in the news. I know guys named after Mussolini and Napoleon and of course Hitler." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1060" " At Sandringham, we were taught more about World War II than the typical black kids in the townships were, but only in a basic way. We weren't taught to think critically about Hitler and anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. We weren't taught, for instance, that the architects of apartheid were big fans of Hitler, and that the racist policies they put in place were inspired in part by the racist policies of the Third Reich. We weren't taught how to think about how Hitler related to the world we lived in." "At Sandringham, we were taught more about World War II than the typical black kids in the townships were, but only in a basic way. We weren't taught to think critically about Hitler and anti Semitism and the Holocaust. We weren't taught, for instance, that the architects of apartheid were big fans of Hitler, and that the racist policies they put in place were inspired in part by the racist policies of the Third Reich. We weren't taught how to think about how Hitler related to the world we lived in." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1065" " So in Europe and America, yes, Hitler is the greatest madman in history. In Africa, he's just another strong man from the history books. In all my time hanging out with Hitler, I never once asked myself, why is his name Hitler? His name was Hitler because his mom named him Hitler." "So in Europe and America, yes, Hitler is the greatest madman in history. In Africa, he's just another strong man from the history books. In all my time hanging out with Hitler, I never once asked myself, why is his name Hitler? His name was Hitler because his mom named him Hitler." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"107" " As the British Empire fell, the Afrikaner rose up to claim South Africa as his rightful inheritance. To maintain power in the face of the country's rising and restless black majority, the government realized they needed a newer and more robust set of tools. They set up a formal commission to go out and study institutionalized racism all over the world. They went to Australia. They went to the Netherlands. They went to America. They saw what worked, what didn't. Then they came back" "As the British Empire fell, the Afrikaner rose up to claim South Africa as his rightful inheritance. To maintain power in the face of the country's rising and restless black majority, the government realized they needed a newer and more robust set of tools. They set up a formal commission to go out and study institutionalized racism all over the world. They went to Australia. They went to the Netherlands. They went to America. They saw what worked, what didn't. Then they came back." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1074" " My mind was racing, trying to figure out what she was talking about. Then it clicked. Hitler had a special dance move called Ospana Vah. It means where you work. And it was very sexual. His hips would gyrate and thrust like he was fucking the air. That was the move he was doing at the moment the teacher ran out. So clearly, the dance was the thing she found so disgusting." "My mind was racing, trying to figure out what she was talking about. Then it clicked. Hitler had a special dance move called Ospana Vah. It means where you work. And it was very sexual. His hips would gyrate and thrust like he was fucking the air. That was the move he was doing at the moment the teacher ran out. So clearly, the dance was the thing she found so disgusting." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1079" " When democracy came, people flooded into Alex from the homelands, building new shacks in the backyards of other shacks with still more shacks attached to the backside of those shacks, growing more dense and more compressed, leaving close to 200,000 people living in a few square kilometers. Even if you go back today, Alex hasn't changed. It can't change. It's physically impossible for it to change. It can only be what it is." "When democracy came, people flooded into Alex from the homelands, building new shacks in the backyards of other shacks with still more shacks attached to the backside of those shacks, growing more dense and more compressed, leaving close to two hundred , zero people living in a few square kilometers. Even if you go back today, Alex hasn't changed. It can't change. It's physically impossible for it to change. It can only be what it is." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1083" " Mungani lived in Alex, but I never visited him there while we were still in school. He'd always come to my house in Highlands North." "Mungani lived in Alex, but I never visited him there while we were still in school. He'd always come to my house in Highlands North." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1088" " It's the same bustling, chaotic third world marketplace you see in James Bond and Jason Bourne movies. It's Grand Central Station, but outdoors. Everything's dynamic. Everything's in motion. Nothing feels like it was there yesterday, and nothing feels like it'll be there tomorrow. But every day, it looks exactly the same." "It's the same bustling, chaotic third world marketplace you see in James Bond and Jason Bourne movies. It's Grand Central Station, but outdoors. Everything's dynamic. Everything's in motion. Nothing feels like it was there yesterday, and nothing feels like it'll be there tomorrow. But every day, it looks exactly the same." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1092" " Then, ten minutes later, it's like it never happened. Everyone's back to hanging out, back to the hustle, coming and going, running around." "Then, ten minutes later, it's like it never happened. Everyone's back to hanging out, back to the hustle, coming and going, running around." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1097" " The hood was a complete sensory overload for me. But within the chaos there was order, a system, a social hierarchy based on where you lived. First Avenue was not cool at all because it was right next to the commotion of the minibus rank. Second Avenue was nice because it had semi-houses that were built when there was still some sort of formal settlement going on. Third, fourth and fifth avenues were nicer for the township. These were the established families." "The hood was a complete sensory overload for me. But within the chaos there was order, a system, a social hierarchy based on where you lived. First Avenue was not cool at all because it was right next to the commotion of the minibus rank. Second Avenue was nice because it had semi houses that were built when there was still some sort of formal settlement going on. Third, fourth and fifth avenues were nicer for the township. These were the established families." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1100" " Another nice thing about the hood was that it's super cheap. You can get by on next to nothing. There's a meal you can get in the hood called a gorta. It's a quarter loaf of bread. You scrape out the bread, then you fill it with fried potatoes, a slice of bologna, and some pickled mango relish called acha. That costs a couple of rand. The more money you have, the more upgrades you can buy. If you have a bit more money, you can throw in a hot dog. If you have a bit more than that," "Another nice thing about the hood was that it's super cheap. You can get by on next to nothing. There's a meal you can get in the hood called a gorta. It's a quarter loaf of bread. You scrape out the bread, then you fill it with fried potatoes, a slice of bologna, and some pickled mango relish called acha. That costs a couple of rand. The more money you have, the more upgrades you can buy. If you have a bit more money, you can throw in a hot dog. If you have a bit more than that,." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1105" " The unemployment rate, technically speaking, was lower in South Africa during apartheid. Which makes sense. There was slavery. That's how everyone was employed. When democracy came, everyone had to be paid a minimum wage. The cost of labor went up and suddenly, millions of people were out of work." "The unemployment rate, technically speaking, was lower in South Africa during apartheid. Which makes sense. There was slavery. That's how everyone was employed. When democracy came, everyone had to be paid a minimum wage. The cost of labor went up and suddenly, millions of people were out of work." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"111" " Imagine all three of those things happening to the same group of people at the same time." "Imagine all three of those things happening to the same group of people at the same time." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1114" " When things were slow, we'd wander back and forth between the container and the wall, talking and hanging out with the other people with nothing to do in the middle of the day. We'd talk to drug dealers, talk to gangsters. Every now and then, the cops would come crashing through. A day in the life of the hood. Next day, same thing." "When things were slow, we'd wander back and forth between the container and the wall, talking and hanging out with the other people with nothing to do in the middle of the day. We'd talk to drug dealers, talk to gangsters. Every now and then, the cops would come crashing through. A day in the life of the hood. Next day, same thing." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1119" " Cash is the one thing everyone in the hood needs. Everyone's looking for a short-term loan for something, to pay a bill, or pay a fine, or just hold things together. People started coming to us and asking for money. Bongani would cut a deal and then he'd come to me. Yo, we're going to make a deal with this guy. We're going to loan him a hundred and he's going to give us back 120 at the end of the week. I'd say okay. Then the guy would come back and give us 120 rand. Then we did it again." "Cash is the one thing everyone in the hood needs. Everyone's looking for a short term loan for something, to pay a bill, or pay a fine, or just hold things together. People started coming to us and asking for money. Bongani would cut a deal and then he'd come to me. Yo, we're going to make a deal with this guy. We're going to loan him a hundred and he's going to give us back one hundred and twenty at the end of the week. I'd say okay. Then the guy would come back and give us one hundred and twenty rand. Then we did it again." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1123" " I understand you can't pay for the DVD player now, Bongani says. But how much are you willing to pay for it? I'll pay $120, he says. Okay, cool. Then Bongani takes the crackhead aside. How much do you want for the DVD player? I want $140. Okay, listen. You're a crackhead. This is a stolen DVD player. I'm gonna give you $50." "I understand you can't pay for the DVD player now, Bongani says. But how much are you willing to pay for it? I'll pay one hundred and twenty , he says. Okay, cool. Then Bongani takes the crackhead aside. How much do you want for the DVD player? I want one hundred and forty . Okay, listen. You're a crackhead. This is a stolen DVD player. I'm gonna give you fifty ." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1127.02" " I remember one time, we bought a car stereo or something like that." "I remember one time, we bought a car stereo or something like that." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1127.07" " Yeah, when white people lose stuff, they have insurance policies that pay them cash for what they've lost." "Yeah, when white people lose stuff, they have insurance policies that pay them cash for what they've lost." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1128" " And that was as far as we ever thought about it. When white people lose stuff, they get money. Just another nice perk of being white." "And that was as far as we ever thought about it. When white people lose stuff, they get money. Just another nice perk of being white." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1132" " When Bongani first said to me, let's go to the hood, I thought we were going to sell CDs and DJ parties in the hood. It turned out that we were selling CDs and DJing parties in order to capitalize a payday lending and pawn shop operation in the hood. Very quickly, that became our core business." "When Bongani first said to me, let's go to the hood, I thought we were going to sell CDs and DJ parties in the hood. It turned out that we were selling CDs and DJing parties in order to capitalize a payday lending and pawn shop operation in the hood. Very quickly, that became our core business." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1137" " After lunch, business would die down, and that's when we'd get our lunch, usually the cheapest thing we could afford, like a smiley with some maize meal. A smiley is a goat's head. They are boiled and covered with chili pepper. We call them smileys because when you're done eating all the meat off of it, the goat looks like it's smiling at you from the plate. The cheeks and the tongue are quite delicious, but the eyes are disgusting." "After lunch, business would die down, and that's when we'd get our lunch, usually the cheapest thing we could afford, like a smiley with some maize meal. A smiley is a goat's head. They are boiled and covered with chili pepper. We call them smileys because when you're done eating all the meat off of it, the goat looks like it's smiling at you from the plate. The cheeks and the tongue are quite delicious, but the eyes are disgusting." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1141" " They went to school, came straight home and went straight into the house. They weren't allowed to leave. Boys weren't allowed to talk to them, weren't even allowed to hang around the house, none of that. Some guy was always going on about some locked away girl. She's so beautiful, I'll do anything to get with her. But he couldn't, nobody could." "They went to school, came straight home and went straight into the house. They weren't allowed to leave. Boys weren't allowed to talk to them, weren't even allowed to hang around the house, none of that. Some guy was always going on about some locked away girl. She's so beautiful, I'll do anything to get with her. But he couldn't, nobody could." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1146.01" " after work was when business started to pick up." "after work was when business started to pick up." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1146.06" " DVD players, CD players, PlayStation games." "DVD players, CD players, PlayStation games." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1146.11" " It's a guy selling shoes." "It's a guy selling shoes." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1147" " One time he brought us an electric razor. What the hell is this? It's an electric razor. An electric razor? We're black! Do you know what these things do to our skin? Do you see anyone around here who can use an electric razor?" "One time he brought us an electric razor. What the hell is this? It's an electric razor. An electric razor? We're black! Do you know what these things do to our skin? Do you see anyone around here who can use an electric razor?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1151" " The tricky thing about the hood is that you're always working, working, working, and you feel like something's happening. But rarely, nothing's happening at all." "The tricky thing about the hood is that you're always working, working, working, and you feel like something's happening. But rarely, nothing's happening at all." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1156" " When I first went into Alex, I was drawn by the electricity and the excitement of it. But more important, I was accepted there. More so than I'd been in high school or anywhere else. When I first showed up, a couple of people raised an eyebrow. Who is this colored kid? But the hood doesn't judge. If you want to be there, you can be there. Because I didn't live in the hood, I was technically an outsider in the hood. But for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like one." "When I first went into Alex, I was drawn by the electricity and the excitement of it. But more important, I was accepted there. More so than I'd been in high school or anywhere else. When I first showed up, a couple of people raised an eyebrow. Who is this colored kid? But the hood doesn't judge. If you want to be there, you can be there. Because I didn't live in the hood, I was technically an outsider in the hood. But for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like one." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1160" " People take care of one another. The way it works in the hood is that if any mom asks you to do something, you have to say yes. Can I send you is the phrase. It's like everyone's your mom and you're everyone's kid. Can I send you? Yeah, what do you need? I need you to go buy milk and bread. Yeah, cool." "People take care of one another. The way it works in the hood is that if any mom asks you to do something, you have to say yes. Can I send you is the phrase. It's like everyone's your mom and you're everyone's kid. Can I send you? Yeah, what do you need? I need you to go buy milk and bread. Yeah, cool." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1165" " The hood was strangely comforting, but comfort can be dangerous. Comfort provides a floor, but also a ceiling. In our crew, our friend G was like the rest of us, unemployed, hanging out. Then he got a job at a nice clothing store. Every morning, he went to work, and the guys would tease him about going to work. We'd see him headed out, all dressed up, and everyone would be laughing at him." "The hood was strangely comforting, but comfort can be dangerous. Comfort provides a floor, but also a ceiling. In our crew, our friend G was like the rest of us, unemployed, hanging out. Then he got a job at a nice clothing store. Every morning, he went to work, and the guys would tease him about going to work. We'd see him headed out, all dressed up, and everyone would be laughing at him." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"117" " In any society built on institutionalized racism, race mixing doesn't merely challenge the system as unjust, it reveals the system as unsustainable and incoherent. Race mixing proves that races can mix, and in a lot of cases, want to mix. Because a mixed person embodies that rebuke to the logic of the system, race mixing becomes a crime worse than treason." "In any society built on institutionalized racism, race mixing doesn't merely challenge the system as unjust, it reveals the system as unsustainable and incoherent. Race mixing proves that races can mix, and in a lot of cases, want to mix. Because a mixed person embodies that rebuke to the logic of the system, race mixing becomes a crime worse than treason." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1174" " Windows 95 took forever to shut down. I was closing windows, shutting down programs. I had one of those fat Seagate drives that damaged easily and I didn't want to cut the power and possibly damage the drive. This cop clearly didn't give a fuck about any of that. Shut it down! Shut it down! I am shutting it down. I have to close the programs. The crowd was getting angry and the cop was getting nervous. He turned his gun away from me and shut the computer." "Windows ninety five took forever to shut down. I was closing windows, shutting down programs. I had one of those fat Seagate drives that damaged easily and I didn't want to cut the power and possibly damage the drive. This cop clearly didn't give a fuck about any of that. Shut it down! Shut it down! I am shutting it down. I have to close the programs. The crowd was getting angry and the cop was getting nervous. He turned his gun away from me and shut the computer." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1179" " I'll never forget that camera. It was a digital camera. We bought it from him, and I took it and turned it on. It was full of pictures of a nice white family on vacation, and I felt like shit. The other things we'd bought had never mattered to me. Nikes, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, who cares?" "I'll never forget that camera. It was a digital camera. We bought it from him, and I took it and turned it on. It was full of pictures of a nice white family on vacation, and I felt like shit. The other things we'd bought had never mattered to me. Nikes, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, who cares?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1183" " We live in a world where we don't see the ramifications of what we do to others, because we don't live with them. It would be a whole lot harder for an investment banker to rip off people with subprime mortgages if he actually had to live with the people he was ripping off." "We live in a world where we don't see the ramifications of what we do to others, because we don't live with them. It would be a whole lot harder for an investment banker to rip off people with subprime mortgages if he actually had to live with the people he was ripping off." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1188" " We took a minibus over to Diebglueff the night of the dance. Me and Bongani, Mz and Beggy and G and Hitler. Hector won the competition. Then G was caught kissing one of their girls and it turned into a fight and everything broke down." "We took a minibus over to Diebglueff the night of the dance. Me and Bongani, Mz and Beggy and G and Hitler. Hector won the competition. Then G was caught kissing one of their girls and it turned into a fight and everything broke down." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1192" " At a certain point, we realized what was going on. This cop was shaking us down for a bribe. Spot-Fine is the euphemism everyone uses. You go through this elaborate dance with the cop where you say the thing without saying the thing." "At a certain point, we realized what was going on. This cop was shaking us down for a bribe. Spot Fine is the euphemism everyone uses. You go through this elaborate dance with the cop where you say the thing without saying the thing." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1197" " We spent the night." "We spent the night." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"12.3" " He puts his head down and fights." "He puts his head down and fights." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1201" " The guard looked at me confused. Eventually, he let me go on the assumption that I was some wayward orphan, because what mother would send her ten-year-old child to jail?" "The guard looked at me confused. Eventually, he let me go on the assumption that I was some wayward orphan, because what mother would send her ten year old child to jail?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1205.02" " It was so common that out on the corner we had a sign for it, a shorthand, clapping your wrists together like you were being put in handcuffs." "It was so common that out on the corner we had a sign for it, a shorthand, clapping your wrists together like you were being put in handcuffs." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1205.07" " She didn't hate them personally, she hated what they represented." "She didn't hate them personally, she hated what they represented." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1207" " One morning, I saw an ad in the paper. Some shop was having a clearance sale on mobile phones, and they were selling them at such a ridiculous price, I knew Bongani and I could flip them in the hood for a profit. This shop was out in the suburbs, too far to walk and too out of the way to take a minibus. Fortunately, my stepfather's workshop and a bunch of old cars were in our backyard." "One morning, I saw an ad in the paper. Some shop was having a clearance sale on mobile phones, and they were selling them at such a ridiculous price, I knew Bongani and I could flip them in the hood for a profit. This shop was out in the suburbs, too far to walk and too out of the way to take a minibus. Fortunately, my stepfather's workshop and a bunch of old cars were in our backyard." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1211" " When the cop pulled me over, it was one of those situations where I wanted to say," "When the cop pulled me over, it was one of those situations where I wanted to say,." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1216" " I was in deep, deep trouble. I had only one lifeline. My parents." "I was in deep, deep trouble. I had only one lifeline. My parents." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1220" " I needed someone sympathetic to my plight, and I didn't believe she was that person. So I didn't call my parents. I decided I didn't need them. I was a man. I could go it alone." "I needed someone sympathetic to my plight, and I didn't believe she was that person. So I didn't call my parents. I decided I didn't need them. I was a man. I could go it alone." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1225" " This cop pulled me aside and said, listen, you don't want to go to a bail hearing. They'll give you a state attorney who won't know what's going on. He'll have no time for you. He'll ask the judge for a postponement and then maybe you'll go free or maybe you won't. Trust me, you don't want to do that. You have the right to stay here for as long as you like. You want to meet with a lawyer and set yourself up before you go anywhere near a court or a judge." "This cop pulled me aside and said, listen, you don't want to go to a bail hearing. They'll give you a state attorney who won't know what's going on. He'll have no time for you. He'll ask the judge for a postponement and then maybe you'll go free or maybe you won't. Trust me, you don't want to do that. You have the right to stay here for as long as you like. You want to meet with a lawyer and set yourself up before you go anywhere near a court or a judge." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"123" " If you ask my mother whether she ever considered the ramifications of having a mixed child under apartheid, she will say no. She wanted to do something, figured out a way to do it, and then she did it. She had a level of fearlessness that you have to possess to take on something like she did." "If you ask my mother whether she ever considered the ramifications of having a mixed child under apartheid, she will say no. She wanted to do something, figured out a way to do it, and then she did it. She had a level of fearlessness that you have to possess to take on something like she did." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1234" " I'm thinking, I'm going to get raped. I'm going to get raped. I'm going to get raped. Of course, I didn't get raped because this wasn't prison. It was jail. And there's a big difference as I would soon come to understand." "I'm thinking, I'm going to get raped. I'm going to get raped. I'm going to get raped. Of course, I didn't get raped because this wasn't prison. It was jail. And there's a big difference as I would soon come to understand." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1239" " By the time I was a teenager, anytime I was profiled by cops or security guards, it usually wasn't because I was black, but because I looked colored. I went to a club once with my cousin and his friend. The bouncer searched him lungisi, waved him in. He searched our friend, waved him in. Then he searched me and got up in my face. Where's your knife? I don't have a knife. I know you have a knife somewhere. Where is it? He searched and searched." "By the time I was a teenager, anytime I was profiled by cops or security guards, it usually wasn't because I was black, but because I looked colored. I went to a club once with my cousin and his friend. The bouncer searched him lungisi, waved him in. He searched our friend, waved him in. Then he searched me and got up in my face. Where's your knife? I don't have a knife. I know you have a knife somewhere. Where is it? He searched and searched." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1240.004" " Anytime the cops asked me questions, I started speaking in broken-off recounts with a thick-colored accent." "Anytime the cops asked me questions, I started speaking in broken off recounts with a thick colored accent." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1240.009" " This was my brilliant plan to survive incarceration." "This was my brilliant plan to survive incarceration." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1240.014" " When I walked in that first night, everyone was giving me this look." "When I walked in that first night, everyone was giving me this look." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1240.019" " Then, the next day, everything turned over quickly." "Then, the next day, everything turned over quickly." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1241" " At a certain point, it occurred to me that every single person in that cell might be faking it. We were all decent guys from nice neighborhoods and good families, picked up for unpaid parking tickets and other infractions. We could have been having a great time, sharing meals, playing cards and talking about women and soccer. But that didn't happen, because everyone had adopted this dangerous pose and nobody talked because everyone was afraid of who the other guys were pretending to be." "At a certain point, it occurred to me that every single person in that cell might be faking it. We were all decent guys from nice neighborhoods and good families, picked up for unpaid parking tickets and other infractions. We could have been having a great time, sharing meals, playing cards and talking about women and soccer. But that didn't happen, because everyone had adopted this dangerous pose and nobody talked because everyone was afraid of who the other guys were pretending to be." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1246" " For whatever reason, this guy was half naked when the cops picked him up. He was wearing clothes the police had scrounged up for him at the station. This torn-up wife-beater that was way too small. Pants so short on him they looked like capris. He looked like a black version of the Incredible Hulk. This guy went and sat alone in the corner. Nobody said a word. Everyone watched and waited, nervously, to see what he would do." "For whatever reason, this guy was half naked when the cops picked him up. He was wearing clothes the police had scrounged up for him at the station. This torn up wife beater that was way too small. Pants so short on him they looked like capris. He looked like a black version of the Incredible Hulk. This guy went and sat alone in the corner. Nobody said a word. Everyone watched and waited, nervously, to see what he would do." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1250" " That is exactly what happened with the Hulk. The second I spoke to him, this face that it seems so threatening and mean lit up with gratitude. Ah, nakans, a nakans, a nakans, a yu enamani. Mufana wa kalid. Ui sti bakwini stu chongga. Uma kwini. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Who are you? How does a kalid guy know chongga? Where are you from?" "That is exactly what happened with the Hulk. The second I spoke to him, this face that it seems so threatening and mean lit up with gratitude. Ah, nakans, a nakans, a nakans, a yu enamani. Mufana wa kalid. Ui sti bakwini stu chongga. Uma kwini. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Who are you? How does a kalid guy know chongga? Where are you from?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1255" " Then apartheid ends, and he doesn't even have that anymore." "Then apartheid ends, and he doesn't even have that anymore." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"126" " So, true to her nature, she found an option that was not among the ones presented to her. She took a secretarial course, a typing class. At the time, a black woman learning how to type was like a blind person learning how to drive. It's an admirable effort, but you're unlikely to ever be called upon to execute the task." "So, true to her nature, she found an option that was not among the ones presented to her. She took a secretarial course, a typing class. At the time, a black woman learning how to type was like a blind person learning how to drive. It's an admirable effort, but you're unlikely to ever be called upon to execute the task." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1264" " Angas en gibon in tote en te ganga gaga. Guzo fiwa nam shanje." "Angas en gibon in tote en te ganga gaga. Guzo fiwa nam shanje." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1269" " That day, I picked white. They just didn't look like they could hurt me. It was a handful of average middle-aged white dudes. I walked over to them. We hung out for a while, chatted a bit. They were mostly in for white-collar crimes, money schemes, fraud and racketeering. They'd be useless if anyone came over looking to start trouble. They'd get their asses kicked as well, but they weren't going to do anything to me. I was safe." "That day, I picked white. They just didn't look like they could hurt me. It was a handful of average middle aged white dudes. I walked over to them. We hung out for a while, chatted a bit. They were mostly in for white collar crimes, money schemes, fraud and racketeering. They'd be useless if anyone came over looking to start trouble. They'd get their asses kicked as well, but they weren't going to do anything to me. I was safe." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1273" " The bailiff read out my case number and the judge looked up at me." "The bailiff read out my case number and the judge looked up at me." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1278" " The thought of anything worse, the thought of doing real time in prison, I couldn't even imagine." "The thought of anything worse, the thought of doing real time in prison, I couldn't even imagine." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1282" " Who do you think paid your lawyer?" "Who do you think paid your lawyer?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1287" " If I don't punish you, the world will punish you, even worse. The world doesn't love you. If the police get you, the police don't love you. When I beat you, I'm trying to save you." "If I don't punish you, the world will punish you, even worse. The world doesn't love you. If the police get you, the police don't love you. When I beat you, I'm trying to save you." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1291" " My mom and I had different ideas about how Jesus worked. She believed that you pray to Jesus and then Jesus pitches up and does the thing you need. My views on Jesus were more reality-based." "My mom and I had different ideas about how Jesus worked. She believed that you pray to Jesus and then Jesus pitches up and does the thing you need. My views on Jesus were more reality based." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1296" " I can only assume that my mother broke more than a few hearts in her day. But from the time I was born, there were only two men in her life. My father and my stepfather." "I can only assume that my mother broke more than a few hearts in her day. But from the time I was born, there were only two men in her life. My father and my stepfather." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"13.2" " pride themselves on being the thinkers." "pride themselves on being the thinkers." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"13.7" " Let's see what tools they possess that can be useful to us." "Let's see what tools they possess that can be useful to us." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1301" " Abel was always cool with me. He wasn't trying to be my dad, and my dad was still in my life, so I wasn't looking for anyone to replace him. That's mom's cool friend, is how I thought of him. He started coming out to stay with us in Eden Park. Some nights he'd want us to crash with him at his converted garage flat in Orange Grove, which we did. Then I burned down the white people's house and that was the end of that. From then on, we lived together in Eden Park." "Abel was always cool with me. He wasn't trying to be my dad, and my dad was still in my life, so I wasn't looking for anyone to replace him. That's mom's cool friend, is how I thought of him. He started coming out to stay with us in Eden Park. Some nights he'd want us to crash with him at his converted garage flat in Orange Grove, which we did. Then I burned down the white people's house and that was the end of that. From then on, we lived together in Eden Park." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1306" " If there was any doubt about Abel, the truth was right there in front of us all along, in his name. He was Abel, the good brother, the good son, a name straight out of the Bible, and he lived up to it as well. He was the firstborn, dutiful, took care of his mother, took care of his siblings. He was the pride of his family. But Abel was his English name. His Tzonga name was Ngisaveni. It means, be afraid." "If there was any doubt about Abel, the truth was right there in front of us all along, in his name. He was Abel, the good brother, the good son, a name straight out of the Bible, and he lived up to it as well. He was the firstborn, dutiful, took care of his mother, took care of his siblings. He was the pride of his family. But Abel was his English name. His Tzonga name was Ngisaveni. It means, be afraid." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1310" " I was made to run off and have fun while my girl's step cousins had to clean the house and help the women cook. I was in heaven." "I was made to run off and have fun while my girl's step cousins had to clean the house and help the women cook. I was in heaven." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1315" " To Abel, it looked like his wife didn't respect him. Every other man had some docile girl from the village, and here he'd come with this modern woman, a cosa woman no less, a culture whose women were thought of as particularly loud-mouthed and promiscuous. The two of them fought and bickered the whole time, and after that first trip, my mother refused to go back." "To Abel, it looked like his wife didn't respect him. Every other man had some docile girl from the village, and here he'd come with this modern woman, a cosa woman no less, a culture whose women were thought of as particularly loud mouthed and promiscuous. The two of them fought and bickered the whole time, and after that first trip, my mother refused to go back." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"132" " The ultimate goal of apartheid was to make South Africa a white country, with every black person stripped of his or her citizenship and relocated to live in the homelands, the Bantu Stands, semi-sovereign black territories that were in reality puppet states of the government in Pretoria. But this so-called white country could not function without black labor to produce its wealth, which meant black people had to be allowed to live near white areas in the townships. Government plan ghettos built to house" "The ultimate goal of apartheid was to make South Africa a white country, with every black person stripped of his or her citizenship and relocated to live in the homelands, the Bantu Stands, semi sovereign black territories that were in reality puppet states of the government in Pretoria. But this so called white country could not function without black labor to produce its wealth, which meant black people had to be allowed to live near white areas in the townships. Government plan ghettos built to house." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1324" " He's like an exotic bird collector, she said. He only wants a woman who is free, because his dream is to put her in a cage." "He's like an exotic bird collector, she said. He only wants a woman who is free, because his dream is to put her in a cage." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1329" " She came back into the bedroom, picked up the phone and called my grandmother. She started going on and on about Abel and his drinking. This man, he is going to kill us one day. He almost burnt the house down. Abel walked into the bedroom, very calm, very quiet. His eyes were blood red, his eyelids heavy. He put his finger on the cradle and hung up the call. My mom lost it. How dare you?" "She came back into the bedroom, picked up the phone and called my grandmother. She started going on and on about Abel and his drinking. This man, he is going to kill us one day. He almost burnt the house down. Abel walked into the bedroom, very calm, very quiet. His eyes were blood red, his eyelids heavy. He put his finger on the cradle and hung up the call. My mom lost it. How dare you?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1333" " My mom kept insisting that they take a statement and open a case. And they actually refused. They refused to write up a charge sheet. This is a family thing, they said. You don't want to involve the police. Maybe you want to think it over and come back in the morning." "My mom kept insisting that they take a statement and open a case. And they actually refused. They refused to write up a charge sheet. This is a family thing, they said. You don't want to involve the police. Maybe you want to think it over and come back in the morning." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1338" " My grandmother convinced my mom that she should give Abel a second chance. Her argument was basically, all men do it. My grandfather, temperance, had hit her. Leaving Abel was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again. And at least Abel was willing to apologize. So my mom decided to give him another chance. We drove back to Eden Park together. And for years, nothing. For years, Abel didn't lay a finger on her." "My grandmother convinced my mom that she should give Abel a second chance. Her argument was basically, all men do it. My grandfather, temperance, had hit her. Leaving Abel was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again. And at least Abel was willing to apologize. So my mom decided to give him another chance. We drove back to Eden Park together. And for years, nothing. For years, Abel didn't lay a finger on her." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1342" " When you first go into business, there are so many things nobody tells you. That's especially true when you are two young black people, a secretary and a mechanic, coming out of a time when blacks had never been allowed to own businesses at all. One of the things nobody tells you is that when you buy a business, you buy its debt. After my mom and Abel opened up the books on Mighty Mechanic and came to a full realization of what they'd bought, they saw how much trouble the company was already in." "When you first go into business, there are so many things nobody tells you. That's especially true when you are two young black people, a secretary and a mechanic, coming out of a time when blacks had never been allowed to own businesses at all. One of the things nobody tells you is that when you buy a business, you buy its debt. After my mom and Abel opened up the books on Mighty Mechanic and came to a full realization of what they'd bought, they saw how much trouble the company was already in." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1347" " Since Mighty Mechanics was now a family business, and I was family, I also had to work. There was no more time for play. There wasn't even time for homework. I'd walk home, the school uniform would come off, the overalls would go on, and I'd get under the hood of some sedan. I got to a point where I could do a basic service on a car by myself, and often I did. Abel would say, that Honda, minor service. And I'd get under the hood, day in and day out." "Since Mighty Mechanics was now a family business, and I was family, I also had to work. There was no more time for play. There wasn't even time for homework. I'd walk home, the school uniform would come off, the overalls would go on, and I'd get under the hood of some sedan. I got to a point where I could do a basic service on a car by myself, and often I did. Abel would say, that Honda, minor service. And I'd get under the hood, day in and day out." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1351" " They're these spiny, brightly colored caterpillars the size of your finger. They're nothing like escargot, where someone took a snail and gave it a fancy name. They're fucking worms. They have black spines that prick the roof of your mouth as you're eating them. When you bite into a mopaniworm, it's not uncommon for its yellow-green excrement to squirt into your mouth." "They're these spiny, brightly colored caterpillars the size of your finger. They're nothing like escargot, where someone took a snail and gave it a fancy name. They're fucking worms. They have black spines that prick the roof of your mouth as you're eating them. When you bite into a mopaniworm, it's not uncommon for its yellow green excrement to squirt into your mouth." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1356" " At a certain point, in order to try to save the garage, my mother quit her job at ICI and stepped in to help him run the workshop. She brought her office skills to the garage full-time and started keeping the books, making the schedule, balancing the accounts. And it was going well. Until Abel started to feel like she was running his business. People started commenting on it as well. Clients were getting their cars on time. Vendors were getting paid on time. And they would say, hey, A.B.," "At a certain point, in order to try to save the garage, my mother quit her job at ICI and stepped in to help him run the workshop. She brought her office skills to the garage full time and started keeping the books, making the schedule, balancing the accounts. And it was going well. Until Abel started to feel like she was running his business. People started commenting on it as well. Clients were getting their cars on time. Vendors were getting paid on time. And they would say, hey, A.B.,." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1360" " I grew up in a world of violence, but I myself was never violent at all. Yes, I played pranks and set fires and broke windows, but I never attacked people. I never hit anyone. I was never angry. I just didn't see myself that way. My mother had exposed me to a different world than the one she grew up in. She bought me the books she never got to read. She took me to the schools that she never got to go to." "I grew up in a world of violence, but I myself was never violent at all. Yes, I played pranks and set fires and broke windows, but I never attacked people. I never hit anyone. I was never angry. I just didn't see myself that way. My mother had exposed me to a different world than the one she grew up in. She bought me the books she never got to read. She took me to the schools that she never got to go to." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1365.01" " I started stammering out more bullshit." "I started stammering out more bullshit." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1365.06" " He was that strong." "He was that strong." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1365.11" " It was the most terrifying moment of my life." "It was the most terrifying moment of my life." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1365.16" " It didn't feel like something that would end with me learning a lesson about forging my mom's signature. It felt like something that would end when he wanted it to end." "It didn't feel like something that would end with me learning a lesson about forging my mom's signature. It felt like something that would end when he wanted it to end." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1368" " The moment I saw him, I put my head down and ran. I ran like the devil was chasing me. Abel was bigger and faster. But this was my neighborhood. You couldn't catch me in my neighborhood. I knew every alley and every street, every wall to climb over, every fence to slip through. I was ducking through traffic, cutting through yards. I have no idea when he gave up because I never looked back. I ran and ran and ran as far as my legs would carry me." "The moment I saw him, I put my head down and ran. I ran like the devil was chasing me. Abel was bigger and faster. But this was my neighborhood. You couldn't catch me in my neighborhood. I knew every alley and every street, every wall to climb over, every fence to slip through. I was ducking through traffic, cutting through yards. I have no idea when he gave up because I never looked back. I ran and ran and ran as far as my legs would carry me." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1372" " When Mighty Mechanics went under, Abel had to get his cars out. Someone was taking over the property, there were liens against his assets. It was a mess. That's when he started running his workshop out of our yard. It's also when my mother divorced him." "When Mighty Mechanics went under, Abel had to get his cars out. Someone was taking over the property, there were liens against his assets. It was a mess. That's when he started running his workshop out of our yard. It's also when my mother divorced him." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1377" " No report was made, no charges were filed." "No report was made, no charges were filed." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1381" " Abel was one of those drinkers where, once he was gone, you'd look into his eyes and you didn't even see the same person." "Abel was one of those drinkers where, once he was gone, you'd look into his eyes and you didn't even see the same person." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1386" " I'd usually go find Fufi, wherever she was hiding, and be with her." "I'd usually go find Fufi, wherever she was hiding, and be with her." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1390" " Slowly, slowly, life goes back to how it was. Six months, a year later, you do it all again." "Slowly, slowly, life goes back to how it was. Six months, a year later, you do it all again." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1395" " It was also just time for me to go. Regardless of Abel, our plan had always been for me to move out after school. My mother never wanted me to be like my uncle, one of those men unemployed and still living at home with his mother." "It was also just time for me to go. Regardless of Abel, our plan had always been for me to move out after school. My mother never wanted me to be like my uncle, one of those men unemployed and still living at home with his mother." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"14.1" " The Zulu went to war with the white man." "The Zulu went to war with the white man." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"140.04" " My mother never knew whom to trust, whom I turn her into the police." "My mother never knew whom to trust, whom I turn her into the police." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1401" " Abel and I, we made up. I moved back into the bedroom. It was just one night and then I became pregnant. I don't know how. She didn't know. She was 44 years old. She'd had her tubes tied after Andrew. Even her doctor said, this shouldn't be possible. We don't know how this happened. I was boiling with rage. All we had to do was wait for Andrew to grow up and it was going to be over. And now" "Abel and I, we made up. I moved back into the bedroom. It was just one night and then I became pregnant. I don't know how. She didn't know. She was forty four years old. She'd had her tubes tied after Andrew. Even her doctor said, this shouldn't be possible. We don't know how this happened. I was boiling with rage. All we had to do was wait for Andrew to grow up and it was going to be over. And now." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1406" " You can't keep doing this, I said. This is not right." "You can't keep doing this, I said. This is not right." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1410.01" " when my mom had decided to keep Isaac." "when my mom had decided to keep Isaac." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1410.06" " I was done." "I was done." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1412" " Honey, I know what you're going through, she said. At one point I had to disown my family to go off and live my own life too. I understand why you need to do the same." "Honey, I know what you're going through, she said. At one point I had to disown my family to go off and live my own life too. I understand why you need to do the same." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1417" " She never let me see us as victims. We were victims. Me and my mom, Andrew and Isaac." "She never let me see us as victims. We were victims. Me and my mom, Andrew and Isaac." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1421" " Where does a woman go when she leaves one man who hits her and is just as likely to wind up with another man who hits her? Maybe even worse than the first. Where does a woman go when she's single with three kids and she lives in a society that makes her a pariah for being a manless woman? Where she's seen as a whore for doing that? Where does she go? What does she do?" "Where does a woman go when she leaves one man who hits her and is just as likely to wind up with another man who hits her? Maybe even worse than the first. Where does a woman go when she's single with three kids and she lives in a society that makes her a pariah for being a manless woman? Where she's seen as a whore for doing that? Where does she go? What does she do?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1426" " Eventually, she did leave. What prompted her to leave? What the final breaking point was? I have no idea. I was gone. I was off becoming a comedian, touring the country, playing shows in England, hosting radio shows, hosting television shows. I'd moved in with my cousin, Lungisi, and made my own life separate from hers. I couldn't invest myself anymore, because it would have broken me into too many pieces." "Eventually, she did leave. What prompted her to leave? What the final breaking point was? I have no idea. I was gone. I was off becoming a comedian, touring the country, playing shows in England, hosting radio shows, hosting television shows. I'd moved in with my cousin, Lungisi, and made my own life separate from hers. I couldn't invest myself anymore, because it would have broken me into too many pieces." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1430" " Then, one morning, I was in bed around 10am, and my phone rang." "Then, one morning, I was in bed around ten am, and my phone rang." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1435" " Okay, so there were two strange things about the call." "Okay, so there were two strange things about the call." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"144" " I know that there was a genuine bond and a love between my parents. I saw it. But how romantic their relationship was, to what extent they were just friends, I can't say. These are things a child doesn't ask. All I do know is that one day she made her proposal." "I know that there was a genuine bond and a love between my parents. I saw it. But how romantic their relationship was, to what extent they were just friends, I can't say. These are things a child doesn't ask. All I do know is that one day she made her proposal." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1444" " It was an expression of raw pain that came from an inability of my body to express that pain in any other way, shape or form." "It was an expression of raw pain that came from an inability of my body to express that pain in any other way, shape or form." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1449" " The doctors kept working and there was nothing I could do to help her. I went back outside to be with Andrew. We sat down together and he told me the story." "The doctors kept working and there was nothing I could do to help her. I went back outside to be with Andrew. We sat down together and he told me the story." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"145.05" " I'm Catholic, he said." "I'm Catholic, he said." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"145" " I want to have a kid, she told him. I don't want kids, he said. I didn't ask you to have a kid. I asked you to help me to have my kid. I just want the sperm from you. I'm Catholic, he said. We don't do such things. You do know, she replied, that I could sleep with you and go away and you would never know if you had a child or not. But I don't want that. Honor me with your yes so that I can live peacefully. I want a child of my own." "I want to have a kid, she told him. I don't want kids, he said. I didn't ask you to have a kid. I asked you to help me to have my kid. I just want the sperm from you. I'm Catholic, he said. We don't do such things. You do know, she replied, that I could sleep with you and go away and you would never know if you had a child or not. But I don't want that. Honor me with your yes so that I can live peacefully. I want a child of my own." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1454" " My mom had been shot by a man I despised. If anything, I felt vindicated. I'd been right about Abel all along. I could direct my anger and hatred toward him with no shame or guilt whatsoever. But Andrew's mother had been shot by Andrew's father, a father he loved. How does he reconcile his love with that situation? How does he carry on loving both sides? Both sides of himself?" "My mom had been shot by a man I despised. If anything, I felt vindicated. I'd been right about Abel all along. I could direct my anger and hatred toward him with no shame or guilt whatsoever. But Andrew's mother had been shot by Andrew's father, a father he loved. How does he reconcile his love with that situation? How does he carry on loving both sides? Both sides of himself?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1455.004" " Isaac, go to your brother, Abel said." "Isaac, go to your brother, Abel said." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1455.009" " Nothing. The gun misfired. Click. He pulled the trigger again. Same thing. Then again and again. Click, click, click, click. Four times he pulled the trigger and four times the gun misfired. Bullets were popping out of the ejection port, falling out of the gun, falling down on my mom and clattering to the ground." "Nothing. The gun misfired. Click. He pulled the trigger again. Same thing. Then again and again. Click, click, click, click. Four times he pulled the trigger and four times the gun misfired. Bullets were popping out of the ejection port, falling out of the gun, falling down on my mom and clattering to the ground." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1455.014" " Her body slumped over the steering wheel." "Her body slumped over the steering wheel." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1458" " Trevor" "Trevor." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1462" " It was the most chilling moment. It was terrifying." "It was the most chilling moment. It was terrifying." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1465.03" " Yes, people say that, but without a guarantee" "Yes, people say that, but without a guarantee." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1465.08" " I don't care!" "I don't care!." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1465.13" " We have to do so many tests. One test alone could cost 2,000, 3,000 rand." "We have to do so many tests. One test alone could cost two , zero , three , zero rand." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1465" " Sir, we can't. We need a form of payment. I'm your form of payment. I'll pay. Yes, people say that, but without a guarantee, I pulled out my credit card. Here, I said, take this. I'll pay. I'll pay for everything. Sir, hospital can be very expensive. I don't care. Sir, I don't think you understand. Hospital can be really expensive. Lady, I have money. I'll pay anything. Just help us." "Sir, we can't. We need a form of payment. I'm your form of payment. I'll pay. Yes, people say that, but without a guarantee, I pulled out my credit card. Here, I said, take this. I'll pay. I'll pay for everything. Sir, hospital can be very expensive. I don't care. Sir, I don't think you understand. Hospital can be really expensive. Lady, I have money. I'll pay anything. Just help us." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"147" " For my father's part, I know that for a long time he kept saying no. Eventually, he said yes. Why he said yes is a question I will never have the answer to." "For my father's part, I know that for a long time he kept saying no. Eventually, he said yes. Why he said yes is a question I will never have the answer to." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1474" " But would you really? Would you do anything?" "But would you really? Would you do anything?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1479" " Several hours later, the doctor finally came out of the emergency room to give us an update." "Several hours later, the doctor finally came out of the emergency room to give us an update." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1483" " I don't like to use this word, he said, because I'm a man of science and I don't believe in it." "I don't like to use this word, he said, because I'm a man of science and I don't believe in it." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1488" " My mother was out of the hospital in four days." "My mother was out of the hospital in four days." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1492" " I went back first thing the next morning to be with my mother in her room and wait for her to wake up." "I went back first thing the next morning to be with my mother in her room and wait for her to wake up." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1497" " After an hour or so of waiting, she opened her unbandaged eye. The second she did, I lost it. I started bawling. She asked for some water and I gave her a cup and she leaned forward a bit to sip through the straw. I kept bawling and bawling and bawling. I couldn't control myself." "After an hour or so of waiting, she opened her unbandaged eye. The second she did, I lost it. I started bawling. She asked for some water and I gave her a cup and she leaned forward a bit to sip through the straw. I kept bawling and bawling and bawling. I couldn't control myself." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"15.3" " For decades those feelings were held in check by a common enemy." "For decades those feelings were held in check by a common enemy." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1502" " I wasn't going to die. I wasn't going to die. It's okay. I wasn't going to die." "I wasn't going to die. I wasn't going to die. It's okay. I wasn't going to die." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1507" " You must look on the bright side. What?" "You must look on the bright side. What?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1511" " When my mother was shot, so much happened so quickly. We were only able to piece the whole story together after the fact, as we collected all the different accounts from everyone who was there. Waiting around at the hospital that day, we had so many unanswered questions, like, what happened to Isaac? Where was Isaac? We only found out after we found him, and he told us." "When my mother was shot, so much happened so quickly. We were only able to piece the whole story together after the fact, as we collected all the different accounts from everyone who was there. Waiting around at the hospital that day, we had so many unanswered questions, like, what happened to Isaac? Where was Isaac? We only found out after we found him, and he told us." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1516" " The uncle Abel was talking about was not a real uncle, but a friend. He dropped Isaac off with his friend and then he drove off." "The uncle Abel was talking about was not a real uncle, but a friend. He dropped Isaac off with his friend and then he drove off." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1520" " Abel broke down and handed his gun over to the cousin. The cousin drove him to the police station and Abel turned himself in." "Abel broke down and handed his gun over to the cousin. The cousin drove him to the police station and Abel turned himself in." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1525" " She jumped up, shoved him away, and ran for the car. Andrew leapt in beside her, and she turned the ignition, and then her memory went blank." "She jumped up, shoved him away, and ran for the car. Andrew leapt in beside her, and she turned the ignition, and then her memory went blank." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"153" " Under apartheid, the government labelled everything on your birth certificate. Race, tribe, nationality. Everything had to be categorised." "Under apartheid, the government labelled everything on your birth certificate. Race, tribe, nationality. Everything had to be categorised." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"1534" " This has been an Audible Studios production of Born a Crime, stories from a South African childhood. Written and performed by Trevor Noah. Executive producers, Heath O'Connell and Mike Charzak. Producer, Neil Baysick. Edited by Brian Corcoran. Mixed and mastered by Darren Vermas. Copyright 2016." "This has been an Audible Studios production of Born a Crime, stories from a South African childhood. Written and performed by Trevor Noah. Executive producers, Heath O'Connell and Mike Charzak. Producer, Neil Baysick. Edited by Brian Corcoran. Mixed and mastered by Darren Vermas. Copyright two thousand and sixteen ." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"157" " The next week she went to visit him with no baby." "The next week she went to visit him with no baby." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"161" " Where most children are proof of their parents' love, I was the proof of their criminality. The only time I could be with my father was indoors. If we left the house, he'd have to walk across the street from us. My mom and I used to go to Jubeir Park all the time. It's the central park of Johannesburg. Beautiful gardens, a zoo, a giant chessboard with human-sized pieces that people would play." "Where most children are proof of their parents' love, I was the proof of their criminality. The only time I could be with my father was indoors. If we left the house, he'd have to walk across the street from us. My mom and I used to go to Jubeir Park all the time. It's the central park of Johannesburg. Beautiful gardens, a zoo, a giant chessboard with human sized pieces that people would play." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"166" " So my mom moved me around the world as a colored child. She found a creche in a colored area where she could leave me while she was at work." "So my mom moved me around the world as a colored child. She found a creche in a colored area where she could leave me while she was at work." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"170" " I have so many memories from the place that in my mind, it's like we lived there too." "I have so many memories from the place that in my mind, it's like we lived there too." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"175" " In the white areas, you rarely saw police. And if you did, it was officer-friendly in his collared shirt and pressed pants. In Soweto, the police were an occupying army. They didn't wear collared shirts. They wore riot gear. They were militarized. They operated in teams known as flying squads, because they would swoop in out of nowhere, riding in armored personnel carriers. Hippos, we called them. Tanks with enormous tires and slotted holes in the sides of the vehicle to fire their guns out of the way." "In the white areas, you rarely saw police. And if you did, it was officer friendly in his collared shirt and pressed pants. In Soweto, the police were an occupying army. They didn't wear collared shirts. They wore riot gear. They were militarized. They operated in teams known as flying squads, because they would swoop in out of nowhere, riding in armored personnel carriers. Hippos, we called them. Tanks with enormous tires and slotted holes in the sides of the vehicle to fire their guns out of the way." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"18" " I was nine years old when my mother threw me out of a moving car. It happened on a Sunday. I know it was a Sunday because we were coming home from church, and every Sunday in my childhood meant church. We never missed church. My mother was and still is a deeply religious woman. Very Christian. Like indigenous peoples around the world, Black South Africans adopted the religion of our colonizers. And by adopt, I mean it was forced on us. The white man was quite stern with the native." "I was nine years old when my mother threw me out of a moving car. It happened on a Sunday. I know it was a Sunday because we were coming home from church, and every Sunday in my childhood meant church. We never missed church. My mother was and still is a deeply religious woman. Very Christian. Like indigenous peoples around the world, Black South Africans adopted the religion of our colonizers. And by adopt, I mean it was forced on us. The white man was quite stern with the native." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"184" " Obviously, I was not the only child born to black and white parents during apartheid. Traveling around the world today, I meet other mixed South Africans all the time. Our stories start off identically. We're around the same age. Their parents met at some underground party in Hillbrow or Cape Town. They lived in an illegal flat." "Obviously, I was not the only child born to black and white parents during apartheid. Traveling around the world today, I meet other mixed South Africans all the time. Our stories start off identically. We're around the same age. Their parents met at some underground party in Hillbrow or Cape Town. They lived in an illegal flat." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"189" " You hit the ground and break all your bones. You go to the hospital and you heal and you move on and finally put the whole thing behind you. And then one day somebody tells you about parachutes. That's how I felt. I couldn't understand why we'd stayed. I went straight home and asked my mom, why? Why didn't we just leave? Why didn't we go to Switzerland?" "You hit the ground and break all your bones. You go to the hospital and you heal and you move on and finally put the whole thing behind you. And then one day somebody tells you about parachutes. That's how I felt. I couldn't understand why we'd stayed. I went straight home and asked my mom, why? Why didn't we just leave? Why didn't we go to Switzerland?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"193" " I come from a country where people are more likely to visit Sangomas, shamans, traditional healers, pejoratively known as witch doctors, than they are to visit doctors of Western medicine. I come from a country where people have been arrested and tried for witchcraft, in a court of law. I'm not talking about the 1700s, I'm talking about five years ago. I remember a man being on trial for striking another person with lightning. That happens a lot in the homelands. There are no tall buildings, few tall trees," "I come from a country where people are more likely to visit Sangomas, shamans, traditional healers, pejoratively known as witch doctors, than they are to visit doctors of Western medicine. I come from a country where people have been arrested and tried for witchcraft, in a court of law. I'm not talking about the one thousand, seven hundred s, I'm talking about five years ago. I remember a man being on trial for striking another person with lightning. That happens a lot in the homelands. There are no tall buildings, few tall trees,." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"198" " My father was loving and devoted, but I could only see him when and where apartheid allowed. My uncle, Velile, my mom's younger brother, lived with my grandmother, but he spent most of his time at the local tavern getting into fights." "My father was loving and devoted, but I could only see him when and where apartheid allowed. My uncle, Velile, my mom's younger brother, lived with my grandmother, but he spent most of his time at the local tavern getting into fights." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"201" " We found out much later in life that he was bipolar. But before that, we just thought he was eccentric." "We found out much later in life that he was bipolar. But before that, we just thought he was eccentric." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"203.04" " He was in his 80s." "He was in his eighty s." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"203" " When he was up, you couldn't stop him. But his mood swings were wild. In his youth, he'd been a boxer. And one day, he said I'd disrespected him, and now he wanted to box me. He was in his 80s. I was 12. He had his fists up circling me. Let's go, Trevor. Come on. Put your fists up. Hit me. I'll show you I'm still a man. Let's go. I couldn't hit him because I wasn't about to hit my elder. Plus, I'd never been in a fight, and I wasn't going to have my first" "When he was up, you couldn't stop him. But his mood swings were wild. In his youth, he'd been a boxer. And one day, he said I'd disrespected him, and now he wanted to box me. He was in his eighty s. I was twelve . He had his fists up circling me. Let's go, Trevor. Come on. Put your fists up. Hit me. I'll show you I'm still a man. Let's go. I couldn't hit him because I wasn't about to hit my elder. Plus, I'd never been in a fight, and I wasn't going to have my first." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"208" " So I only saw my grandfather now and then, and when he was gone, the house was in the hands of women." "So I only saw my grandfather now and then, and when he was gone, the house was in the hands of women." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"212" " That was the talk you'd hear from men in bars and in the streets." "That was the talk you'd hear from men in bars and in the streets." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"216" " My grandmother, Frances Noah, was the family matriarch. She ran the house, looked after the kids, did the cooking and the cleaning. She's barely five feet tall, hunched over from years in the factory, but rock hard and still to this day very active and very much alive. Where my grandfather was big and boisterous, my grandmother was calm, calculated, with a mind as sharp as anything. If you need to know anything in the family history, going back to the 1930s, she can tell you what day" "My grandmother, Frances Noah, was the family matriarch. She ran the house, looked after the kids, did the cooking and the cleaning. She's barely five feet tall, hunched over from years in the factory, but rock hard and still to this day very active and very much alive. Where my grandfather was big and boisterous, my grandmother was calm, calculated, with a mind as sharp as anything. If you need to know anything in the family history, going back to the one thousand, nine hundred and thirty s, she can tell you what day." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"220" " Coco and my gran would sit and have long conversations. But as a five year old, I didn't think of Coco as a real person. Since her body didn't move, she was like a brain with a mouth. Our relationship was nothing but command prompts and replies. Like talking to a computer. Good morning, Coco. Good morning, Trevor. Coco, did you eat? Yes, Trevor. Coco, I'm going out. Okay, be careful. Bye, Coco. Bye, Trevor." "Coco and my gran would sit and have long conversations. But as a five year old, I didn't think of Coco as a real person. Since her body didn't move, she was like a brain with a mouth. Our relationship was nothing but command prompts and replies. Like talking to a computer. Good morning, Coco. Good morning, Trevor. Coco, did you eat? Yes, Trevor. Coco, I'm going out. Okay, be careful. Bye, Coco. Bye, Trevor." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"225" " My mom would always ask my uncle Velile to join and he'd say, I would join if there were more men, but I can't be the only one here. Then the singing and praying would start and that was his cue to leave." "My mom would always ask my uncle Velile to join and he'd say, I would join if there were more men, but I can't be the only one here. Then the singing and praying would start and that was his cue to leave." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"23" " Completely by coincidence, as we moved back and forth between these churches, I noticed that each one had its own distinct racial makeup. Jubilant church was mixed church. Analytical church was white church. And passionate cathartic church, that was black church." "Completely by coincidence, as we moved back and forth between these churches, I noticed that each one had its own distinct racial makeup. Jubilant church was mixed church. Analytical church was white church. And passionate cathartic church, that was black church." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"234" " The Shabines were unlawful bars in the back of someone's house. They'd put chairs in their backyard and hang out an awning and run a speakeasy. The Shabines were where men would go to drink after work and during prayer meetings and most any other time of day as well." "The Shabines were unlawful bars in the back of someone's house. They'd put chairs in their backyard and hang out an awning and run a speakeasy. The Shabines were where men would go to drink after work and during prayer meetings and most any other time of day as well." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"237.03" " Over time, you'd save up money and build a brick wall." "Over time, you'd save up money and build a brick wall." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"237.08" " one room for everyone in your family to sleep, eat, do everything." "one room for everyone in your family to sleep, eat, do everything." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"237.13" " There was no way for them to go, so they'd move in with you." "There was no way for them to go, so they'd move in with you." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"239" " My mom and I would stay there during school holidays. My aunt and cousins would be there whenever she was on the outs with Dinky. We all slept on the floor in one room. My mom and me, my aunt and my cousins, my uncle and my grandmother and my great-grandmother. The adults each had their own foam mattresses, and there was one big one that we'd roll out into the middle, and the kids slept on that." "My mom and I would stay there during school holidays. My aunt and cousins would be there whenever she was on the outs with Dinky. We all slept on the floor in one room. My mom and me, my aunt and my cousins, my uncle and my grandmother and my great grandmother. The adults each had their own foam mattresses, and there was one big one that we'd roll out into the middle, and the kids slept on that." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"243" " The thing I couldn't handle about the outhouse was the flies. It was a long drop to the bottom and they were always down there eating on the pile and I had an irrational, all-consuming fear that they were going to fly up and into my bum." "The thing I couldn't handle about the outhouse was the flies. It was a long drop to the bottom and they were always down there eating on the pile and I had an irrational, all consuming fear that they were going to fly up and into my bum." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"248" " I knew I'd made an excellent choice and I was very proud of myself for making it. I'd reached that moment where I could relax and be with myself." "I knew I'd made an excellent choice and I was very proud of myself for making it. I'd reached that moment where I could relax and be with myself." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"252" " I held my breath and waited." "I held my breath and waited." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"257" " Finally, after what felt like forever, I finished. I stood up, took the newspaper, which is not the quietest thing, and I slowly folded it over. It crinkled. Who's there? Again, I paused. Waited." "Finally, after what felt like forever, I finished. I stood up, took the newspaper, which is not the quietest thing, and I slowly folded it over. It crinkled. Who's there? Again, I paused. Waited." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"261" " Mission accomplished." "Mission accomplished." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"266" " Koko told her the story, the sounds, the smells," "Koko told her the story, the sounds, the smells,." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"270" " What? How did it get there?" "What? How did it get there?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"271.05" " There's shit in the bottom of the dustbin!" "There's shit in the bottom of the dustbin!." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"271.10" " My mother gasped. We've been bewitched. It's a demon." "My mother gasped. We've been bewitched. It's a demon." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"273.03" " She took my hand and dragged me out of bed. It was all hands on deck time for action" "She took my hand and dragged me out of bed. It was all hands on deck time for action." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"273.08" " The alarm was raised." "The alarm was raised." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"274" " Moments later, the grannies came streaming in with their Bibles through the gate and up the driveway. A dozen or more at least. Everyone went inside. The house was packed. This was by far the biggest prayer meeting we'd ever had. The biggest thing that had ever happened in the history of our home. Period. Everyone sat in the circle praying and praying and the prayers were strong. The grannies were chanting and murmuring and swaying back and forth, speaking in tongues. I was doing my best to keep my head low." "Moments later, the grannies came streaming in with their Bibles through the gate and up the driveway. A dozen or more at least. Everyone went inside. The house was packed. This was by far the biggest prayer meeting we'd ever had. The biggest thing that had ever happened in the history of our home. Period. Everyone sat in the circle praying and praying and the prayers were strong. The grannies were chanting and murmuring and swaying back and forth, speaking in tongues. I was doing my best to keep my head low." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"279" " It was not my best performance. Eventually, I wrapped it up and sat back down. The praying continued. It went on for some time. Pray, sing, pray, sing, pray, sing, sing, sing, pray, pray, pray. Then, everyone finally felt that the demon was gone and life could continue. And we had the big Amen. And everyone said goodnight and went home." "It was not my best performance. Eventually, I wrapped it up and sat back down. The praying continued. It went on for some time. Pray, sing, pray, sing, pray, sing, sing, sing, pray, pray, pray. Then, everyone finally felt that the demon was gone and life could continue. And we had the big Amen. And everyone said goodnight and went home." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"283" " When you pray, he stops, and he takes his time and he listens. And I had subjected him to two hours of old grannies praying, when I knew that with all the pain and suffering in the world, he had more important things to deal with than my shit." "When you pray, he stops, and he takes his time and he listens. And I had subjected him to two hours of old grannies praying, when I knew that with all the pain and suffering in the world, he had more important things to deal with than my shit." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"284.05" " Most of them were dubbed into African languages." "Most of them were dubbed into African languages." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"284.10" " Watching those shows" "Watching those shows." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"284" " When I was growing up, we used to get American TV shows rebroadcast on our stations. Doogie Howser, M.D., Murder She Wrote, Rescue 911 with William Shatner. Most of them were dubbed into African languages. A.L.F. was in Afrikaans. Transformers was in Sootoo. But if you wanted to watch them in English, the original American audio would be simulcast on the radio. You could mute your TV and listen to that. Watching those shows, I realized that whenever black people" "When I was growing up, we used to get American TV shows rebroadcast on our stations. Doogie Howser, M.D., Murder She Wrote, Rescue nine hundred and eleven with William Shatner. Most of them were dubbed into African languages. A.L.F. was in Afrikaans. Transformers was in Sootoo. But if you wanted to watch them in English, the original American audio would be simulcast on the radio. You could mute your TV and listen to that. Watching those shows, I realized that whenever black people." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"289" " However, if the person who doesn't look like you speaks like you, your brain short-circuits because your racism program has none of those instructions in the code. Wait, wait, your mind says. The racism code says if he doesn't look like me, he isn't like me. But the language code says if he speaks like me, he is like me? Something is off here. I can't figure this out." "However, if the person who doesn't look like you speaks like you, your brain short circuits because your racism program has none of those instructions in the code. Wait, wait, your mind says. The racism code says if he doesn't look like me, he isn't like me. But the language code says if he speaks like me, he is like me? Something is off here. I can't figure this out." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"293" " Then you should hit him." "Then you should hit him." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"298" " I went with the cookies." "I went with the cookies." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"301" " I had no other points of reference. There were no other mixed kids around so that I could say, oh, this happens to us." "I had no other points of reference. There were no other mixed kids around so that I could say, oh, this happens to us." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"306" " I'd go to funerals and I'd walk in and the bereaved would look up and see me and they'd stop crying. They'd start whispering. Then they'd wave and say, oh, like they were more shocked by me walking in than by the death of their loved ones." "I'd go to funerals and I'd walk in and the bereaved would look up and see me and they'd stop crying. They'd start whispering. Then they'd wave and say, oh, like they were more shocked by me walking in than by the death of their loved ones." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"310" " Neighbors and acquaintances eat outside in the yard and in the street, and the family eats indoors. Every funeral I ever went to, I ate indoors. It didn't matter if we knew the deceased or not. The family would see me and invite me in. You can't let the white child stand outside. Bring him in here." "Neighbors and acquaintances eat outside in the yard and in the street, and the family eats indoors. Every funeral I ever went to, I ate indoors. It didn't matter if we knew the deceased or not. The family would see me and invite me in. You can't let the white child stand outside. Bring him in here." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"315" " After English, tossa was what we spoke around the house. When my mother was angry, she'd fall back on her home language. As a naughty child, I was well versed in tossa threats. They were the first phrases I picked up, mostly for my own safety. Phrases like, I'll knock you upside the head or You idiot of a child. It's a very passionate language. Outside of that, my mother picked up different" "After English, tossa was what we spoke around the house. When my mother was angry, she'd fall back on her home language. As a naughty child, I was well versed in tossa threats. They were the first phrases I picked up, mostly for my own safety. Phrases like, I'll knock you upside the head or You idiot of a child. It's a very passionate language. Outside of that, my mother picked up different." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"32" " I eventually decided black people needed more time with Jesus because we suffered more." "I eventually decided black people needed more time with Jesus because we suffered more." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"324" " As apartheid was coming to an end, South Africa's elite private school started accepting children of all colors. My mother's company offered bursaries, scholarships for underprivileged families, and she managed to get me into Maryvale College, an expensive private Catholic school. Classes taught by nuns, mass on Fridays, the whole bit. I started preschool there when I was three, primary school when I was five. In my class, we had all kinds of kids. Black kids, white kids," "As apartheid was coming to an end, South Africa's elite private school started accepting children of all colors. My mother's company offered bursaries, scholarships for underprivileged families, and she managed to get me into Maryvale College, an expensive private Catholic school. Classes taught by nuns, mass on Fridays, the whole bit. I started preschool there when I was three, primary school when I was five. In my class, we had all kinds of kids. Black kids, white kids,." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"329" " 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." "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." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"333" " The white kids I'd met that morning, they went in one direction, the black kids went in another direction, and I was left standing in the middle totally confused. Were we gonna meet up later on? I did not understand what was happening. I was 11 years old, and it was like I was seeing my country for the first time." "The white kids I'd met that morning, they went in one direction, the black kids went in another direction, and I was left standing in the middle totally confused. Were we gonna meet up later on? I did not understand what was happening. I was eleven years old, and it was like I was seeing my country for the first time." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"338" " I stood there awkwardly by myself in this no man's land in the middle of the playground. Luckily, I was rescued by the Indian kid from my class, a guy named Thessen Pillay. Thessen was one of the few Indian kids in school, so he'd noticed me, another obvious outsider right away. He ran over to introduce himself." "I stood there awkwardly by myself in this no man's land in the middle of the playground. Luckily, I was rescued by the Indian kid from my class, a guy named Thessen Pillay. Thessen was one of the few Indian kids in school, so he'd noticed me, another obvious outsider right away. He ran over to introduce himself." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"342" " At some point, I turned to one of them and said, hey, how come I don't see you guys in any of my classes? It turned out they were in the B classes, which also happened to be the black classes." "At some point, I turned to one of them and said, hey, how come I don't see you guys in any of my classes? It turned out they were in the B classes, which also happened to be the black classes." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"347" " Yeah, but that class is... Those kids are going to hold you back. You want to be in the smart class. But surely there must be some smart kids in the B class? No, there aren't. But all my friends are there. You don't want to be friends with those kids. Yes, I do. We went back and forth." "Yeah, but that class is... Those kids are going to hold you back. You want to be in the smart class. But surely there must be some smart kids in the B class? No, there aren't. But all my friends are there. You don't want to be friends with those kids. Yes, I do. We went back and forth." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"351" " I moved to the B classes with the black kids. I decided I'd rather be held back with the people I liked than move ahead with the people I didn't know." "I moved to the B classes with the black kids. I decided I'd rather be held back with the people I liked than move ahead with the people I didn't know." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"356" " Before apartheid, any black South African who received a formal education was likely taught by European missionaries, foreign enthusiasts eager to Christianize and westernize the natives. In the mission schools, black people learned English, European literature, medicine, the law. It's no coincidence that nearly every major black leader of the anti-apartheid movement, from Nelson Mandela to Steve Biko, was educated by the missionaries. A knowledgeable man is a free man, or at least a man who" "Before apartheid, any black South African who received a formal education was likely taught by European missionaries, foreign enthusiasts eager to Christianize and westernize the natives. In the mission schools, black people learned English, European literature, medicine, the law. It's no coincidence that nearly every major black leader of the anti apartheid movement, from Nelson Mandela to Steve Biko, was educated by the missionaries. A knowledgeable man is a free man, or at least a man who." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"360" " It does not serve the Bantu to learn history and science because he is primitive, the government said. This will only mislead him, showing him pastures in which he is not allowed to graze. To their credit, they were simply being honest." "It does not serve the Bantu to learn history and science because he is primitive, the government said. This will only mislead him, showing him pastures in which he is not allowed to graze. To their credit, they were simply being honest." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"365" " What happened with education in South Africa, with the Mission schools and the Bantu schools, offers a neat comparison of the two groups of whites who oppressed us, the British and the Afrikaners. The difference between British racism and Afrikaner racism was that at least the British gave the natives something to aspire to. If they could learn to speak correct English and dress in proper clothes, if they could Anglicise and civilise themselves, one day they might be welcome in society." "What happened with education in South Africa, with the Mission schools and the Bantu schools, offers a neat comparison of the two groups of whites who oppressed us, the British and the Afrikaners. The difference between British racism and Afrikaner racism was that at least the British gave the natives something to aspire to. If they could learn to speak correct English and dress in proper clothes, if they could Anglicise and civilise themselves, one day they might be welcome in society." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"37" " Christian karaoke, badass action stories, and violent faith healers. Man, I loved church. The thing I didn't love was the lengths we had to go to in order to get to church. It was an epic slog." "Christian karaoke, badass action stories, and violent faith healers. Man, I loved church. The thing I didn't love was the lengths we had to go to in order to get to church. It was an epic slog." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"374" " When my mother was nine years old, she told my gran that she didn't want to live with her anymore. She wanted to live with her father." "When my mother was nine years old, she told my gran that she didn't want to live with her anymore. She wanted to live with her father." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"379" " The homelands were, ostensibly, the original homes of South Africa's tribes. Sovereign and semi-sovereign nations, where black people would be free. Of course, this was a lie. For starters, despite the fact that black people made up over 80% of South Africa's population, the territory allocated for the homelands was about 13% of the country's land. There was no running water, no electricity. People lived in huts." "The homelands were, ostensibly, the original homes of South Africa's tribes. Sovereign and semi sovereign nations, where black people would be free. Of course, this was a lie. For starters, despite the fact that black people made up over eighty percent of South Africa's population, the territory allocated for the homelands was about thirteen percent of the country's land. There was no running water, no electricity. People lived in huts." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"383" " She and her cousins were up at half past four, ploughing fields and herding animals before the sun baked the soil as hard as cement and made it too hot to be anywhere but in the shade." "She and her cousins were up at half past four, ploughing fields and herding animals before the sun baked the soil as hard as cement and made it too hot to be anywhere but in the shade." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"388" " When my mom turned 21, her aunt fell ill, and that family could no longer keep her in Tron Sky." "When my mom turned twenty one , her aunt fell ill, and that family could no longer keep her in Tron Sky." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"392" " Working for the family in Soweto, my mom had no more freedom than she'd had in Transkaie. So she ran away. She ran all the way down to the train station and jumped on a train and disappeared into the city, determined to sleep in public restrooms and rely on the kindness of prostitutes until she could make her own way in the world." "Working for the family in Soweto, my mom had no more freedom than she'd had in Transkaie. So she ran away. She ran all the way down to the train station and jumped on a train and disappeared into the city, determined to sleep in public restrooms and rely on the kindness of prostitutes until she could make her own way in the world." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"397" " Just as she let the past go, she was determined not to repeat it. My childhood would bear no resemblance to hers. She started with my name. The names Tossa families give their children always have a meaning, and that meaning has a way of becoming self-fulfilling. You have my cousin, Umm Lungisi, the Fixer. That's who he is. Whenever I got into trouble, he was the one trying to help fix it. He was always the good kid, doing chores, helping around the house." "Just as she let the past go, she was determined not to repeat it. My childhood would bear no resemblance to hers. She started with my name. The names Tossa families give their children always have a meaning, and that meaning has a way of becoming self fulfilling. You have my cousin, Umm Lungisi, the Fixer. That's who he is. Whenever I got into trouble, he was the one trying to help fix it. He was always the good kid, doing chores, helping around the house." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"400" " When it was time to pick my name, she chose Trevor. A name with no meaning whatsoever in South Africa. No precedent in my family. It's not even a biblical name. It's just a name. My mother wanted her child beholden to no fates. She wanted me to be free to go anywhere. Do anything. Be anyone." "When it was time to pick my name, she chose Trevor. A name with no meaning whatsoever in South Africa. No precedent in my family. It's not even a biblical name. It's just a name. My mother wanted her child beholden to no fates. She wanted me to be free to go anywhere. Do anything. Be anyone." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"405" " This lion, she said, he's a false god, a false idol. You remember what happened when Moses came down from the mountain after he got the tablets? Yes, mom, I explained. But the lion is a Christ figure. Technically, he is Jesus. It's a story to explain Jesus. She wasn't comfortable with that. No, no, no false idols, my friend." "This lion, she said, he's a false god, a false idol. You remember what happened when Moses came down from the mountain after he got the tablets? Yes, mom, I explained. But the lion is a Christ figure. Technically, he is Jesus. It's a story to explain Jesus. She wasn't comfortable with that. No, no, no false idols, my friend." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"41" " My mom had this ancient, broken down, bright tangerine Volkswagen Beetle that she picked up for next to nothing. The reason she got it for next to nothing was because it was always breaking down." "My mom had this ancient, broken down, bright tangerine Volkswagen Beetle that she picked up for next to nothing. The reason she got it for next to nothing was because it was always breaking down." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"414" " Eden Park was a coloured neighbourhood adjacent to several black townships on the East Rand." "Eden Park was a coloured neighbourhood adjacent to several black townships on the East Rand." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"419" " It was flat, not many trees, the same dusty red clay dirt and grass as Soweto, but with proper houses and paved roads and a sense of suburbia to it. Ours was a tiny house at the bend in the road right off Toyota Street. It was modest and cramped inside, but walking in I thought, wow." "It was flat, not many trees, the same dusty red clay dirt and grass as Soweto, but with proper houses and paved roads and a sense of suburbia to it. Ours was a tiny house at the bend in the road right off Toyota Street. It was modest and cramped inside, but walking in I thought, wow." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"423" " I understood even from an early age that we weren't just mother and son. We were a team." "I understood even from an early age that we weren't just mother and son. We were a team." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"428" " On the commute to work and school, there was a long stretch of the road into town that was completely deserted. That's where Mom would let me drive. On the highway. I was six." "On the commute to work and school, there was a long stretch of the road into town that was completely deserted. That's where Mom would let me drive. On the highway. I was six." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"432" " She poured herself into me. She would find places for us to go where we didn't have to spend money. We must have gone to every park in Johannesburg." "She poured herself into me. She would find places for us to go where we didn't have to spend money. We must have gone to every park in Johannesburg." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"437" " We always wore secondhand clothes from Goodwill stores or that were giveaways from white people at church. All the other kids at school got brands Nike and Adidas. I never got brands. One time I asked my mom for Adidas sneakers. She came home with some knockoff brand, Abidas. Mom, these are fake. I said, I don't see the difference. Look at the logo. There are four stripes instead of three. Lucky you, she said." "We always wore secondhand clothes from Goodwill stores or that were giveaways from white people at church. All the other kids at school got brands Nike and Adidas. I never got brands. One time I asked my mom for Adidas sneakers. She came home with some knockoff brand, Abidas. Mom, these are fake. I said, I don't see the difference. Look at the logo. There are four stripes instead of three. Lucky you, she said." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"441" " As modestly as we lived at home, I never felt poor because our lives were so rich with experience. We were always out doing something, going somewhere. My mom used to take me on drives through fancy white neighborhoods. We'd go look at people's houses, look at their mansions. We'd look at their walls mostly because that's all we could see from the road. We'd look at a wall that ran from one end of the block to the other and go, wow, that's only one house? All of that is for one family?" "As modestly as we lived at home, I never felt poor because our lives were so rich with experience. We were always out doing something, going somewhere. My mom used to take me on drives through fancy white neighborhoods. We'd go look at people's houses, look at their mansions. We'd look at their walls mostly because that's all we could see from the road. We'd look at a wall that ran from one end of the block to the other and go, wow, that's only one house? All of that is for one family?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"446" " We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine. And depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited." "We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine. And depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"450" " The thing that always amazed me about her life was that no one showed her. No one chose her. She did it on her own. She found her way through sheer force of will." "The thing that always amazed me about her life was that no one showed her. No one chose her. She did it on her own. She found her way through sheer force of will." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"455" " People thought my mom was crazy. Ice rinks and drive-ins and suburbs. These things were izinto zabe lungo, the things of white people." "People thought my mom was crazy. Ice rinks and drive ins and suburbs. These things were izinto zabe lungo, the things of white people." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"46" " When the folks of Auckland refused to start, inside my head I was praying, please say we'll just stay home. Please say we'll just stay home. And then I glanced over to see the determined look on my mother's face, her jaw set, and I knew I had a long day ahead of me. Come, she said, we're going to catch minibuses." "When the folks of Auckland refused to start, inside my head I was praying, please say we'll just stay home. Please say we'll just stay home. And then I glanced over to see the determined look on my mother's face, her jaw set, and I knew I had a long day ahead of me. Come, she said, we're going to catch minibuses." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"464" " My mom thought having a child was going to be like having a partner. But every child is born the center of its own universe, incapable of understanding the world beyond its own wants and needs. And I was no different. I was a voracious kid. I consumed boxes of books and wanted more, more, more. I ate like a pig. The way I ate, I should have been obese. At a certain point, the family thought I had worms. Whenever I went to my cousin's house for the holidays," "My mom thought having a child was going to be like having a partner. But every child is born the center of its own universe, incapable of understanding the world beyond its own wants and needs. And I was no different. I was a voracious kid. I consumed boxes of books and wanted more, more, more. I ate like a pig. The way I ate, I should have been obese. At a certain point, the family thought I had worms. Whenever I went to my cousin's house for the holidays,." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"466.04" " with Sunday School teachers." "with Sunday School teachers." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"468" " Anytime my extra energy wasn't burned off, it would find its way into general naughtiness and misbehavior. I prided myself on being the ultimate prankster. Every teacher at school used overhead projectors to put their notes up on the wall during class. One day, I went around and took the magnifying glass out of every projector in every classroom. Another time, I emptied a fire extinguisher into the school piano because I knew we were going to have a performance at a" "Anytime my extra energy wasn't burned off, it would find its way into general naughtiness and misbehavior. I prided myself on being the ultimate prankster. Every teacher at school used overhead projectors to put their notes up on the wall during class. One day, I went around and took the magnifying glass out of every projector in every classroom. Another time, I emptied a fire extinguisher into the school piano because I knew we were going to have a performance at a." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"472" " Huh? Go to the bathroom and look at yourself." "Huh? Go to the bathroom and look at yourself." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"477" " Ten minutes later, the child is drawing on the wall. You start screaming, why the hell are you drawing on the wall? The child looks at you and he genuinely has no idea why he drew on the wall. As a kid, I remember having that feeling all the time. Every time I got punished as my mom was whipping my ass, I'd be thinking, why did I just do that? I knew not to do that. She told me not to do that. Then once the hiding was over, I'd say to myself, I'm going to be so good from here." "Ten minutes later, the child is drawing on the wall. You start screaming, why the hell are you drawing on the wall? The child looks at you and he genuinely has no idea why he drew on the wall. As a kid, I remember having that feeling all the time. Every time I got punished as my mom was whipping my ass, I'd be thinking, why did I just do that? I knew not to do that. She told me not to do that. Then once the hiding was over, I'd say to myself, I'm going to be so good from here." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"481" " One Sunday, we were at the shops and there was a big display of toffee apples. I loved toffee apples and I kept nagging her the whole way through the shop. Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple?" "One Sunday, we were at the shops and there was a big display of toffee apples. I loved toffee apples and I kept nagging her the whole way through the shop. Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple? Please can I have a toffee apple?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"486" " I was so confused. You're my mother." "I was so confused. You're my mother." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"490" " I dropped the toffee apple, ran out behind her in tears, and caught up to her at the car. She turned around, laughing hysterically, like she'd really got me good. Why are you crying? she asked. Because you said you weren't my mother. Why did you say you weren't my mother? Because you wouldn't shut up about the toffee apple. Now get in the car. Let's go." "I dropped the toffee apple, ran out behind her in tears, and caught up to her at the car. She turned around, laughing hysterically, like she'd really got me good. Why are you crying? she asked. Because you said you weren't my mother. Why did you say you weren't my mother? Because you wouldn't shut up about the toffee apple. Now get in the car. Let's go." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"495" " Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." "Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"5" " CHEW" "CHEW." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"503" " Those were the polite letters. If we were having a real full-on argument, or if I'd gotten into trouble at school, I'd find more accusatory missives waiting for me when I got home." "Those were the polite letters. If we were having a real full on argument, or if I'd gotten into trouble at school, I'd find more accusatory missives waiting for me when I got home." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"508" " The way you treat me and the way you treat your teachers will be the way you treat other women in the world. Learn to buck that trend now and you will be a better man because of it." "The way you treat me and the way you treat your teachers will be the way you treat other women in the world. Learn to buck that trend now and you will be a better man because of it." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"512" " I'll go to my room, get out a pen and paper, sit at my little desk and go after her arguments one by one." "I'll go to my room, get out a pen and paper, sit at my little desk and go after her arguments one by one." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"517" " Then I'd go to my room and wait for her reply. This sometimes went back and forth for days." "Then I'd go to my room and wait for her reply. This sometimes went back and forth for days." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"521" " One thing I respected about my mom was that she never left me in any doubt as to why I was receiving the hiding. It wasn't rage or anger. It was discipline from a place of love." "One thing I respected about my mom was that she never left me in any doubt as to why I was receiving the hiding. It wasn't rage or anger. It was discipline from a place of love." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"526" " When it came to discipline, Catholic school was no joke. Whenever I got into trouble with the nuns at Maryville College, they'd wrap me on the knuckles with the edge of a metal ruler. For cursing, they'd wash my mouth out with soap." "When it came to discipline, Catholic school was no joke. Whenever I got into trouble with the nuns at Maryville College, they'd wrap me on the knuckles with the edge of a metal ruler. For cursing, they'd wash my mouth out with soap." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"530" " Every psychologist who examined me came back and said, there's nothing wrong with this kid." "Every psychologist who examined me came back and said, there's nothing wrong with this kid." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"535" " They never had a satisfactory reply." "They never had a satisfactory reply." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"54" " The last thing I wanted to do that Sunday morning was climb into some crowded minibus. But the second I heard my mom say, I knew my fate was sealed. She gathered up Andrew and we climbed out of the Volkswagen and went out to try to catch a ride." "The last thing I wanted to do that Sunday morning was climb into some crowded minibus. But the second I heard my mom say, I knew my fate was sealed. She gathered up Andrew and we climbed out of the Volkswagen and went out to try to catch a ride." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"544" " A kid was bullying me. He said he was going to beat me up, and I brought one of my knives to school. I wasn't going to use it. I just wanted to have it. The school didn't care. That was the last straw for them. I wasn't expelled exactly. The principal sat me down and said, Trevor, we can expel you. You need to think hard about whether you really want to be at Maryvale next year. I think he thought he was giving me an ultimatum that would get me to shape up, but I felt like he was offering me an hour." "A kid was bullying me. He said he was going to beat me up, and I brought one of my knives to school. I wasn't going to use it. I just wanted to have it. The school didn't care. That was the last straw for them. I wasn't expelled exactly. The principal sat me down and said, Trevor, we can expel you. You need to think hard about whether you really want to be at Maryvale next year. I think he thought he was giving me an ultimatum that would get me to shape up, but I felt like he was offering me an hour." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"549" " Mrs. Noah, your son was laughing while we were hitting him." "Mrs. Noah, your son was laughing while we were hitting him." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"553" " The only authority my mother recognized was God's. God is love and the Bible is truth. Everything else was up for debate. She taught me to challenge authority and question the system. The only way it backfired on her was that I constantly challenged and questioned her." "The only authority my mother recognized was God's. God is love and the Bible is truth. Everything else was up for debate. She taught me to challenge authority and question the system. The only way it backfired on her was that I constantly challenged and questioned her." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"558" " This white family also had a black maid who lived in the servants' quarters in the backyard, and I'll play with her son whenever we stayed there." "This white family also had a black maid who lived in the servants' quarters in the backyard, and I'll play with her son whenever we stayed there." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"562" " You had to aim the lens and get the focus just right. And then you got the flame and then you moved it slowly and you could burn shapes and letters and patterns. I was fascinated by it." "You had to aim the lens and get the focus just right. And then you got the flame and then you moved it slowly and you could burn shapes and letters and patterns. I was fascinated by it." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"567" " When we came back a few minutes later, we found the shed had one of those doors that self-locks from the inside. We couldn't get back in without going to get his mother. So we decided to run around and play in the yard." "When we came back a few minutes later, we found the shed had one of those doors that self locks from the inside. We couldn't get back in without going to get his mother. So we decided to run around and play in the yard." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"571" " The family said nothing to me." "The family said nothing to me." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"576" " Abel basically lived with us from then on. He and my mom got into a huge fight. Your son has burned down my life, but there was no punishment for me that day. My mom was too much in shock." "Abel basically lived with us from then on. He and my mom got into a huge fight. Your son has burned down my life, but there was no punishment for me that day. My mom was too much in shock." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"580" " My cousin Amlungisi, to this day, cannot comprehend how I survived being as naughty as I was for as long as I did." "My cousin Amlungisi, to this day, cannot comprehend how I survived being as naughty as I was for as long as I did." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"585" " I grew up in a black family, in a black neighborhood, in a black country." "I grew up in a black family, in a black neighborhood, in a black country." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"59" " As the apartheid regime fell, we knew that the black man was now going to rule. The question was, which black man? Spates of violence broke out between the Inkata Freedom Party and the ANC, the African National Congress, as they jockeyed for power." "As the apartheid regime fell, we knew that the black man was now going to rule. The question was, which black man? Spates of violence broke out between the Inkata Freedom Party and the ANC, the African National Congress, as they jockeyed for power." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"594" " In a black neighborhood, you wouldn't dare own a cat, especially a black cat. That would be like wearing a sign that said, hello, I am a witch. That would be suicide." "In a black neighborhood, you wouldn't dare own a cat, especially a black cat. That would be like wearing a sign that said, hello, I am a witch. That would be suicide." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"599" " After the cats were killed, we took a break from pets for a while." "After the cats were killed, we took a break from pets for a while." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"602" " Given the finite number of traits a dog can have, pretty much everyone's dogs have the same names. People just recycle them." "Given the finite number of traits a dog can have, pretty much everyone's dogs have the same names. People just recycle them." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"607" " Years later, Fufi died when a burglar was trying to break into our house. He pushed the gate over and it fell on her back and broke her spine. We took her to the vet and she had to be put down. After examining her, the vet came over and gave us the news." "Years later, Fufi died when a burglar was trying to break into our house. He pushed the gate over and it fell on her back and broke her spine. We took her to the vet and she had to be put down. After examining her, the vet came over and gave us the news." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"611" " Fuffi could do all sorts of tricks. She could jump super high. I mean, Fuffi could jump. I could hold a piece of food out above my own head and she'd leap up and grab it like it was nothing. If YouTube had been around, Fuffi would have been a star. Fuffi was a little rascal as well. During the day, we kept the dogs in the backyard, which was enclosed by a wall at least five feet high. After a while, every day we'd come home and Fuffi would be sitting outside the gate waiting for us." "Fuffi could do all sorts of tricks. She could jump super high. I mean, Fuffi could jump. I could hold a piece of food out above my own head and she'd leap up and grab it like it was nothing. If YouTube had been around, Fuffi would have been a star. Fuffi was a little rascal as well. During the day, we kept the dogs in the backyard, which was enclosed by a wall at least five feet high. After a while, every day we'd come home and Fuffi would be sitting outside the gate waiting for us." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"616" " I couldn't believe this was happening. I ran out front, grabbed my bicycle, and followed her to see where she was going." "I couldn't believe this was happening. I ran out front, grabbed my bicycle, and followed her to see where she was going." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"620" " Yeah, my dog is in your yard." "Yeah, my dog is in your yard." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"625" " I started crying. Why are you stealing my dog? I turned to Fuffie and begged her. Fuffie, why are you doing this to me? Why, Fuffie, why? I called to her. I begged her to come." "I started crying. Why are you stealing my dog? I turned to Fuffie and begged her. Fuffie, why are you doing this to me? Why, Fuffie, why? I called to her. I begged her to come." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"63" " hundreds of rioters in the street. My mom would edge the car slowly through the crowds and around blockades made of flaming tires. Nothing burns like a tire. It rages with the fury you can't imagine. As we drove past the burning blockades, it felt like we were inside an oven. I used to say to my mom, I think Satan burns tires in hell." "hundreds of rioters in the street. My mom would edge the car slowly through the crowds and around blockades made of flaming tires. Nothing burns like a tire. It rages with the fury you can't imagine. As we drove past the burning blockades, it felt like we were inside an oven. I used to say to my mom, I think Satan burns tires in hell." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"634" " They went back and forth. This woman wasn't budging. So we went home to get evidence, pictures of us with the dogs, certificates from the vet. I was crying the whole time and my mom was losing her patience with me. Stop crying. We'll get the dog. Calm down." "They went back and forth. This woman wasn't budging. So we went home to get evidence, pictures of us with the dogs, certificates from the vet. I was crying the whole time and my mom was losing her patience with me. Stop crying. We'll get the dog. Calm down." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"639" " Until I knew that she was going out on her own during the day, her other relationship hadn't affected me at all. Fuffie had no malicious intent." "Until I knew that she was going out on her own during the day, her other relationship hadn't affected me at all. Fuffie had no malicious intent." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"643" " I don't need him for that, I said. I know who I am." "I don't need him for that, I said. I know who I am." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"648" " I've never met my Swiss grandparents. I don't know their names or anything about them. I do know my dad has an older sister, but I've never met her either." "I've never met my Swiss grandparents. I don't know their names or anything about them. I do know my dad has an older sister, but I've never met her either." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"652" " I know that he never married." "I know that he never married." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"657" " Africa is full of black people, he would say. So why would you come all the way to Africa if you hate black people? If you hate black people so much, why did you move into their house? To him it was insane. Because racism never made sense to my father. He never subscribed to any of the rules of apartheid." "Africa is full of black people, he would say. So why would you come all the way to Africa if you hate black people? If you hate black people so much, why did you move into their house? To him it was insane. Because racism never made sense to my father. He never subscribed to any of the rules of apartheid." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"661" " The restaurant closed only because a few people in the neighborhood took it upon themselves to complain. They filed petitions and the government started looking for ways to shut my dad down." "The restaurant closed only because a few people in the neighborhood took it upon themselves to complain. They filed petitions and the government started looking for ways to shut my dad down." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"666" " Immigrants were pouring in from Nigeria and Ghana and all over the continent, bringing different food and exciting music. Rocky Street was the main strip, and its sidewalks were filled with street vendors and restaurants and bars. It was an explosion of culture." "Immigrants were pouring in from Nigeria and Ghana and all over the continent, bringing different food and exciting music. Rocky Street was the main strip, and its sidewalks were filled with street vendors and restaurants and bars. It was an explosion of culture." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"670" " My father and I lived on a schedule." "My father and I lived on a schedule." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"675" " We'd talk about the food he was making, talk about the F1 racing we'd watched. Every now and then he'd drop a tidbit of information about a place he'd visited or his steakhouse, but that was it. Being with my dad was like watching a web series. I'd get a few minutes of information, a few minutes at a time. Then I'd have to wait a week for the next installment." "We'd talk about the food he was making, talk about the F one racing we'd watched. Every now and then he'd drop a tidbit of information about a place he'd visited or his steakhouse, but that was it. Being with my dad was like watching a web series. I'd get a few minutes of information, a few minutes at a time. Then I'd have to wait a week for the next installment." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"68" " She'd tell me not to worry. She always came back to the phrase she lived by." "She'd tell me not to worry. She always came back to the phrase she lived by." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"684" " Then, he was gone." "Then, he was gone." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"689" " You have your dead smile." "You have your dead smile." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"693" " She'd say to me, don't ever forget, he chose you. And ultimately, when I turned 24, it was my mom who made me track him down." "She'd say to me, don't ever forget, he chose you. And ultimately, when I turned twenty four , it was my mom who made me track him down." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"698" " Look kid, they said. We can't help you. We're the Swiss Embassy. Do you know nothing about the Swiss? Discretion is kind of our thing. That's what we do. Tough luck." "Look kid, they said. We can't help you. We're the Swiss Embassy. Do you know nothing about the Swiss? Discretion is kind of our thing. That's what we do. Tough luck." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"701" " I'll never forget that day. It was probably one of the weirdest days of my life. Going to meet a person I knew and yet did not know at all." "I'll never forget that day. It was probably one of the weirdest days of my life. Going to meet a person I knew and yet did not know at all." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"706" " While I was eating, he got up and went and picked up this book, an oversized photo album, and brought it back to the table. I've been following you, he said, and he opened it up." "While I was eating, he got up and went and picked up this book, an oversized photo album, and brought it back to the table. I've been following you, he said, and he opened it up." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"710" " but he'd been with me the whole time. He'd always been proud of me. Circumstance had pulled us apart, but he was never not my father." "but he'd been with me the whole time. He'd always been proud of me. Circumstance had pulled us apart, but he was never not my father." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"715" " As soon as I arrived, I started peppering him with questions. Where are you from? Where did you go to school? Why did you do this? How did you do that? He started getting visibly irritated. What is this? he said. Why are you interrogating me? What's going on here? I want to get to know you." "As soon as I arrived, I started peppering him with questions. Where are you from? Where did you go to school? Why did you do this? How did you do that? He started getting visibly irritated. What is this? he said. Why are you interrogating me? What's going on here? I want to get to know you." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"72" " In those days, with all the violence and riots going on, you did not want to be out that late at night. We were standing at the corner of Jellicoe Avenue and Oxford Road, right in the heart of Johannesburg's wealthy white suburbia. And there were no minibuses. The streets were empty." "In those days, with all the violence and riots going on, you did not want to be out that late at night. We were standing at the corner of Jellicoe Avenue and Oxford Road, right in the heart of Johannesburg's wealthy white suburbia. And there were no minibuses. The streets were empty." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"724" " While settling in Cape Town and the surrounding frontier, the white colonists had their way with the Khoisan women, and the first mixed people of South Africa were born." "While settling in Cape Town and the surrounding frontier, the white colonists had their way with the Khoisan women, and the first mixed people of South Africa were born." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"729" " For all that black people have suffered, they know who they are. Colored people don't." "For all that black people have suffered, they know who they are. Colored people don't." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"733" " I was the anomaly wherever we lived." "I was the anomaly wherever we lived." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"738" " People are willing to accept you if they see you as an outsider trying to assimilate into their world. But when they see you as a fellow tribe member attempting to disavow the tribe, that is something they will never forgive. That is what happened to me in Eden Park." "People are willing to accept you if they see you as an outsider trying to assimilate into their world. But when they see you as a fellow tribe member attempting to disavow the tribe, that is something they will never forgive. That is what happened to me in Eden Park." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"742" " If you were applying to be white, the pencil went into your hair. If it fell out, you were white. If it stayed in, you were colored. You were what the government said you were." "If you were applying to be white, the pencil went into your hair. If it fell out, you were white. If it stayed in, you were colored. You were what the government said you were." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"747" " Many colored people lived in this limbo, a true purgatory, always yearning for the white fathers who disowned them, and they could be horribly racist to one another as a result. The most common colored slur was Bushman, Bushman, Bushy, because it called out their blackness, their primitiveness. The worst way to insult a colored person was to infer that they were in some way black. One of the most sinister things about apartheid was that it taught colored people" "Many colored people lived in this limbo, a true purgatory, always yearning for the white fathers who disowned them, and they could be horribly racist to one another as a result. The most common colored slur was Bushman, Bushman, Bushy, because it called out their blackness, their primitiveness. The worst way to insult a colored person was to infer that they were in some way black. One of the most sinister things about apartheid was that it taught colored people." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"751" " Then all of a sudden, it's Planet of the Apes, and the monkeys have taken over." "Then all of a sudden, it's Planet of the Apes, and the monkeys have taken over." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"756" " Hey, she said, can I ride your bike? I was completely shocked. Oh wow, I thought. I made a friend. Yeah, of course, I said. I got off and she got on and rode about 20 or 30 feet. Some random older kid came running up to the street. She stopped and got off and he climbed on and rode away. I was so happy that a girl had spoken to me that it didn't fully sink in that they'd stolen my bicycle. I ran" "Hey, she said, can I ride your bike? I was completely shocked. Oh wow, I thought. I made a friend. Yeah, of course, I said. I got off and she got on and rode about twenty or thirty feet. Some random older kid came running up to the street. She stopped and got off and he climbed on and rode away. I was so happy that a girl had spoken to me that it didn't fully sink in that they'd stolen my bicycle. I ran." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"760" " Then, one of them, this kid who was the ringleader of the group, walked over. My first thought again was, oh cool, I made a friend. I held up my hand and showed him my mulberries. Then, he knocked them out of my hand and smushed them into the ground. The other kid started laughing. I stood there and looked at him a moment. By that point, I developed thick skin. I was used to being bullied." "Then, one of them, this kid who was the ringleader of the group, walked over. My first thought again was, oh cool, I made a friend. I held up my hand and showed him my mulberries. Then, he knocked them out of my hand and smushed them into the ground. The other kid started laughing. I stood there and looked at him a moment. By that point, I developed thick skin. I was used to being bullied." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"765" " Half an hour later, Abel showed up. At that point, Abel was still my mom's boyfriend. He wasn't trying to be my father, or even a stepfather, really. He was more like a big brother than anything. He'd joke around with me, have fun. I didn't know him that well, but one thing I didn't know about him was that he had a temper. Very charming when he wanted to be. Incredibly funny. But fuck, he could be mean. He'd grown up in the homelands, where you had to fight to survive." "Half an hour later, Abel showed up. At that point, Abel was still my mom's boyfriend. He wasn't trying to be my father, or even a stepfather, really. He was more like a big brother than anything. He'd joke around with me, have fun. I didn't know him that well, but one thing I didn't know about him was that he had a temper. Very charming when he wanted to be. Incredibly funny. But fuck, he could be mean. He'd grown up in the homelands, where you had to fight to survive." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"767.04" " My mother cut me off." "My mother cut me off." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"767.09" " It's nothing, she said." "It's nothing, she said." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"767.14" " He never came home from work sober, and the drinking always made his temper worse." "He never came home from work sober, and the drinking always made his temper worse." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"767" " What happened, he said. I started to explain. My mother cut me off. Don't tell him, she said. She knew what would happen. She knew better than me. Don't tell me what, Abel said. It's nothing, she said. It's not nothing, I said. She glared at me. Don't tell him. Abel was getting frustrated. What? Don't tell me what. He'd been drinking. He never came home from work sober. And the drinking always made his temper worse." "What happened, he said. I started to explain. My mother cut me off. Don't tell him, she said. She knew what would happen. She knew better than me. Don't tell me what, Abel said. It's nothing, she said. It's not nothing, I said. She glared at me. Don't tell him. Abel was getting frustrated. What? Don't tell me what. He'd been drinking. He never came home from work sober. And the drinking always made his temper worse." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"771" " Then, very calm and deliberate, he stood up. Take me to these boys, he said. Yes, I thought. This is it. Big brother is going to get my revenge for me." "Then, very calm and deliberate, he stood up. Take me to these boys, he said. Yes, I thought. This is it. Big brother is going to get my revenge for me." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"776" " Once this kid was beat to shit, Abel dragged him over to the car and held him up in front of me. Say you're sorry. The kid was whimpering, trembling. He looked me in the eye, and I had never seen fear in someone's eyes like I saw in his. He'd been beaten by a stranger, in a way I don't think he'd ever been beaten before. He said he was sorry, but it was like his apology wasn't for what he'd done to me. It was like he was sorry for every bad thing he'd ever done in his life." "Once this kid was beat to shit, Abel dragged him over to the car and held him up in front of me. Say you're sorry. The kid was whimpering, trembling. He looked me in the eye, and I had never seen fear in someone's eyes like I saw in his. He'd been beaten by a stranger, in a way I don't think he'd ever been beaten before. He said he was sorry, but it was like his apology wasn't for what he'd done to me. It was like he was sorry for every bad thing he'd ever done in his life." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"780" " Once the kid apologized, Abel shoved him away and kicked him. Go! The kid ran off, and we drove back to the house in silence." "Once the kid apologized, Abel shoved him away and kicked him. Go! The kid ran off, and we drove back to the house in silence." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"785" " The guy turned quickly and got back in his car and drove away." "The guy turned quickly and got back in his car and drove away." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"79" " drivers who stole roots would get killed." "drivers who stole roots would get killed." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"794" " I understood Valentine's Day as a concept. The naked baby shoots you with an arrow and you fall in love. I got that part. But this was my first time being introduced to it as an activity. At H.A. Jack, Valentine's Day was used as a fundraiser. Pupils were going around selling flowers and cards, and I had to go ask a friend what was happening." "I understood Valentine's Day as a concept. The naked baby shoots you with an arrow and you fall in love. I got that part. But this was my first time being introduced to it as an activity. At H.A. Jack, Valentine's Day was used as a fundraiser. Pupils were going around selling flowers and cards, and I had to go ask a friend what was happening." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"799" " I honestly hadn't thought of asking Meilin, but when the girls brought it up, that thing happened, where someone plants the idea in your head and it changes your perception. Meilin's totally got a thing for you. Does she? Yeah, you guys are great together. Are we? Totally! Well, okay, if you say so." "I honestly hadn't thought of asking Meilin, but when the girls brought it up, that thing happened, where someone plants the idea in your head and it changes your perception. Meilin's totally got a thing for you. Does she? Yeah, you guys are great together. Are we? Totally! Well, okay, if you say so." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"802" " Her friends say, okay, sounds good. We have to run it by Meilin. They go to Meilin, they consult, they tell her what they think. Trevor says he likes you, we're in favor. We think you'd be good together. What do you say? Meilin says, I like Trevor. They say, okay, let's move forward. They come back to us. Meilin says she approves and she's waiting for Trevor's Valentine's Day advance." "Her friends say, okay, sounds good. We have to run it by Meilin. They go to Meilin, they consult, they tell her what they think. Trevor says he likes you, we're in favor. We think you'd be good together. What do you say? Meilin says, I like Trevor. They say, okay, let's move forward. They come back to us. Meilin says she approves and she's waiting for Trevor's Valentine's Day advance." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"807" " Valentine's Day is coming up." "Valentine's Day is coming up." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"811" " It was just a peck. Our lips touched for only a few seconds, but it set off explosions in my head. Yes! Oh yes! This! I don't know what this is, but I like it. Something had awakened, and it was right outside McDonald's, so it was extra special." "It was just a peck. Our lips touched for only a few seconds, but it set off explosions in my head. Yes! Oh yes! This! I don't know what this is, but I like it. Something had awakened, and it was right outside McDonald's, so it was extra special." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"816" " Finally, Meilin showed up and walked over to me. I was about to say, Happy Valentine's Day! When she stopped me and said, Oh, hi Trevor." "Finally, Meilin showed up and walked over to me. I was about to say, Happy Valentine's Day! When she stopped me and said, Oh, hi Trevor." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"820" " But at the same time, some part of me said, well, this makes sense. Lorenzo was everything I wasn't. He was popular. He was white. He'd upset the balance of everything by asking out the only colored girl in school. Girls loved him, and he was dumb as rocks. A nice guy, but kind of a bad boy. Girls did his homework for him. He was that guy. He was really good looking too. It was like when he was creating his character, he traded in all his intelligence" "But at the same time, some part of me said, well, this makes sense. Lorenzo was everything I wasn't. He was popular. He was white. He'd upset the balance of everything by asking out the only colored girl in school. Girls loved him, and he was dumb as rocks. A nice guy, but kind of a bad boy. Girls did his homework for him. He was that guy. He was really good looking too. It was like when he was creating his character, he traded in all his intelligence." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"825" " Because the other kids were coming in on that same road to school, I'd take my blazer off so that no one could tell what school I went to. And I would bury my head and push the car, hoping no one would recognize me." "Because the other kids were coming in on that same road to school, I'd take my blazer off so that no one could tell what school I went to. And I would bury my head and push the car, hoping no one would recognize me." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"83" " We hadn't gone 10 feet when suddenly a minibus swerved right in front of the car and cut us off." "We hadn't gone ten feet when suddenly a minibus swerved right in front of the car and cut us off." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"834" " Thanks to my long walk to school, I was late every single day. I'd have to stop off in the prefix office to write my name down for detention. I was the patron saint of detention. Already late, I'd run to join my morning classes. Math, English, Biology, whatever. The last period before break was assembly. The pupils would come together in the assembly hall. Each grade seated, row by row, and the teachers on the prefix would get up on stage and go over the business of what was happening in the school." "Thanks to my long walk to school, I was late every single day. I'd have to stop off in the prefix office to write my name down for detention. I was the patron saint of detention. Already late, I'd run to join my morning classes. Math, English, Biology, whatever. The last period before break was assembly. The pupils would come together in the assembly hall. Each grade seated, row by row, and the teachers on the prefix would get up on stage and go over the business of what was happening in the school." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"839.001" " I was an overnight success." "I was an overnight success." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"839.006" " I had a rule. I would take five orders a day. High bidders only." "I had a rule. I would take five orders a day. High bidders only." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"839.011" " I'd found my niche." "I'd found my niche." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"839.016" " I popped around to everyone working, chatting, telling jokes, making deliveries." "I popped around to everyone working, chatting, telling jokes, making deliveries." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"839.021" " For me, it was humor." "For me, it was humor." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"843" " I wonder what would have." "I wonder what would have." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"848" " After suffering my Valentine's Day heartbreak at the hands of Maylene and the handsome, charming Lorenzo, I learned a valuable lesson about dating. What I learned was that cool guys get girls, and funny guys get to hang out with the cool guys with their girls. I was not a cool guy. Therefore, I did not have girls. I understood that formula very quickly, and I knew my place. I didn't ask girls out, I didn't have a girlfriend, I didn't even try." "After suffering my Valentine's Day heartbreak at the hands of Maylene and the handsome, charming Lorenzo, I learned a valuable lesson about dating. What I learned was that cool guys get girls, and funny guys get to hang out with the cool guys with their girls. I was not a cool guy. Therefore, I did not have girls. I understood that formula very quickly, and I knew my place. I didn't ask girls out, I didn't have a girlfriend, I didn't even try." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"852" " Outwardly, I had carefully cultivated my status as the funny, non-threatening guy, but secretly, I had the hugest crush on Zaheera. She was so pretty and so funny. We'd hang out and have great conversations. I thought about her constantly. But for the life of me, I never considered myself worthy of dating her. I told myself, I'm gonna have a crush on her forever, and that's all that's ever gonna happen." "Outwardly, I had carefully cultivated my status as the funny, non threatening guy, but secretly, I had the hugest crush on Zaheera. She was so pretty and so funny. We'd hang out and have great conversations. I thought about her constantly. But for the life of me, I never considered myself worthy of dating her. I told myself, I'm gonna have a crush on her forever, and that's all that's ever gonna happen." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"857" " Zihira and Gary broke up. Then they got back together. Then they broke up. Then they got back together. They kissed once, but she didn't like it, so they never kissed again. Then, they broke up for real. I bided my time through it all. I watched popular Gary go down in flames, and I was still the good friend. Yep, the plan is working. But trick dance, here we come. Only two and a half years to go." "Zihira and Gary broke up. Then they got back together. Then they broke up. Then they got back together. They kissed once, but she didn't like it, so they never kissed again. Then, they broke up for real. I bided my time through it all. I watched popular Gary go down in flames, and I was still the good friend. Yep, the plan is working. But trick dance, here we come. Only two and a half years to go." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"861" " In every nice neighborhood, there's one white family that does not give a fuck. You know the family I'm talking about. They don't do their lawn, don't paint the fence, don't fix the roof. Their house is shit. My mom found that house and bought it, which is how she snuck a black family into a place as white as Highlands North." "In every nice neighborhood, there's one white family that does not give a fuck. You know the family I'm talking about. They don't do their lawn, don't paint the fence, don't fix the roof. Their house is shit. My mom found that house and bought it, which is how she snuck a black family into a place as white as Highlands North." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"866" " It was only after a year or so that I figured out the key to making black friends in the suburbs. The children of domestics. Many domestic workers in South Africa, when they get pregnant, they get fired. Or if they're lucky, the family they work for lets them stay on and they can have the baby. But then the baby goes back to live with the relatives in the homelands. Then, the black mother raises the white children, seeing her own child only once a year at the holidays. But a handful of families would let their domestics keep" "It was only after a year or so that I figured out the key to making black friends in the suburbs. The children of domestics. Many domestic workers in South Africa, when they get pregnant, they get fired. Or if they're lucky, the family they work for lets them stay on and they can have the baby. But then the baby goes back to live with the relatives in the homelands. Then, the black mother raises the white children, seeing her own child only once a year at the holidays. But a handful of families would let their domestics keep." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"870" " Walking home from school, we'd throw rocks through windows just to see them shatter, and then we'd run away. We got detention together all the time. The teachers, the pupils, the principal, everyone at school knew Teddy and Trevor, thick as thieves." "Walking home from school, we'd throw rocks through windows just to see them shatter, and then we'd run away. We got detention together all the time. The teachers, the pupils, the principal, everyone at school knew Teddy and Trevor, thick as thieves." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"875" " We reached in, grabbed a few, drank the liquor inside and then gobbled down the chocolates. We'd hit the jackpot." "We reached in, grabbed a few, drank the liquor inside and then gobbled down the chocolates. We'd hit the jackpot." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.003" " I knew if a guard cuts us off at the exit, we'd be trapped. So we were hauling ass as fast as we could." "I knew if a guard cuts us off at the exit, we'd be trapped. So we were hauling ass as fast as we could." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.008" " These gods knew me." "These gods knew me." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.013" " I was dead." "I was dead." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.018" " And now, the chase was on. I was loving it. I was shitting myself, but also loving it." "And now, the chase was on. I was loving it. I was shitting myself, but also loving it." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.023" " As a kid, wherever I went, whatever building I was in, I was always plotting my escape." "As a kid, wherever I went, whatever building I was in, I was always plotting my escape." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.028" " As Teddy and I booked past the fire station, there was a road off to the left, a dead end that ran into a metal fence." "As Teddy and I booked past the fire station, there was a road off to the left, a dead end that ran into a metal fence." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.033" " Teddy, this way! I yelled." "Teddy, this way! I yelled." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.038" " Half the mole cups followed him." "Half the mole cups followed him." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"878.043" " Another harmless pedestrian out for a stroll." "Another harmless pedestrian out for a stroll." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"882" " Now I was worried." "Now I was worried." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"887" " Huh, okay. My mom called me in. Do you know about this thing? What thing? Teddy Watch Caught Shoplifting." "Huh, okay. My mom called me in. Do you know about this thing? What thing? Teddy Watch Caught Shoplifting." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"891" " Finally, the principal Mr. Friedman walked out. Trevor, come in." "Finally, the principal Mr. Friedman walked out. Trevor, come in." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"896" " Okay, he stood up and walked over to a television in the corner of the room Trevor The police have video footage of the whole thing. We'd like you to take a look. Fuck My heart was pounding in my chest" "Okay, he stood up and walked over to a television in the corner of the room Trevor The police have video footage of the whole thing. We'd like you to take a look. Fuck My heart was pounding in my chest." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"9.2" " Yet they were divided into different tribes with different languages." "Yet they were divided into different tribes with different languages." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"901" " Do you know of any white kids that Teddy hangs out with?" "Do you know of any white kids that Teddy hangs out with?." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"906" " English is the international language and the language of money and of the media, so we had to keep that. Most people were forced to learn at least some of her cons, so it's useful to keep that too. Plus, we didn't want the white minority to feel ostracized in the new South Africa, or else they'd take all their money and leave." "English is the international language and the language of money and of the media, so we had to keep that. Most people were forced to learn at least some of her cons, so it's useful to keep that too. Plus, we didn't want the white minority to feel ostracized in the new South Africa, or else they'd take all their money and leave." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"910" " By the end of high school, I'd become a mogul. My tux shop business had evolved into a mini empire that included selling pirates at CDs I'd made at home. I convinced my mother, as frugal as she was, that I needed a computer for school. I didn't. I wanted it so I could surf the internet and play Leisure Suit Larry. But I was very convincing, and she broke down and got it for me." "By the end of high school, I'd become a mogul. My tux shop business had evolved into a mini empire that included selling pirates at CDs I'd made at home. I convinced my mother, as frugal as she was, that I needed a computer for school. I didn't. I wanted it so I could surf the internet and play Leisure Suit Larry. But I was very convincing, and she broke down and got it for me." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"915" " I had two middlemen working for me in my CD business, Bongani and Tom. They sold the CDs that I copied in exchange for a cut. I met Tom at the arcade at the Balfour Park Mall. Like Teddy, he lived nearby because his mom was a domestic worker. Tom was in my grade but went to a government school, Northview, a proper ghetto school. Tom handled my CD sales over there." "I had two middlemen working for me in my CD business, Bongani and Tom. They sold the CDs that I copied in exchange for a cut. I met Tom at the arcade at the Balfour Park Mall. Like Teddy, he lived nearby because his mom was a domestic worker. Tom was in my grade but went to a government school, Northview, a proper ghetto school. Tom handled my CD sales over there." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"92" " He raced along Oxford Road, the lanes empty, no other cars out. I was sitting closest to the minibus' sliding door. My mother sat next to me holding baby Andrew. She looked out the window at the passing road and then leaned over to me and whispered, Trevor, when he slows down at the next intersection, I'm going to open the door and we're going to jump." "He raced along Oxford Road, the lanes empty, no other cars out. I was sitting closest to the minibus' sliding door. My mother sat next to me holding baby Andrew. She looked out the window at the passing road and then leaned over to me and whispered, Trevor, when he slows down at the next intersection, I'm going to open the door and we're going to jump." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"924" " One afternoon, Tom came by my house and we started talking about the dance. I told him I didn't have a date, couldn't get a date, and wasn't going to get a date." "One afternoon, Tom came by my house and we started talking about the dance. I told him I didn't have a date, couldn't get a date, and wasn't going to get a date." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"929" " The two of us jumped on a bus and headed into the city." "The two of us jumped on a bus and headed into the city." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"933" " Good lord. Beautiful eyes. Beautiful golden yellow brown skin. It was like she glowed." "Good lord. Beautiful eyes. Beautiful golden yellow brown skin. It was like she glowed." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"938" " I had no idea how to talk to a girl that beautiful. She was shy and didn't speak much either. There was a bit of an awkward pause. Luckily, Tom's a guy who just talks and talks. He jumped right in and smoothed everything over. Trevor, this is Babiki, Babiki Trevor. He went on and on about how great I was, how much she was looking forward to the dance, when I would pick her up for the dance, all the details. We hung out for a few." "I had no idea how to talk to a girl that beautiful. She was shy and didn't speak much either. There was a bit of an awkward pause. Luckily, Tom's a guy who just talks and talks. He jumped right in and smoothed everything over. Trevor, this is Babiki, Babiki Trevor. He went on and on about how great I was, how much she was looking forward to the dance, when I would pick her up for the dance, all the details. We hung out for a few." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"942" " As the dance approached, I started getting nervous. I didn't have a car. I didn't have any decent clothes. This was my first time taking out a beautiful girl, and I wanted it to be perfect." "As the dance approached, I started getting nervous. I didn't have a car. I didn't have any decent clothes. This was my first time taking out a beautiful girl, and I wanted it to be perfect." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"947" " At the time, I had no clue about clothes. My idea of fashion was a brand of clothing called Powerhouse. It was the kind of stuff weightlifters wear down in Miami or out at Venice Beach. Baggy track pants with baggy sweatshirts. The logo was a cartoon of this giant bodybuilding bulldog wearing wrap-around sunglasses and smoking a cigar and flexing his muscles. On the pants, he was flexing all the way down your leg. On the shirts, he was flexing" "At the time, I had no clue about clothes. My idea of fashion was a brand of clothing called Powerhouse. It was the kind of stuff weightlifters wear down in Miami or out at Venice Beach. Baggy track pants with baggy sweatshirts. The logo was a cartoon of this giant bodybuilding bulldog wearing wrap around sunglasses and smoking a cigar and flexing his muscles. On the pants, he was flexing all the way down your leg. On the shirts, he was flexing." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"951" " I told Bongani I wanted a leather coat, like Keanu Reeves wore. The ankle-length black one. Bongani shut that down. No, that's not practical. It's cool, but you'll never be able to wear it again. He took me shopping and we bought a calf-length black leather jacket, which would look ridiculous today, but at the time, thanks to Neo, it was very cool. That alone cost $1200 rand. Then we finished the outfit with a pair of simple black pants, suede, square-toe shoes," "I told Bongani I wanted a leather coat, like Keanu Reeves wore. The ankle length black one. Bongani shut that down. No, that's not practical. It's cool, but you'll never be able to wear it again. He took me shopping and we bought a calf length black leather jacket, which would look ridiculous today, but at the time, thanks to Neo, it was very cool. That alone cost one thousand, two hundred rand. Then we finished the outfit with a pair of simple black pants, suede, square toe shoes,." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"956" " Bongani dragged me to a second salon. I sat down in the chair and the woman took my hair and started painting this creamy white stuff in it. She was wearing rubber gloves to keep this chemical relaxer off her own skin, which should have been my first clue that maybe this wasn't such a great idea." "Bongani dragged me to a second salon. I sat down in the chair and the woman took my hair and started painting this creamy white stuff in it. She was wearing rubber gloves to keep this chemical relaxer off her own skin, which should have been my first clue that maybe this wasn't such a great idea." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"960" " She told me to tell her when it started burning. She should have told me to tell her when it started tingling. Because by the time it was actually burning, it had already taken off several layers of my scalp. I was well past tingling when I started to freak out. It's burning. It's burning. She rushed me over to the sink and started to rinse the relaxer out. What I didn't know is that the chemical doesn't really start to burn until they're rinsing it out. I felt like someone was pouring liquor" "She told me to tell her when it started burning. She should have told me to tell her when it started tingling. Because by the time it was actually burning, it had already taken off several layers of my scalp. I was well past tingling when I started to freak out. It's burning. It's burning. She rushed me over to the sink and started to rinse the relaxer out. What I didn't know is that the chemical doesn't really start to burn until they're rinsing it out. I felt like someone was pouring liquor." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"965" " It was like the makeover scenes in my American movies, where they take the dorky guy or girl, fix the hair and change the clothes, and the ugly duckling becomes the swan. I'd been so convinced I'd never get a date that I never tried to look nice for a girl, so I didn't know that I could. The hair was good. My skin wasn't perfect, but it was getting better. The pustules had receded into regular pimples. I looked not bad." "It was like the makeover scenes in my American movies, where they take the dorky guy or girl, fix the hair and change the clothes, and the ugly duckling becomes the swan. I'd been so convinced I'd never get a date that I never tried to look nice for a girl, so I didn't know that I could. The hair was good. My skin wasn't perfect, but it was getting better. The pustules had receded into regular pimples. I looked not bad." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"97" " I still didn't know why any of this had happened. I'd been running on pure adrenaline. Once we stopped running, I realized how much pain I was in. I looked down and the skin on my arms was scraped and torn. I was cut up and bleeding all over. Mom was too. My baby brother was fine though, incredibly. My mom had wrapped herself around him and he'd come through without a scratch. I turned to her in shock. What was that? Why are we running? What do you mean why are we running? Those men were trying to kill us." "I still didn't know why any of this had happened. I'd been running on pure adrenaline. Once we stopped running, I realized how much pain I was in. I looked down and the skin on my arms was scraped and torn. I was cut up and bleeding all over. Mom was too. My baby brother was fine though, incredibly. My mom had wrapped herself around him and he'd come through without a scratch. I turned to her in shock. What was that? Why are we running? What do you mean why are we running? Those men were trying to kill us." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"974" " Wild car. The BMW you promised I could drive the BMW to the dance. First go buy me some beers, he said." "Wild car. The BMW you promised I could drive the BMW to the dance. First go buy me some beers, he said." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"979" " We took the shitty Mazda and drove to Babiki's house. I was an hour late picking her up. She was completely pissed off. Tom had to go in and convince her to come out. And eventually she did." "We took the shitty Mazda and drove to Babiki's house. I was an hour late picking her up. She was completely pissed off. Tom had to go in and convince her to come out. And eventually she did." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"983" " Babiki sat next to me, in stony silence the whole time. Clearly not feeling me, or this night at all. I was crashing hard. I was late. I didn't know where I was going. I was the worst date she'd ever had in her life." "Babiki sat next to me, in stony silence the whole time. Clearly not feeling me, or this night at all. I was crashing hard. I was late. I didn't know where I was going. I was the worst date she'd ever had in her life." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"988" " Finally I said, okay, I'll be right back." "Finally I said, okay, I'll be right back." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"992" " Most of the guys eventually wandered back inside. I was sitting on the pavement, taking swigs from the brandy bottle, getting buzzed. At some point, Bongani went back over to the car to try one last time to convince Babiki to come in." "Most of the guys eventually wandered back inside. I was sitting on the pavement, taking swigs from the brandy bottle, getting buzzed. At some point, Bongani went back over to the car to try one last time to convince Babiki to come in." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"997" " Tom had promised he'd get me a beautiful date for the dance, but he hadn't made any promises about any of her other qualities. Whenever we were together, she was speaking Bedi to Tom, and Tom was speaking English to me. But she didn't speak English, and I didn't speak Bedi. Abel spoke Bedi. He'd learned several South African languages in order to deal with his customers, so he'd spoken with her fluently when they met. But in that moment I realized I'd never actually heard" "Tom had promised he'd get me a beautiful date for the dance, but he hadn't made any promises about any of her other qualities. Whenever we were together, she was speaking Bedi to Tom, and Tom was speaking English to me. But she didn't speak English, and I didn't speak Bedi. Abel spoke Bedi. He'd learned several South African languages in order to deal with his customers, so he'd spoken with her fluently when they met. But in that moment I realized I'd never actually heard." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"999.4" " I got enough of the gist of the conversation from everyone's English to know what was going on." "I got enough of the gist of the conversation from everyone's English to know what was going on." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None" +"999.9" " which is how I'd been dating a girl for over a month. The girl I very much believed was my first girlfriend, without ever having had a single conversation with her." "which is how I'd been dating a girl for over a month. The girl I very much believed was my first girlfriend, without ever having had a single conversation with her." 1 "test" "male" "False" "None"