Trevor Noah
Trevor is the protagonist and narrator of the story, which follows him as he grows from a very young child into a man in his early twenties.
Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah
The mother of Trevor, and a major character in the memoir. She made the radical choice to have a mixed-race child at a time when this was illegal in South Africa.
Robert
Trevor's father, a white man of Swiss German descent. He is a presence in Trevor's early childhood but the two gradually become estranged.
Andrew
Trevor's younger half-brother, the son of Patricia and Abel.
Isaac
Trevor's youngest half-brother, the son of Patricia and Abel.
Abel
Trevor's stepfather. He marries Patricia and fathers two sons with her. He is a physically abusive alcoholic who shoots and tries to kill Patricia.
Temperance Noah
Trevor's maternal grandfather.
Frances Noah
Trevor's maternal grandmother.
Sibongile and Dinky
Trevor's aunt and uncle; Sibongile is Patricia's sister, and Dinky is her husband.
Bulelwa
Trevor's cousin, the child of Sibongile and Dinky.
Koko
Trevor's great-grandmother.
Mlungisi
Trevor's cousin.
Teddy
Trevor's childhood friend, the son of a domestic worker.
Tim
Trevor's friend who encourages and entices him into a number of schemes and plans.
Sizwe
Trevor's friend who introduces him to the neighborhood known as Alexandra and works with him to hustle and attempt to make money there.
