It’s not uncommon for writers and comedians to pay homage to family members and loved ones. Not a lot of them use their mom’s name in the title of one of their biggest comedy specials, though.
But the stand-up star Trevor Noah did.
So, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that his mom was quite a remarkable lady and a great mother.
Today’s post is all about what makes Patricia Noah such a fearless and special woman. I’ve put together a list of must-know facts about her early life, partners, struggles, parenting style, and more. Let’s get to it!
There’s Power in Her Name
Patricia is Xhosa by ethnicity, and her Xhosa name is Nombuyiselo. It’s derived from the word for “to restore.” But here, its meaning is closer to “the one who gives/brings back.”
As you read through this list of facts, you’ll see how much joy she brought to her boys!
She Became a Runaway at 22
Patricia’s mom (Trevor Noah’s grandmother) was the matriarch of the family. As petite as she was, she ran the house with a sharp, calculating mind. Young Patricia lived with her for a while before moving in with her dad, Temperance Noah.
Temperance was quite the charismatic (but troubled) man. He was actually diagnosed with bipolar disorder later in life. Plus, Patricia’s life with Temperance was anything but cushy. She had to work on the family farm.
At the age of 22, she ran away from her hometown of Soweto seeking an adventure of her own. Downtown Johannesburg is where that adventure awaited.
Her Luck (And Foresight) Landed Her a Job and a Flat in Johannesburg
Patricia Noah was no fool. She didn’t run away from her home with zero planning.
A year or so before leaving, she learned secretarial work. This way, she could land a job (which she did, but with some challenges) later.
Now, for context, this was apartheid-era South Africa, with institutionalised racial segregation. Black people could work in Johannesburg, but they had to leave the city at night.
Patricia, stubborn as she was, didn’t leave for the nightly curfew. At first, she hid in public restrooms to spend the night. The ladies she met there helped her “navigate the shadows” and get around without drawing attention (or worse, getting arrested).
They also did her one solid favor; they introduced her to a foreigner who rented out apartments to black people illegally. That’s how young Patricia found her way to the Hillbrow flat number 203.
The Swiss Guy Down the Hall Changed Her Life
Behind the door of flat number 206 was a quiet and reserved restaurateur of Swiss origin called Robert. Soon, Patricia and her white neighbour were exchanging pleasantries and getting to know each other.
Mind you, even an interracial friendship was a major no-no at the time. So, obviously, there was no hope of ever getting married or taking their relationship to the public. And yet, something clicked between Patricia and Robert.
She Was Incredibly Determined to Be a Mother
I think it’s obvious that Patricia Noah was a fearless woman. She did, after all, run from home, chase a new life, and get into an illegal relationship.
But if you need more proof, then consider this: She wanted a kid and asked Robert to give her one. And how could anyone say no to Patricia?
She freed him of all obligations, though. He didn’t have to be involved in any way in the child’s life.
On February 20, 1984, the “single” mother was giving birth to a baby boy in a room in Hillbrow Hospital. None of her family members was there to welcome the kid, who was technically evidence of a crime (an interracial relationship).
You’d think Robert’s involvement would end right then and there. But it didn’t. He asked Patricia if he could be part of the little boy’s life. So, the Xhosa woman would take baby Trevor to see his father. They had to do it in secret, of course.
Holding Her Child’s Hand Was Risky Business
Neither Patricia nor Robert could carry their mixed-race kid or hold his hand on the street without fearing legal repercussions.
At that time, you never knew who would snitch on you. So, the young couple had to be extra careful.
She Wanted an Intellectual Kid
As you might expect, Trevor Noah’s childhood was quite lonely. He spent most of his time at home, hidden from potential informants.
To help him kill time, Patricia encouraged him to read in multiple languages. Today, the comedian speaks at least six languages, thanks to his mom’s efforts!
Note that Patricia Noah was multilingual as well. In fact, she used languages to sort of empower herself and handle rough situations. She’d surprise a racist shopkeeper that she was fluent in Afrikaans and understood his remarks, for instance, and suddenly he’d drop the act.
Trevor Noah learned to do the same and actually got out of a robbery using his mom’s tricks. Talk about street smarts!
She’s a DV Survivor
Robert and Patricia didn’t have a shot at building a family in the traditional sense. He later left the city altogether. Patricia did meet another guy by the name of Abel. The two ended up tying the knot and having two more kids with him.
Abel wasn’t exactly a great husband (or stepfather), though. In his memoir, Trevor Noah describes him as a man with a fragile ego and a controlling nature. So, it was a matter of time until he directed his anger at his wife and stepson.
At one point, Patricia did take the kids and leave. She moved on and remarried, but Abel couldn’t do the same. He tracked her down and shot her in the head. It was a miracle that she survived the attack!
She Was a Rule-Enforcer-Type of Parent
Apparently, Patricia Noah was a proponent of tough love parenting. Whenever her kids got into trouble, she’d resort to “lectures, punishment, and hidings.”
Before you judge her, I think it’s crucial to consider the environment of the time. Black parents dealing with institutionalized segregation and racism felt like they had to discipline their kids before the police did.
Trevor Noah Puts Her on a Pedestal
It doesn’t seem that Patricia’s parenting style ruined her relationship with her eldest boy one bit. After all, Trevor Noah sees her as the “hero” of the story in his memoir.
Oh, and he titled his heartfelt special “Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia.”
She Isn’t Impressed by Trevor’s Celebrity Status (Or Is She?)
Trevor Noah once told Jimmy Kimmel that his mom doesn’t even care that he’s a celebrity. But I guess he was kidding.
Just take a look at her social media. She doesn’t post much, but it’s clear she’s proud of her boy.
The stand-up comedian also refers to her as his “first fan” in his book. So, he’s aware she’s a supportive mom.
So proud of my boy for writing his first book and can’t believe I’m a character In it to I feel like it was just yesterday me and him were jumping out of that bus I just shows how fast time flies it just makes me tear up #blessed #past #trevornoah #book #timeflys pic.twitter.com/SadB29TDnM
— patricia noah (@patricianoah13) April 20, 2021
She Encouraged Her Eldest to Get in Touch With His Estranged Father
When Robert left Johannesburg and Patricia married Abel, the “family” they had was broken up. Trevor was no longer in contact with his biological father, and things stayed that way for nearly a decade.
However, when Trevor Noah was 24, his mom encouraged him to track his father and build a relationship with him. So, the comedian went to great lengths and even pestered the Swiss embassy to help him contact Robert.
Luckily, he did find him, and Robert chose to have his son back in his life. The years-long gap faded away the moment those two saw each other!
Trevor Noah Still Fixes Her Computer
Patricia seems like the kind of woman who’s always eager to know more about the world.
When she heard that computers “were the future,” she brought home a Pentium. Neither she nor Trevor (who was 11 or 12 at the time) had any idea how to use a computer, but she still wanted her son to give it a go.
Perhaps that’s where the comedian’s interest in hardware began?
Bonus: She Can’t Wait to Be a Grandma
To be fair, this one is pretty predictable, but it’s still worth mentioning. Patricia Noah wants grandkids.
Trevor Noah revealed on The Drew Barrymore Show that his mom has been pressuring him to have kids for a while now.
Final Thoughts
That’s a wrap on our list of facts about Patricia Noah.
If you want to learn a bit more about the lady (and tons more about Trevor’s childhood), check out the “Born A Crime” book. It’s an interesting read!
Featured image source: Google
