Trevor Noah: Human Capital is Changing the Future
Summary
TLDRTrevor Noah, a comedian and host of The Daily Show, delivers an insightful speech at the Goalkeepers event. He shares his personal story growing up in South Africa during apartheid, highlighting his mixed heritage and the challenges faced by his family. Noah emphasizes the importance of optimism and the power of information in driving change, particularly among millennials. He encourages the audience to harness the tools of technology to engage with activism and become 'goalkeepers' in their own right.
Takeaways
- 📱 'Welcome to the millennial age' - Trevor Noah acknowledges the digital age where people often interact through screens rather than in person.
- 🙏 'Thank you very much, Bill and Melinda' - Noah expresses gratitude to Bill and Melinda Gates for inviting him to speak at the Goalkeepers event.
- 🌍 'I do not have a fridge that can change lives' - He humorously points out that he doesn't have a technological innovation or a grand plan like some other speakers, but he brings his thoughts and stories.
- 🇿🇦 'I grew up in South Africa, during a time known as apartheid' - Noah shares his personal background, growing up in a mixed-race family during apartheid, which was illegal.
- 👩👨 'My mother's a black woman, a Xhosa woman from South Africa, and my father's Swiss from Switzerland' - He describes his heritage and the cultural mix within his family.
- 🌈 'Apartheid was a system of laws which made it illegal for black people and white people to integrate with each other' - Noah explains the segregation and laws he lived under.
- 🌟 'My mother was one of those people' - He credits his mother's optimism and strength as a significant influence in his life.
- 📈 'I believe the world is getting better, is because we have access to information' - Noah argues that access to information is a powerful tool that can lead to positive change.
- 🌎 'Young people communicate across borders, across continents' - He notes the global connectivity of youth and their potential to drive change.
- 🔥 'Millennials oftentimes are marked as they're lazy, they believe that they're entitled' - Noah addresses common stereotypes about millennials but also acknowledges their drive and desire for change.
- 🤷♂️ 'I don't know how to feel about [Donald Trump]' - Noah expresses the paradoxical emotions he feels towards Trump's presidency, both fear and amusement.
- 🌳 'Climate change is one of those, and that's where young people are stepping up' - He points out the active role of the youth in combating climate change.
- 🤝 'There is an opportunity, for everyone to become a goalkeeper' - Noah encourages the audience to engage with activists and use their influence for good.
- 🎓 'I am a millennial, and by proxy I hope to be a goalkeeper' - He identifies himself with the millennial generation and aspires to be a part of positive change.
Q & A
What is the main theme of Trevor Noah's speech at the Goalkeepers event?
-The main theme of Trevor Noah's speech is optimism and the power of information in driving change, particularly among the millennial generation.
How does Trevor Noah describe his experience growing up during apartheid in South Africa?
-Trevor Noah describes his experience growing up during apartheid as challenging, being part of a mixed family where his mother was a black Xhosa woman and his father was a white Swiss man, which was against the law at the time.
What does Trevor Noah credit for his belief that the world is getting better?
-Trevor Noah credits access to information about the state of the world as one of the reasons he believes the world is getting better.
How does Trevor Noah view the role of young people in today's world?
-Trevor Noah views young people as driven and engaged, capable of changing the course of history and not just being part of it.
What does Trevor Noah say about the power of laughter in the face of adversity?
-Trevor Noah says that laughter allows people to process the real world without being controlled by fear, and it helps them experience their truer selves.
How does Trevor Noah describe the impact of social media and technology on activism?
-Trevor Noah describes social media and technology as powerful tools that allow young people to communicate across borders and engage in activism, turning hashtag activism into real-world action.
What is Trevor Noah's opinion on the current political engagement of young people?
-Trevor Noah believes that young people are more engaged in politics than ever before, understanding that they have the power to change the course of history.
How does Trevor Noah feel about Donald Trump's presidency?
-Trevor Noah expresses a mix of terror and amusement regarding Donald Trump's presidency, comparing it to a paradoxical situation where he feels both fear and the need to laugh.
What does Trevor Noah suggest people do with the power and knowledge they possess?
-Trevor Noah encourages people to use their power, ability, information, and knowledge to engage with activists and take action for change.
What does Trevor Noah say about the importance of optimism in the face of challenges?
-Trevor Noah emphasizes the importance of optimism, citing his mother's influence and the example set by the Goalkeepers organization in seeing and pursuing a better future.
How does Trevor Noah relate his personal experiences to the concept of being a 'goalkeeper'?
-Trevor Noah relates his personal experiences of growing up in a mixed-race family during apartheid and his mother's optimism to the concept of being a 'goalkeeper' by highlighting the importance of striving for a better future despite adversity.
Outlines
🌐 The Digital Age and Global Connectivity
Trevor Noah begins by expressing the peculiarity of addressing an audience through their phones rather than in person, highlighting the digital age's impact on social interaction. He thanks Bill and Melinda Gates for inviting him to speak at the Goalkeepers event and humorously downplays his contributions compared to other speakers with groundbreaking ideas. Noah shares his background growing up in South Africa during apartheid, discussing the challenges faced by his mixed-race family. He emphasizes the importance of optimism, drawing a parallel between his mother's outlook and the spirit of Goalkeepers. Noah argues that access to information is a powerful tool for change, especially for the younger generation who communicate across borders and are increasingly engaged in politics, as seen in America and South Africa.
🗣️ The Power of Youth and Political Engagement
In the second paragraph, Trevor Noah discusses the stereotype of millennials as lazy and entitled, but also acknowledges their drive and desire for change. He notes the increased political engagement among young people, who understand they can alter history. Noah reflects on his experience as host of The Daily Show, observing that his audience, particularly the youth, are not just growing into politics but are actively engaged in a way that was previously unseen. He humorously addresses his mixed feelings about Donald Trump's presidency, expressing both fear and amusement. Noah emphasizes the importance of laughter as a means to process fear and adversity, a lesson he learned from his mother. He concludes by encouraging the audience to become 'goalkeepers' themselves, leveraging technology to engage with activists and effect change, and proudly identifies as a millennial and a goalkeeper.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Millennial Age
💡Apartheid
💡Optimism
💡Information
💡Global Connectivity
💡Engagement
💡Status Quo
💡Hashtag Activism
💡Climate Change
💡Fear vs. Laughter
💡Goalkeepers
Highlights
Trevor Noah discusses the strange experience of speaking to an audience virtually.
He expresses gratitude to Bill and Melinda Gates for inviting him to speak at the Goalkeepers event.
Trevor admits he doesn't have a tangible invention or a grand plan like other speakers, but offers to share his thoughts and stories.
He shares his background growing up in South Africa during apartheid.
Trevor describes the challenges of growing up in a mixed-race family during apartheid.
He emphasizes the optimism and forward-thinking of his mother despite the hardships she faced.
Trevor connects the optimism of Goalkeepers with his mother's outlook on life.
He discusses the importance of access to information and how it's making the world a better place.
Trevor highlights the power of young people communicating across borders.
He argues that millennials are often misunderstood but are driven to make a change.
Trevor shares his perspective on the role of information and technology in empowering young people.
He reflects on the engagement of young people in politics, particularly in America.
Trevor humorously describes his mixed feelings about Donald Trump's presidency.
He emphasizes the importance of laughter and not being controlled by fear.
Trevor suggests that the world is improving, drawing an analogy to the body's imperceptible daily changes.
He calls for young people to step up on issues like climate change.
Trevor encourages the audience to become 'goalkeepers' and engage with activists.
He concludes by expressing pride in being a millennial and a goalkeeper.
Transcripts
- Good morning/afternoon everybody.
Good to have you.
This is weird 'cause I'm just gonna talk
to your phones and we're right here.
It's a strange experience.
Welcome to the millennial age.
You'll have the picture and you'll show it to your friend
and they'll go what does he look like in person?
You go, I don't know,
I was also looking at my phone
when I should have been there with him.
First of all, thank you very much, Bill and Melinda
for having me.
When I was first asked to be here
they said hey, we want you to come and speak
at this event, Goalkeepers,
and talk about what's happening in the world
and I looked through all of the people
that were speaking and I said
but I have nothing.
I do not have a fridge that can change lives,
I do not have a plan to eradicate HIV in South Africa
and in southern Africa and the rest of the continent
and I most definitely cannot ride a motorbike
so I don't know what I can do for you.
Bill just said come and share your thoughts,
your stories, your ideas
and I guess that's how I process information.
That's how I process my world,
so, I'll tell you a little bit about myself
and why Goalkeepers means so much to me.
So, in case you don't know me, my name is Trevor Noah,
I grew up in South Africa
during a time known as apartheid
and for those who don't know,
apartheid was a system of laws
which made it illegal for black people
and white people to integrate with each other
amongst other things.
Black people lived in separate areas to white people,
they had different rules,
they were segregated
and this was particularly tough for me
because I grew up in a mixed family,
well, with me being the mixed one in the family.
My mother's a black woman, a Xhosa woman from South Africa
and in case you're wondering, Xhosa is one of the languages
with the clicks in it, Xhosa.
(Trevor speaks in foreign language)
Xhosa but not like in American movies.
I've seen those movies
where they have the Africans and they're like.
(Trevor speaks in foreign language)
That's not a language, alright?
No, even we watch those movies
and we're like I wonder what they are saying.
It's not a language
but my mother's a Xhosa woman, South African,
my father's Swiss from Switzerland
and was a white man and still is a white man,
he didn't change and so they got together
during this time which was against the law
and they had me
and it wasn't easy growing up in this family
and that's really where our journey began
because we were a family that couldn't be together,
we were a family that was for all intents and purposes
a crime that existed, me being the born
from my mother because of my father
was me being born a crime
and one of the biggest things
I connected with when reading about Goalkeepers
and learning about the organization
was the optimism,
was the ability to see what no one could see
at a time when no one should almost have the right to see it
and my mother was one of those people.
My mother's a beautiful, powerful woman
who endured a lot during her life.
We lived through apartheid in South Africa,
we lived through her going on to marry a man
who was extremely abusive, an alcoholic
and throughout all of that
the one thing that I always admired in my mom
was that she had the ability
to appreciate the reality
of the world she was in
but also optimistically pursue
the future that she wished to exist in
and that's for me what Goalkeepers is all about, optimism.
People always ask, they go is the world
going to be in a better place?
Is the world getting better
or is it getting worse.
Now, depending on who you ask
there will always be a different answer.
I've come to find one of the reasons
I believe the world is getting better
is because we have access to information
on how bad the world actually is
which I know is a strange thing to say
but that's honestly what I believe.
As a young person
and as someone who makes a show for young people,
one of the most powerful tools
I've realized is information.
We come from an age
where there was misinformation, disinformation
and there is some of it today
but now more than ever
young people communicate across borders,
across continents,
you see people in England and in America
and South Africa tweeting,
talking to people in Myanmar.
You see people speaking out about what they see happening
in Sudan, you see people commiserating
and sharing with victims of hurricanes
across the Caribbean
or across Texas
and whenever I look at that I go
it's one of the most powerful tools
that if harnessed correctly can lead
to a completely new way
that we communicate and that we change the world.
And young people are driven.
That's one of the most beautiful things I've realized
is that we live in a new age.
Millennials oftentimes are marked
as they're lazy, they believe that they're entitled
and they cry about small things
which is true but they're also driven,
they also wish to make a change,
they also believe that they can make a change.
I believe that information
and these tools that we possess today
have helped increase that.
More than ever we see that in America.
As the host of The Daily Show
I'm obviously in a world
where we comment on news and politics
and one thing I've noticed with my audience
is not only are young people growing
into the world of politics
but they're engaged, engaged in a way
that people were never engaged before,
engaged in a way where they understand
that they can actually change the course of history
as opposed to just being a part of it.
It's a beautiful experience
to see that's taking place across continents.
In my home country South Africa
we see the same thing,
young people standing up and saying
we don't accept the status quo,
we can change our destiny,
we can change the future,
we can be a part of this world
and essentially that's what's happening in America
right now, you feel it.
People always come up to me
and they go, Trevor, as the host of The Daily Show
how do you feel about Donald Trump?
I say well, I don't know how to feel about him
that's the honest truth.
He's a paradox for me emotionally.
One part of me is terrified
at the notion that he is president
of the most powerful nation of the world,
the other side of me knows
that every day he's going to make me laugh.
I cannot deny this.
The best way I can put it
is it's almost like there's a giant astroid headed
towards the Earth
but it's shaped like penis.
(laughing)
I think I'm gonna die
but I know I'm gonna laugh.
(laughing)
And this is a tough place to be in
because you have to process
the very real situation that you are in
and that is a dangerous one
but at the same time you can acknowledge
that when you laugh,
you're not controlled by fear
and that's something that I've always lived with
in my life, in my family.
My mother always said to me,
she said when we are laughing, we are not afraid.
When we are laughing
we are experiencing our truer selves.
It doesn't mean what I happening to us is not real
but it means that we can process
the very real world that is happening to us
and in many ways
I try and look at the positives.
People go, is the world getting better?
I go I believe it's always getting better
but in many ways the world is like the body.
You cannot see the change when you look at it
every single day
but if you take snapshots
you can see how things are getting better.
you can also see how some things are getting worse,
climate change is one of those
and that's where young people are stepping up
and saying hey, hurricanes are a good example,
the intensity of these once-in-a-lifetime events
has increased, maybe it's time to do something.
Young people are speaking up.
Donald Trump is doing that.
People are speaking up,
they're engaging like never before.
For the first time in history
we're living through a time period
where we're learning about the presidency
at the same time as the president
which is engaging people like never before.
You wake up, you read the newspaper
and you go I never knew this before
and somewhere at that exact same moment
the president is reading that same newspaper
saying the exact same thing
and that for me is exciting.
Is it scary?
Yes, but most exciting things are scary
but honestly, I saw it over the last few weeks
and I mean it's still unfolding now.
You have Hurricane Maria
which is wreaking havoc
and moving to Puerto Rico now
and we're seeing the devastation
but we've also seen the giving.
I was touched by how many people
even on our show reached out
and there is an opportunity
for everyone to become a goalkeeper
which is what excites me
and that is in this new world of technology
we have the opportunity
to engage with activists
on the ground level.
People often mock millennials and they say
these are hashtag activists
and I argue they're hashtag activists
until they're given the opportunity
to take it from a tweet
into the street and so I urge
every single one of you in this room
if you have the power, if you have the ability,
if you have the information or the knowledge,
take these people up on what they're offering.
They're energized,
they're optimistic,
they're powerful beyond all measure
and I'm proud to say that I am one of them,
I am a millennial
and by proxy I hope to be a goalkeeper.
Thank you very much for having me
and congratulations on everything today.
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