Mawi Asgedom

3.5 This book was recommended by my son's HS principal, so I was eager to check it out. It is an inspiring tale that broadens a world view and is uber-relevant today as a testimony to the immigrant experience. Mawi came to the US from Ethiopia -- remember "We are the World?" First his family (mother, sister and brother) spent 3 years in a refugee camp in Sudan when they left quickly to escape fighting between Eritrea and Ethiopia. His father had already departed to avoid military conscription. Miraculously the family was reunited and then accepted into the US when policy was more friendly to those in desperate need. They were settled in the white-collar suburb of Wheaton, IL and sponsored by a local church. There Mawi grew up with both opportunity and obstacles. The vast difference between his homeland and his new home in culture, climate and comportment was mind-boggling, though probably harder on his parents. Mawi experienced prejudice and bullying but was a formidable opponent when paired with his brother and their camp survival tactics. He also had some bad behavior choices, but nothing too far beyond the realm of boyish pranks and once he got serious about school and had some success he straightened out and set goals. His mantra: "Don't give up. You are smart enough. All you have to do is work hard and believe." (111) His father was very instrumental in promoting education and what was achievable in America, though he himself suffered many set-backs in his ability to assimilate. Sadly, both he and his older son were killed by drunk drivers on separate occasions -- a commentary perhaps on our country's hazards, but this was not pursued in the memoir. Instead Mawi anecdotally recounts how he adjusted to his new country and ultimately achieved a pinnacle of success: graduating from Harvard. His commencement address is also included here. The title refers to those Angels along the way that helped him and his family -- church members, teachers, volunteers, sponsors and the Beetles -- the lowlife feeling of not fitting in, of doubting yourself and not having your worth translated to a new land, once you are dispossessed of your native country. His father felt this acutely. It is a worthwhile read to gain some empathy and perspective on problems much bigger than what to have for dinner or what to wear or where to go to school. His inspirational reflection on his experience: "True power comes from focusing on what we can give, not just on what we take. Of the gifts that we can give, the greatest is to see beauty in each other -- in essence, to give beauty to each other. We we give that beauty, we prepare our hearts to receive it back." (134)… (lisätietoja)