Growing up Palestinian | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation
Date and Time
Jul 1, 2024 6:00 pm
Location
450K
450 K St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
Jul 1, 2024 6:00 pm
450K
TASTING THE SKY
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is a complex one, at times as perplexing to adults as it is to children. But somewhere between the newscast sound bites and the impassioned political, religious and ideological debates lie the stories of real people, of those whose lives have been unalterably affected by the violence. One of those stories is that of Ibtisam Barakat.
Now a poet, educator and activist living in Missouri, Ibtisam was a child of three in the West Bank city of Ramallah when the Six-Day War of 1967 broke out between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Keeping a promise to herself not to forget, but instead to reach for the raft of remembering, in TASTING THE SKY, Ibtisam recalls those frightening days and their aftermath from the point of view of her childhood self. Following a harrowing flight from her home, during which young Ibtisam loses her shoes and becomes temporarily separated from her family, the Barakat family eventually find their way to Jordan, where they remain as refugees for more than four months. When they return to their shell-shocked, occupied Ramallah neighborhood, Ibtisam, her parents and her two older brothers must learn to navigate a new reality, gradually adjusting to life under a constant state of war.
The genius of Barakat's memoir is that, by couching it in the perspective of a very young child, she is able to convey intimate observations and astute insights without lecturing her readers. Instead, in this spare memoir, she gains readers' interest and sympathy by providing a glimpse into how families, especially children, cope with the realities of war, living in a near-constant state of fear but nevertheless finding ways from stealing a tray of pastries to caring for a baby goat to preserve childhood and family life. Realistic, tender, sympathetic stories like this are all too rare, but can be the most effective tools to raise awareness, engage dialogue and open hearts and minds to the views of others.
BALCONY ON THE MOON
Picking up where Ibtisam Barakat's first memoir, TASTING THE SKY, left off, BALCONY ON THE MOON follows her through her childhood and adolescence in Palestine from 1972-1981 in the aftermath of the Six-Day War. This memoir about pursuing dreams in the face of adversity chronicles Ibitsam's desire to be a writer and shows how she finds inspiration through writing letters to pen pals and from an adult who encourages her to keep at it. But the most surprising turn of all for Ibtisam happens when her mother decides that she would like to seek out an education, too. Enlightening and at times funny, BALCONY ON THE MOON is a not often depicted look at daily life in a politically tumultuous region.
Award-winning author Ibtisam Barakat is joining us on the Busboys stage to share more about her experiences growing up Palestinian and the themes of her memoirs: equality and human rights, the consequences of wars and racial division, and the global need for education for girls. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Barakat will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of TASTING THE SKY and BALCONY ON THE MOON will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
Ibtisam Barakat is an award-winning Palestinian-American author working in both English and Arabic. She grew up in Palestine and moved to America to build with her words and books, above the gap between East and West, literary bridges that are lit with timeless insights, passionate story telling, and unmatched artistry. Reviewers have called Ibtisam Barakat's work: "Riveting"; "genius"; "eloquent"; "timely"; "beautiful" and "highly recommended."
