Columns | Invisible History

Why My Father Could Not Embrace His Name

From his youth until late in life he was able to “pass,” his heritage all but invisible until he mentioned his name.

This is Invisible History, a column in which Lauren Alwan chronicles family stories of heritage and belonging and the complexities of her bicultural experience.

The author’s father, Muneef Alwan, age 15

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Muneef Alwan with his mother, Fausya, in 1944 

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Lauren Alwan’s essay is included in the anthology published by Catapult in February 2020.