Thread by @bnashat

A #THREAD on #refugee and #migrant #fiction, #storytelling and reality: I finished reading #AmericanDirt by @jeaninecummins and it touched me. And I read some of the criticism and can empathise with the fact that voices from Latino writers struggle to be heard. /1

But it strikes me as a typical "AND" rather than a "BUT" argument. In my work with @save_children I've met and listened to the stories of so many refugees and their children in the last ten years in many different countries. /2

Most of them want their story to be heard and told, by anyone who is listening. In our work, we try to give children and their families a voice. /3

In 2016 we told the stories of #Syrian families who had made it to #Germany and with partners were able to get an audience of millions to watch the short videos. mashable.com/2016/09/14/ref… /4

I remember speaking to a Syrian woman together with then CEO of @SavetheChildren, Carolyn Miles. And the woman started crying. We asked her why and she said "I'm just so happy that someone is listening and will tell my story!". /5

But the reality of #refugee and #migrant plight, their strength and their humanity does not always find a big audience. Or it fades quickly like it did in Germany after the "welcome culture" in 2015. /6

We need to acknowledge and celebrate fiction and stories about migrants and refugees much more, from anyone who is breaking through to a big mainstream audience! /7

As @Elif_Safak reminds us "Stories rehumanize those who have been dehumanized. They help us to understand that there is no “us” versus “them”, and that “The Other” is, in fact, my brother, my sister; the other is me." /8

We need more stories about the experience of fleeing the town and people you love and bringing together "origin" as the place you were born and the place you now belong to like in @sasa_s writing. /9

We need more stories like the ones that @khaledhosseini has been telling us that humanise "the other" people, their values, and their cultures. /10

We need more like #MohsinHamid's Exit West which tells us about the Syrian Civil War through the lens of a love affair between two people. /11

We need more stories in which the ones who are left behind and mistreated by society are as strong as in many of @elifshafak own books. /12

And lastly, once we've empathised with stories about "the other", we need to take action against policies that harm children, and speak out against family separation in ICE detention @SCActionNetwork @SavetheChildren savethechildrenactionnetwork.org/actions/speak-… /13

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