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by Vicky Pinpin-Feinstein (Author)
"Simply outstanding in its scope and presentation, Beyond Fear and Suspicion should be required reading for all Americans - now, more than ever." - Midwest Book Review
"Vicky doesn't just tell these stories; she brings them to life, making you feel as if you're walking alongside each person as they navigate their new reality." - Aymen Tabir, Executive Director of Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International
What happens when a Filipino immigrant tries to know her Ethiopian neighbors? A journey through the heart of Little Ethiopia in a Washington, DC suburb, Beyond Fear and Suspicion: The New Americans in Little Ethiopia braids the stories of former refugees, asylum seekers, students, and diversity visa recipients through forced exits out of their native land, all while still reeling from the traumatic effects of wars, famine, and repressive regimes.
Returning to her DC area home after living in Sydney, Vicky Pinpin-Feinstein found that many Ethiopians had moved to the suburb of Silver Spring. In this enriching story of a Filipino American's curious desire to know these people living and working in what was once an iconic American hometown, fear and suspicion greeted her at every turn. But Vicky was determined. Traveling to Ethiopia, she discovered a fresh perspective on identity, belonging, and the labyrinthine workings of a people divided by ethnicity, politics, and trauma.
Beyond Fear and Suspicion: The New Americans in Little Ethiopia chronicles the connections and tensions between "others" struggling to find their way in, illuminates the often-shifting ground of who and what is an American in the 21st century, and reveals the emotional truths behind their courage, redemption, persistence, and hope.
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"Vicky Pinpin-Feinstein's approach to news gathering and poetry captures the sensitivity and nuance in the depths of human experience...each story is compelling and unique. The pace is lyrically steady... the characters are alive, and their voices echo long after the last page." - Readers' Favorite
"Readers learn of the rich cultural legacy that unites many Ethiopians throughout the diaspora; the author also explores complex questions of identity among refugees as they grapple with America's unique racial dynamics and increasingly anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies ... An informative and impassioned primer on America's growing Ethiopian community." - Kirkus
