"A candid, inspiring memoir of cultural and historical importance.”
—Michael R. Bloomberg, Former Mayor of New York City
NEW YORK, April 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U.S. immigration policy is at a crossroads. Our tradition of being a safe haven for all is pitted against our emotionally charged desire to secure our borders. How this country views outsiders in the 21st century will determine whether we help or turn away those who land on our doorstep. In his debut memoir Gratitude in Low Voices (RosettaBooks; April 18, 2017; Hardcover $24.99), Dawit Gebremichael Habte chronicles his emotional journey from war-torn Eritrea to Kenya to asylum in the U.S.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6cc1d577-438a-4c3f-9732-7123d1b8800a
Despite impossible odds, and with the help of “angels without wings,” Dawit’s resilience, positive attitude and work ethic helped him find a new purpose in an unfamiliar land. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University and secured a job as a software engineer at Bloomberg, after which, with the support of Michael Bloomberg himself, Dawit returned to his homeland to offer business opportunities for other Eritreans. Dawit found a way to contribute to his ancestral land’s struggle to emerge from thirty years of debilitating war. Beautifully written, Gratitude in Low Voices is a moving, intimate portrait with a powerful political message.
In Gratitude in Low Voices, readers learn the history and culture of an often-neglected African nation, Eritrea, from Dawit’s insider point of view. Dawit fled his homeland of Eritrea as a teenager, and in the midst of the ongoing Eritrean independence war against Ethiopia, he and his sisters crossed illegally into Kenya. They embarked on their passage without their parents, or any official documents to help them. They experienced the abuse and neglect known by so many refugees around the world, but Dawit refused to give up. To this day, Dawit says, “As long as we can see behind the horizon, we’ll be fine.” His message, rich in redemption and hope, speaks to crucial, timely issues including:
- The urgent need for Americans to be more compassionate in the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis.
- The truth about some of America’s misguided foreign policies in Africa.
- The negative impact of U.S. foreign policies in Eritrea and elsewhere in Africa, where American taxpayers’ money has been used to fund the other side of the warring factions. As a result, Dawit lost his childhood friends and is left with a handicapped younger sister.
- The forces that prompt people to abandon their ancestral homes and the dreams that send them in search of better lives.
- The importance of encouraging first-generation immigrant youths and their families to strive, regardless of how dim and impossible their dreams may seem at times.
- Honoring those who help the helpless.
Gratitude in Low Voices is a unique, first-hand account of cultural lineage, revolutionary awakening and dogged determination. It’s about documenting and preserving the histories of individuals from all parts of the world in order to establish and build connections between people. It’s about teaching the importance of listening and reminding us that everyone’s story matters. The life of a refugee is hard, and the lives of those in war-town lands are harder still. This book reminds us that all hope is not lost.
About the Author: Dawit Gebremichael Habte is an Eritrean American, father, husband, software engineer, and author of Gratitude in Low Voices: A Memoir. Raised in a tiny village just south of Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, Dawit fled to Kenya as a teenager and sought asylum in the United States. He has been featured in USA Today, New York Times, and Johns Hopkins Gazette and has written for Dahai, Madot, Tesfa News―Eritrean publications. He lives in Maryland with his wife and five children and works for Bloomberg. For more information please visit http://www.gratitudeinlowvoices.com.