A Palestinian Girlhood. The Memoir of Terry Ahwal, "Keeping the Dream Alive."

StocktonAfterClass

For those of you who have never had the privilege of having a Palestinian friend, this memoir will give you one. Terry grew up in Ramalla, a famous city about 9 miles north of Jerusalem. Hers was a life filled with parents, grandparents, sisters, and friends. Terry was a tomboy. How could she leave for church on Sunday morning in her sparkling dress and arrive at church, two blocks away, covered with dust? Did it have something to do with soccet or maybe playing marbles or climbing trees? Hers was a wonderful life for ten years until 1967 when the Israeli army arrived and everything changed. She still remembers the seven days of bombardment with distress. Some of her personal stories will touch you.
By the time Terry was 14 her parents decided she was entirely too outspoken and would sooner or later end up in trouble. They sent her to live with relatives in Livonia, Michigan.
Terry discusses her adjustment to American society, her early steps getting into civic volunteerism, her role in resisting anti-Arab and anti-Muslim stereotyping, and finally her role as an advisor to top political leaders in the Detroit area.
She finishes up with a discussion of how she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro at the age of 65 to make a film on women's empowerment.
Hint: You might want to turn up the volume. I was close to the microphone but Terry was in a chair, not so close.