Quite by accident, my daughter and I stumbled upon a PBS special; Evan Smith's interview with Helen Thorpe about her latest book. Our curiosity was piqued by topics that interested us both; education and refugees. My daughter promptly ordered a copy.
The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in An American Classroom, captures a microcosm of the refugee issue by observing and documenting a year in an ELL classroom in a Denver school. The main characters in her story are 22 students from 14 different countries learning English in an American classroom for the first time. Their stories are compelling.
Helen Thorpe's insight through long form journalism shifts the refugee crisis from a broad stroke political issue to a deeply individualistic and relational response that strikes at the heart of who we are as a nation. Her perspicacious observations are keenly noted in this quote.
I would even say that spending a year in Room 142 had allowed me to witness something as close to holy as I've seen take place between human beings. I could only wish that in time, more people would be able to look past their fear of the stranger and experience the wonder of getting to know people from other parts of the globe.
Helen Thorpe's book refutes the pervasive otherness of our current climate and gives voice to a muffled cry for open-handed generosity, compassion, and inclusion. Her writing reminds us that we collectively can do better and be better. It is definitely worth the read.
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