Immigrant Stories

Hadero explores immigration throughout the collection, primarily looking at the experiences of Ethiopian immigrants to America. Both “The Wall” and “Mekonnen aka Mack aka Huey Freakin' Newton” feature Ethiopian immigrant children who are adjusting to a new life in a new country, with the latter exploring in detail how African immigrants must learn about racism when they arrive. In that story, Mekonnen's parents do not understand race or racism, so Mekonnen must learn about it on the streets. Both young immigrant characters deal with feelings of loneliness and isolation, as they are different from their peers. Mekonnen finds kinship with the African American All-Stars, but even here, he is treated differently, as Kareem questions his authenticity and commitment to racial activism. In “The Wall,” the unnamed narrator develops a friendship with an older German immigrant named Herr Weill. It is a vital connection for the...