Looking for Palestine

More about the book

A frank and entertaining memoir from the daughter of Edward Said, this narrative explores the complexities of growing up as a second-generation Arab American. Najla Said, raised in New York City by a prominent Palestinian father and a sophisticated Lebanese mother, grappled with her cultural identity amidst a world defined by class and conformity. While her parents held a deep connection to their homelands, Said felt uncertain about her own identity and often denied the differences she perceived between her family and those around them. The prominence of her father, the intellectual and Palestinian advocate Edward Said, added to her struggles. Although she was born a Palestinian Lebanese American, her upbringing led her to initially identify as a WASP, having been baptized Episcopalian and attending an elite girls' school. As a teenager, she even distanced herself from her roots, which took a psychological toll on her health. However, her perspective began to shift with visits to Palestine and Beirut, and the impact of the World Trade Center attacks forced her to confront her identity more honestly. Today, she stands as a significant voice for second-generation Arab Americans across the nation.