Behold the Dreamers

By: Imbolo Mbue

Although this story of an immigrant family from Camaroon is set in 2008, reading it now is so very relevant. To have empathy for those desperate for a better life for their children and to know their struggles and sacrifices is key if we are to have any chance of reforming our immigration policies. Let’s make the golden rule popular again… Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!

“Even when Bubakar asked about Neni and Liomi and tried to make small talk about life as a chauffeur, Jende could tell the man was merely sterilizing a spot on his heart so he could inject painful words.” p56

“Around him tourists and New Yorkers chatted or ignored each other, everyone enfolded in their joys and sorrows and apathies.” p70

“There was much to do in the city, and yet the desperation remained among many to be out of it, to be in a place where the mission was pleasure and not endurance, to sit where the air moved without burden and the water went on for thousands of miles…” p108

“They had called an abomination upon their land by worshiping idols and enslaving their fellow humas, all so they could live in splendor. They had chosen riches over righteousness, rapaciousness over justice.” p185

“The kinds of marraiges people have in this country, Bo, very strange. It’s not like back home where a man can do as he sees fit and a woman follows him. Over here it’s reversed. Women tell their men what they want and the men do it, becuase they say happy wife, happy life. This society is funny.” p199

“I wonder what happened. You think maybe she put a few drops of love potion in his food? The really strong one that makes a man fall for you and treat you like a queen?” - “American women do not use love potions.” - “That’s what you think?” - “They use it, oh. They call it lingerie.” p211

“To be sitting at home jobless seemed the worst punishment of all. The idleness. The wrothlessness. Watching television when others were at work felt completely profane - it was what little children and old people and sick people did, not able men.” p257

“…she hugged his bloodied and puffy body and cried so hard she feared she would use up all the water and strength in her body. It’s over, the women in the room said to her, what are you still crying for? But she knew it wasn’t over, and the women knew that, too. It was only the beginning of far more pains, but it would all be worth it as long as at the end of the day her baby was alive and well and she could look into his eyes and see what a wonderful, wonderful gift she’d been given.” p326

“Guess what, he would say to her in mock instruction, America is not all that; this country is full of lies and people who like to hear lies. If you want to know the truth I’ll tell you the truth: This country no longer has room for people like us.” p132