Omar El Akkad addresses the question of 'Where's the Palestinian Martin Luther King?' in his new book, a poignant response to the situation in Gaza post-October 7, 2023. Through his essays, he sheds light on the complexities of Palestinian identity, the shortcomings of Western empathy, and the frustration of carrying an identity often met with skepticism. By stepping away from traditional journalistic norms, El Akkad articulates profound anger and sorrow over societal indifference, urging readers to rethink their passive attitudes towards suffering in distant lands.
The ugliness El Akkad describes is real and seems inescapable, too. Much of it is the unspeakable stuff nobody admits to but is clear to anyone who reads or observes: that once we're safe, our empathy is often performative.
El Akkad turns his back on journalistic neutrality and instead tells the world what's wrong as himself, processing all that he has seen and heard, conveying deep personal turmoil.
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