When historians look back on our current era, they will likely characterize it as a time of massive movements of people. Whether this means families migrating for economic advancement, activists fleeing political violence or chaos, or refugees seeing harbour in environments that haven’t been affected yet by climate change, populations arriving in new lands create complex and often massively disperse diasporas. Diasporas cohere around a shared sense of identity, often a shared language and religion, but they are much more than that. Diasporas can nurture, educate, and create a sense of belonging and identity. But not everyone enjoys being a member of the group. How do we carry one culture over into our lives in the midst of another culture? How do artists in diaspora communities express this multiplicity of ideas and identities?

Drawing on their own rich and varied lives, travels and fiction, writers Zen Cho (Black Water Sister), Fonda Lee (Jade War), and Lavie Tidhar (The Escapement) discuss with Karen Lord (Unraveling) the themes of roots and diaspora, emigration and return. Given the many things that shape and define us –  place, family, history, and culture – where do we truly belong, and what is the meaning of “home”?

About this event’s guests:
Zen Cho
Fonda Lee
Lavie Tidhar
Karen Lord

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Toronto Public Library is committed to accessibility. Please call or email us if you are Deaf or have a disability and would like to request accommodation to participate in this program. Please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will do our best to meet your request. At least three weeks’ notice is preferred. Phone 416-393-7099 or email accessibleservices@tpl.ca

A Journey into Becoming: Diaspora, Return and Identity