Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American

Ali (The Domestic Crusaders), a New York Times contributing writer, pairs searing humor with personal experiences to address xenophobia in America. The son of Pakistani immigrants, Ali grew up in California’s Bay Area and here repurposes the racist insults he’s weathered all his life (the book’s title being a common refrain) to convey difficult truths about America. He uses the term “THE WHITENESS” to refer to both blatant and subtle forms of racism, and humorously compares trying to confront bigotry in the U.S. to an episode of The Twilight Zone, in which a plane passenger tries to warn others the plane is being attacked by goblins, only to be taken away in a straitjacket. Elsewhere, Ali reflects on the life-altering moment the Twin Towers fell, his first “political awakening,” while he was in college, and describes the impact of the media’s portrayal of Muslims as angry terrorists while arguing that, conversely, the top domestic terror threat that needs to be addressed in America is white supremacy. To capture the gravity of his subject, he shares a conversation with his father, who felt compelled to research safe places outside the U.S. for Muslims to live if Trump won the 2020 election. Though Ali fears such a place may not exist, he chooses to “invest in hope” for a more inclusive America. This rousing reflection will encourage readers to do the same. (Jan.)