Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami offers a compelling exploration of the complex dynamics of identity and belonging in America. Lalami skillfully weaves together personal anecdotes, historical context, and astute analysis to illuminate the challenges faced by those who navigate the intricate web of citizenship and belonging in a country often characterized by its diversity yet plagued by systemic inequalities.

One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to prompt deep reflection on what it means to be a citizen in contemporary America. Lalami does not shy away from addressing uncomfortable truths about discrimination, marginalization, and the erosion of civil liberties faced by certain groups within society. Her nuanced examination encourages readers to confront the realities of privilege and power dynamics, fostering important conversations about social justice and equity.

Moreover, Lalami's writing is both eloquent and accessible, making the book engaging for a wide audience. Whether discussing immigration policy, racial identity, or the intersection of class and citizenship, she deftly navigates complex topics with clarity and insight. Readers will find themselves drawn into her narrative, compelled to consider their own roles within the broader framework of American society.

While Conditional Citizens offers invaluable perspectives on the challenges of belonging in America, some readers may find themselves wishing for more concrete solutions or actionable steps for addressing the issues raised. Lalami's analysis is thorough, but the book occasionally lacks a clear roadmap for effecting meaningful change. Nevertheless, its thought-provoking content and eloquent prose make it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of citizenship and identity in the United States.

Laila Lalami, author of excellent novels including The Other Americans, The Moor's Account, and my favorite, Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, offers up this beautifully written and precise set of non-fiction essays about identity, citizenship, and race, and how Western society and its valuing of whiteness has influenced how marginalized individuals lose access to claiming their own identities and basic rights. Lalami covers so much in this important collection related to equality and power. And, as Lalami herself states, “It is because I love America that I cannot be quiet about her faults. The price of my belonging cannot be my silence.”

My starred review of the audiobook for Booklist is here: https://www.booklistonline.com/Conditional-Citizens-On-Belonging-in-America-/pid=9740353

The review was also cross-posted to Smithsonian BookDragon: http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/conditional-citizens-on-belonging-in-america-by-laila-lalami-in-booklist/

Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami
Rating 5 / 5 Stars
Publication Date - 9/22/2020

** Thank you to Netgalley, Pantheon Books, and of course, Laila Lalami, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

IF I COULD GIVE THIS MORE THAN 5 STARS I WOULD!

Ok, now that that is out in the open - Conditional Citizens is a series of essays focused on the meaning behind being American. For many, even once you are naturalized at the conclusion of the immigration process - the question of where do you belong in the thread of America comes to the surface. “Not looking American” is a basis for this - however, what does that mean in a land of immigrants?

“My whole life has been lived in-between -- in between languages, in between cultures, in between countries ... My life resisted the kind of easy categories that the head of state had outlined for everyone. Surely, I told myself, a nation was a community, with views that are by necessity different, often divergent, and occasionally contradictory. Surely, true allegiance meant speaking up when something wasn't right.”

This book is a must-read for understanding the patchwork of America. I am glad I was able to read this as my first read in 2021. Lalami shares her personal experiences as a naturalized citizen. While the topics are topics that have been discussed on a regular, the way they are framed and written about here is impeccable. I will be re-reading this in the future - because the question is - what does it truly mean to belong?

5 stars

This is a succinct but riveting collection of essays centered on - as the title suggests - what Lalami argues is conditional citizenship in the U.S. I especially like how the sense of conditionality runs through so many different identities and iterations here; the overarching impact is that this is a well-rounded and thoughtful discussion.

As a die hard fan of Lalami's fiction, I came into these essays hopeful but untested. These are powerful, and I recommend them highly.

A must-read! I ended up listening to this one on audio, and Lalami's narration of her own book is wonderful. Much of the information was not *new* to me, but I did learn a lot about Muslim history and the experience of Arabs in the United States. I feel like a lot of my knowledge about race and immigration in the U.S. is not centered on Arabs, and I really appreciated Lalami's perspective. I can't wait to read her novels now.

This book is a collection of essays by Laila Lalami, author of acclaimed novels The Other Americans and The Moor's Account. These essays are part-memoir/part-social critique of the United States's immigration system. Primarily, it is about the way that new citizens, although legally naturalized, do not enjoy the full benefits of American residency due to racial profiling, travel bans implemented by several administrations, and the high expectation of perfect assimilation into white American culture. These essays have appeared in various publications, and together as a book felt slightly disjointed.