Those We Throw Away Are Diamonds by Mondiant Dogon

Rarely do refugees get to tell their own stories. Though he hid his status from his fellow students out of shame, eventually he would emerge as an advocate for his people. Yet Dogon managed to be one of the few refugees he knew to go to college. He fled back to Congo in search of the better life that had been lost, but there he was imprisoned and left without any option but to become a child soldier.įor most refugees, the camp starts as an oasis but soon becomes quicksand, impossible to leave.

For much of his life, Dogon and his family ate barely enough to keep themselves from starving. Even though Rwanda famously has a former refugee for a president in Paul Kagame, refugees in that country face enormous prejudice and acute want. Hideous violence stalked them in the camps. But their search for a safe haven had just begun.

They made their way to the first of several UN tent cities in which they would spend decades. Dogon’s family fled into the forest, initiating a long and dangerous journey into Rwanda. One day when Mondiant Dogon, a Bagogwe Tutsi born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was only three years old, his father’s lifelong friend, a Hutu man, came to their home with a machete in his hand and warned the family they were to be killed within hours. Named a Best Nonfiction Book of 2021 by KirkusĪ stunning and heartbreaking lens on the global refugee crisis, from a man who faced the very worst of humanity and survived to advocate for displaced people around the world.If you cannot make the event but would like a signed book from Mondiant Dogon, order it below by April 12th and include the name of the person you would like the book inscribed to in the 'order comments' when checking out.Ī New York TimesBook Review Editors' Choice The first 30 people who sign up for this event will receive a free copy of THOSE WE THROW AWAY ARE DIAMONDS generously donated by the Kinney family. Must be present at the event to receive your copy. Register to attend this free event below.

The book is a stunning and heartbreaking take on the global refugee crisis, from a man who faced the very worst of humanity and survived to advocate for displaced people around the world. During the event Mondiant and Julie will discuss the book, answer questions, followed by a signing. Join us in welcoming human rights activist and refugee ambassador Mondiant Dogon to our Second Story event space to discuss his powerful memoir, THOSE WE THROW AWAY ARE DIAMONDS, with Julie Kinney, co-owner of An Unlikely Story.

Those We Throw Away Are Diamonds by Mondiant Dogon