First, They Erased Our Name

A Rohingya Speaks

De: Habiburahman, Sophie Ansel - contributor

Narrado por: Sunil Malhotra

“I am three years old and will have to grow up with the hostility of others. I am already an outlaw in my own country, an outlaw in the world. I am three years old, and I don’t yet know that I am stateless.”

Habiburahman was born in 1979 and raised in a small village in western Burma. When he was three years old, the country’s military leader declared that his people, the Rohingya, were not one of the 135 recognized ethnic groups that formed the eight “national races.” He was left stateless in his own country.

Since 1982, millions of Rohingya have had to flee their homes as a result of extreme prejudice and persecution. In 2016 and 2017, the government intensified the process of ethnic cleansing, and over 700,000 Rohingya people were forced to cross the border into Bangladesh.

Here, for the first time, a Rohingya speaks up to expose the truth behind this global humanitarian crisis. Through the eyes of a child, we learn about the historic persecution of the Rohingya people and witness the violence Habiburahman endured throughout his life until he escaped the country in 2000.

First, They Erased Our Name is an urgent, moving memoir about what it feels like to be repressed in one’s own country and a refugee in others. It gives voice to the voiceless.

©2018 by Habiburahman and Sophie Ansel. Translation © 2019 by Andrea Reece (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

The atrocities

Detailed description of life in Myanmar for the Rohingya people and the author’s attempts at escape as well as his journey through Southeast Asia searching for safety.

A must read!

My heart aches for Rohingya people and really hope that there's justice and Equality for them.

4 stars

This book talks about the Rohingya people through the eyes of a man who is from the minority Burmese natives that are highly oppressed people. He tells his story about his struggles growing up and the lack of opportunities given to him as in his country he is considered "black" and not important or worthy of much. He endured slavery in Thailand as well as other situations. It is nice to finally read a book by a Rohingya. It was really well written, though definitely not completely a happy ending since so many of these people are being killed and enslaved in Myanmar, Thailand, and other countries.

When the world doesn't want you to exist

This is an incredible story of human perseverance in the face of extreme prejudice. The narration is also excellent.