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Suheir Hammad

スヒール・ハマッド

Suheir Hammad

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1973-10-25 （Amman, Jordan）
Nationality
American
Languages
English, Arabic
Religion
Islam
Residence History
Brooklyn, New York City - childhood onward → Staten Island, New York City - family residence

Career

Occupations
poet, author, political activist, actor, playwright
Active Years
1994-
Influenced By
Russell Simmons, Brooklyn hip-hop culture

Awards

Audre Lorde Writing Award
1995
Organization: Hunter College
Result: 受賞
Audre Lorde Writing Award
2000
Organization: Hunter College
Result: 受賞
Morris Center for Healing Poetry Award
1996
Organization: Morris Center
Result: 受賞
New York Mills Artist Residency
1998
Organization: New York Mills
Result: レジデンシー
Van Lier Fellowship
1999
Organization: Van Lier Program
Result: 受賞
Emerging Artist Award, Asian/Pacific/American Studies Institute at NYU
2001
Organization: Asian/Pacific/American Studies Institute at NYU
Result: 受賞
Tony Award (Special Theatrical Event)
2003
Work: Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam on Broadway (original cast member and writer)
Category: Special Theatrical Event
Organization: Tony Awards
Result: 受賞（オリジナルキャストの一員として）
Peabody Award (associated)
2003
Work: Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry (talent associate)
Organization: Peabody Awards / HBO
Result: 関与
American Book Awards
2009
Work: Breaking Poems
Organization: Before Columbus Foundation
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Born Palestinian, Born Black

1996 Poetry

A debut collection exploring Palestinian-American identity, immigration, and solidarity with Black struggles; characterized by spoken-word rhythms and the intertwining of political and personal memory.

identitydiasporasolidarityrace and oppression

Drops of This Story

1996 Poetry

A collection of fragmentary poems built on strong imagery; deals with dispersed memories and personal and collective trauma.

memorytraumaimmigrant experience

Zaatar Diva

2006 Poetry/Prose

Work that weaves cultural roots, femininity, and political themes; presents a clear Arab-American perspective.

homefemininitycultural identity

Breaking Poems

2008 Poetry

A collection containing spiritual elements and political messaging; many poems have a colloquial, powerful performance quality.

resistancespiritualityfemale perspectives

Bibliography

  • Born Palestinian, Born Black (1996)
  • Drops of This Story (1996)
  • Zaatar Diva (2006)
  • Breaking Poems (2008)

Adaptations

  • Salt of this Sea (film, 2008) – role: Soraya
  • Into Egypt (short film, 2011) – writer and performer
  • Lest We Forget (2003) – narrator
  • The Fourth World War (2004) – narrator

Style & Themes

Literary Style
spoken-wordhip-hop-influenced rhythmic deliverydirect and forceful expression
Recurring Motifs
dispossession and diasporaloss of homelandfemale perspective and feminismresistance and solidarity

Legacy

Suheir Hammad is known as an Arab-American poet whose work addresses immigration, diaspora, gender, and political resistance. Her blend of spoken-word and hip-hop performance has influenced contemporaneous poets and cultural movements.

In Popular Culture

  • Appearances on HBO's Def Poetry Jam (stage and television)
  • TEDWomen 2010 talk and poetry performance

Quotes

  • An excerpt from "First Writing Since," a piece that captures the visceral reaction to 9/11.
    Source: In Motion Magazine (text: "First Writing Since") (2001)

Trivia

  • Born in Amman in 1973 and moved to Brooklyn with her family at age five.
  • Strongly influenced by Brooklyn's hip-hop scene during her youth.
  • Was part of the original cast and writers for Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, which won a Tony in 2003.
  • Appeared as an actor in the film Salt of this Sea (2008).