I am Karim Shamsi-Basha, a Syrian American journalist, author, photographer and occasional stand-up comedian. My work has appeared in Southern Living, The New York Times and HuffPost, and my children’s book, The Cat Man of Aleppo, received a 2021 Caldecott Honor.

I started Arab in Alabama to share stories of family and culture, along with the quirks and prejudices of life in the Deep South.

This is a space to explore the past that shapes us, the challenges that teach us and the laughter that connects us. Through memoir-inspired essays and Syrian-Southern collisions, Arab in Alabama reveals the humanity we all share. Here, memory shares a table with heritage, family recipes sit next to family reckonings, and funny riffs soften the jagged edges of belonging.

You will find stories that are honest, humorous and sometimes messy — the way life really is when your identity refuses to be simple.

Subscribe, and new essays will land in your inbox weekly. I promise, you will see much of your own life here. If you like thoughtful storytelling and laugh-out-loud moments, welcome.

You’re at home here.