Kanazi Palestinian Identity

The poem “Palestinian Identity” by Remi Kanazi recounts a continuous theme of Palestinians struggling to find and understand their identity from a place they are so physically isolated and apart from. Kanazi was born and grew up in America so for Palestinians that are able to be connect to their identity through their land and memories of it, Kanazi did not have that opportunity. He states “growing up in American society I conformed to the mentality” (line5-6) of watching “MTV” and envying people “who drove Mercedes” (line7-9). He starts the poem informing people of how he grew up American, he was forced to conform to an American identity due to his “little knowledge” (line 3) of what it actually meant to be Palestinian. However, the fact
Many times when these exiled Palestinians are so drawn away from Palestine and the land, they start feeling a sense of guilt and it can be argued that this guilt is seen in Kanazi as he writes “I asked the question quietly as my relatives suffered fighting oppression in Mideast countries” (line 26-28). A part of the Palestinian identity is shaped through the oppression they face, and when fighting against the oppression the Palestinian nationalism tends to strengthen. This can be the root of the guilt Kanazi is feeling because how can he be expected to have and maintain a Palestinian identity when he is not in Palestinian suffering and fighting like all the others. So then the word choice of asking himself “quietly” about his Palestinian identity can show the shame in not knowing who he is. Also, not being able to put himself in the category of “Palestinian,” when he himself is unsure if he fits what it means to be Palestinian. Also, in terms of word choice Kanazi repeats the word “autonomy” three times throughout the