Immigration
Immigration is the book's central theme. All of the stories deal with the way in which different characters adjust to being in a new country. In "The Wall," a young boy works on developing his English as a means of better communicating with and befriending his classmates. In "A Down Home Meal for Difficult Times," two Ethiopian women, Jazarah and Yeshi, make a similar attempt to understand American culture by cooking recipes from an American cookbook. They develop a fondness for this food and eventually open a restaurant based on these dishes. Finally, the last story, "Swearing In, January 20, 2009," depicts one man's excitement about the inauguration of America's first Black president, as he feels it is a moment of celebration for Black individuals all over the country. In all of these stories, characters attempt to make sense of their new circumstances and new home.
Writing
Writing is an important theme in the story collection. The story "The Life and Times of a Little Manuscript & Anonymous" depicts two instances of writing having a significant impact on a character. In the first section, the narrator tells the story of an unassuming woman who writes an impassioned manuscript that inspires her readers to become politically active but also makes her a country-wide celebrity. She then writes another manuscript about the power of people to change the narrative of their country. People are shocked by the boldness of her claims and she loses all of her awards and acclaim. She is eventually driven out of her country. In the second section, a journalist drunkenly writes an honest story about the politics of his country and loses his job. In both stories, the characters use writing to express themselves with no inhibitions. In the first, it brings about change but then carries a significant blowback for the woman's life. In the second, the man is immediately fired for not toeing the newspaper's party line, and thus is silenced for speaking the truth about the function of power in their country. This story shows the power that these characters' writing has on their lives and the potential it has to alter the world around them.
Racism
Racism is a major theme throughout the story collection. In "Mekonnen aka Mack aka Huey Freakin' Newton," the narrator talks about the everyday insults he and his family experience in public. When he joins a student group, he learns more about racism in American history while also developing a sense of pride in his cultural identity. The story "The Elders" depicts the heinous aftermath of a hate crime, as a kind engineer is viciously murdered by a group of men in a Texas town. In "Sinkholes," a young African boy is implicitly asked to write a racial slur on the board during a school lesson about prejudice and hate speech. He refuses to do so and the teacher, who is white, eventually writes it herself. In all of these stories, the characters struggle with the hatred they encounter, as they are belittled and harmed because of the color of their skin.
Political Oppression
Political oppression is another key theme in the book. The stories "Kind Stranger" and "The Elders" both allude to the Derg, a period of political oppression in Ethiopia during which many people were imprisoned, tortured, and killed by the military dictatorship in power. Both of these stories mention the brutality of this era, emphasizing the role it played in compelling people to immigrate and escape the regime. These stories show how this sort of political oppression has far-reaching consequences for everyone in the country.
Language
Language is a major theme throughout the stories in the book. In the story "The Wall," a young boy practices his English with an older German man. The two strike up a friendship, and as the boy's English improves he is better able to communicate with his classmates. He eventually manages to make friends and becomes part of the social world of the school. At the same time, through the gradual practice of English over the course of several visits, the boy also becomes closer with the older man, as his increasing fluency allows him to better express his feelings. In this way, the book reveals how language opens doors for the narrator and gives him the ability to fit in more easily.
Food
Food is also a significant theme in the book. In the title story, "A Down Home Meal for These Difficult Times," Jazarah and Yeshi, the two main characters, cook comfort foods from an American cookbook during times of strife. They make these foods during personal crises, like the departure of one of their husbands or the illness of one of their children, as well as major world events, like the 2020 pandemic. With these home recipes they are able to find comfort amidst the challenges in their world. In this way, the book shows how essential food can be not only to finding a home in a new culture, but also to healing during moments of adversity.
Community
Community is a major theme in all of the stories in the collection. In "Mekonnen aka Mack aka Huey Freakin' Newton," the protagonist, Mekonnen, becomes involved in a student group and learns a great deal about Black history. The group gives him a sense of belonging and pride at school and helps him stand up for himself when he encounters prejudice out in the world. "Preludes" describes a small community in Rainier, Washington, as different immigrants attempt to support each other while dealing with the loss of homes, jobs, and money. In all of these stories, community is framed as essential, even if its existence is not always peaceful or easy. It allows the characters to be understood and cared for in the toughest moments of their lives.
