Mo Amer on Immigration, Palestine, and Reppin H-Town
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By digging in with Mo creator and star Mo Amer on his touching and hilarious portrayal of a Palestinian family seeking asylum in Houston, Texas, this episode answers the question, “What do we gain from portraying the immigrant experience with honesty and levity?”
Episode Description
Comedian, writer and actor Mo Amer joins host Gabe González to talk about his Peabody-award winning show Mo. The show is a heartfelt yet hilarious glimpse into the lives of a Palestinian-American family waiting to be granted asylum in the US. The show explores grief, trauma, and our complicated immigration system while also depicting Amer’s deep love of his hometown, Houston, Texas. They talk about Amer’s comedy roots, his personal experiences as a refugee as well as writing season 2 of his show in the wake of October 7th and its aftermath. Following their conversation, Gabe considers broader questions of immigration and its representation on TV with Saket Soni, a labor organizer and human rights strategist working at the intersection of racial justice, migrant rights, and climate change.