Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy’s Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard

To tell the story of the habesha, as the author states in the Introduction, is the primary motivation for writing this book. The refugee experience in the United States is misunderstood by the American population at large; Of Beetles and Angels elucidates at least one story of a refugee family’s hardship and struggle, in the name of helping the public gain a greater sense of empathy and understanding. 

Particularly in the opening chapters, Mawi makes clear that refugees are seen as “beetles” by most Americans. On the playground, Mawi is taunted by other children, who call him an “African boodie-scratcher” and “an ugly black donkey.” (34). These insults typify the deep-rooted prejudice some white Americans feel toward refugees and refugee communities.

However, this prejudice is not always a disadvantage, as shown when Haileab plays into the stereotype of a refugee, on page 124. In this section, Haileab is speaking in front of a judge, trying to defend two young habesha who have been arrested for wreckless driving. In order to get these two young habesha out of trouble, Haileab plays into the “pathetic foreigner” stereotype to drum up the judge’s sympathy: “X cues me, father. We are poor. You see me, I am disability” (124). 

Much of the dramatic tension in the book comes from the fact that the habesha refugees have led very different lives, prior to coming to America. Now reduced to “beetles,” it is easy to forget their “angel” pasts. Mawi, as he states in the Introduction, is set on making sure that the history of his people is known for many reasons, not least of which is simply because “it is important” (xii).  

At the heart of this story is the idea that education is a transformative power, one that can change the entire course of a person’s life. Harvard University, the pinnacle of academic achievement, is the goal, and Mawi builds his whole life around achieving that goal. 

As we see in both Haileab and Mawi’s lives, power and agency can be found in education, which brings about a rise in status for the both of them. For Haileab, teaching himself medicine was the key to going from penniless orphan to well-respected doctor; for Mawi, education uplifts him from ostracized refugee to author and Harvard graduate. 

If the desire for education is one force that propels Mawi forward in life, a strong, supportive community and appreciation for habesha cultural traditions is another. Despite having fled across an entire ocean to remove themselves from Africa, Mawi and his family still uphold the traditions and habesha values from their past. Injera bread and “coffee tales” are sources of comfort for Mawi and his family, and the family makes it a point to attend habesha conferences whenever possible. Upholding habesha tradition not only helps alleviate homesickness, it also instills a sense of humility in the family: “Growing up, I saw my parents welcome many guests into our home. It didn’t matter who the person was or how much they had. The poorest, most recently arrived refugee received the same welcome as the richest American. Sit down, please. Have some injera. Have something to drink. I used to think the whole world shared my parents’ philosophy. As I grew older, though, my eyes opened” (109). Habesha traditions empower Mawi as a way of remembering his roots.