Publication Launch: Until I Return–The Selected Plays of Ismail Khalidi

Mizna celebrates the publication of Until I Return—The Selected Plays of Ismail Khalidi with an event in Minneapolis on June 3 at 7pm (doors 6:30pm) at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. Khalidi will read an excerpt from his play “Foot,” which was originally published in Mizna 6.2 (2004) and is currently touring in Spain. Notable scholar and activist Sima Shakhsari will then be in conversation with Khalidi about his work and the current political moment.

From Bloomsbury: 

With compelling characters, engaging storytelling, quick-witted humor, and unwavering political commitment, Khalidi has entertained and informed audiences in America and around the globe, providing diverse perspectives on the Palestinian experience from the British Mandate era to the challenges faced under occupation today.

This new collection spans Khalidi’s career, featuring both his early monodramas and never-before-published new plays. An essential intervention in academic and artistic discourses that often overlook or marginalize Palestinian and Arab voices, Khalidi’s work proves him to be an influential figure on an international scale, bridging the Americas and the Middle East.

Ismail Khalidi’s writing has appeared in the Mizna lit journal over the years. He conceived of and guest-edited Mizna 19.2, The Palestine Issue in 2018, commemorating seventy years since the Nakba and the colonization of Palestine. Khalidi also wrote a searing and timely essay that launched Mizna Online in October 2023, “The Bringers of Violence.” We are pleased to host this evening marking Khalidi’s important collection.

Join us for this free, stimulating evening; copies of Until I Return will be available for purchase and signing. All proceeds will go to supporting Middle East Children’s Alliance Gaza relief work.

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