Gratitude in Low Voices

Dawit Gebremichael Habte

Rosetta Books Hardcover $24.99 (280pp) 978-0-7953-5027-6

This book is a reaffirmation of the good that people can do and how one young man succeeded despite the odds against him.

Gratitude in Low Voices is an inspiring memoir by Dawit Gebremichael Habte, who poignantly portrays his childhood in Africa and his struggles as a refugee to the United States.

Habte was born in Eritrea, a country in eastern Africa bordering the Red Sea. Its citizens have long fought to maintain independence from Ethiopia, its large neighbor to the south. The abundant political history is detailed throughout, and this chaos of war is the eventual reason for Habte’s departure from his native country. The remainder of the book describes the strength, determination, and hard work it took to pursue educational goals in a foreign country, which ultimately included a degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a job offer from Michael Bloomberg.

Eritrean culture, history, and customs are explained in honest and forthright prose, with Habte’s personal life and family members serving as examples. One sister dies in a tragic accident in the mix, but Habte also recalls with humor another sister who was passed on to a higher grade in school because, as the teacher said, “she will break my chairs.”

This is inspirational work. Habte recognizes that at every turn in his life, others (or “angels without wings,” as he calls them) have been there to assist. He shares the backstories of