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In Breaking the Ocean, diversity and inclusion specialist Annahid Dashtgard addresses the long-term impacts of exile, immigration, and racism by offering a vulnerable, deeply personal account of her life and work.
Annahid Dashtgard was born into a supportive mixed-race family in 1970s Iran. Then came the 1979 Revolution, which ushered in a powerful and orthodox religious regime. Her family was forced to flee their homeland, immigrating to a small town in Alberta, Canada. As a young girl, Dashtgard was bullied, shunned, and ostracized both by her peers at school and adults in the community. Home offered little respite, with her parents embroiled in their own struggles, exposing the sharp contrasts between her British mother and Persian father.
Determined to break free from her past, Dashtgard created a new identity for herself as a driven young woman who found strength through political activism, eventually becoming a leader in the anti–corporate globalization movement of the late 1990s. But her unhealed trauma was re-activated following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Suffering burnout, Dashtgard checked out of her life and took the first steps towards personal healing, a journey that continues to this day.
Breaking the Ocean introduces a unique perspective on how racism and systemic discrimination result in emotional scarring and ongoing PTSD. It is a wake-up call to acknowledge our differences, addressing the universal questions of what it means to belong and ultimately what is required to create change in ourselves and in society.
“A profound and candid reflection on the realities of race today, Breaking the Ocean pulls no punches in calling out the power structures upholding racism. By sharing her life’s story, Annahid Dashtgard effectively examines the complex intersection of culture, class, and colour. As a mixed-race person, I found her story deeply resonant, and felt an immediate kinship with her and her loved ones.” — Waubgeshig Rice
“Breaking the Ocean is a deeply intimate and provocative memoir about the explorations of a young immigrant mixed-race woman trying to find her way to belonging through social change. A profound and important read at this time of the intersections of our struggles. We need more voices like hers.” — Judy Rebick
“A bold and intimate memoir about growing up mixed-race, overcoming adversities, and fighting for social change, Breaking the Ocean deftly illuminates the pain and loss of immigration and what it means to feel like you don’t belong. At its core, this is a book about trauma and resilience and the power of storytelling to heal and connect us all.” — Ayelet Tsabari
“A powerful memoir about the making of a leader and the rise of her passion for justice and equity. This is a stunning personal reflection on one woman’s growth to claim her own power and the dedication she makes to social change.” — Carrianne Leung
“Breaking the Ocean is unique in its generosity, looking to the past with a wholehearted anticipation for what can be retrieved in the present. It is deeply felt and striking in its clarity and relevance.” — Quill and Quire
“An incredibly rich personal reflection … [Breaking the Ocean] speaks boldly about identity, reinvention, trauma, burnout, and a continuous journey towards healing.” — Hamilton Review of Books
“This is a beautifully written, sensitive memoir fraught with painful memories but also touched by hope, an illuminating meditation on finding your own voice and identity in a new land.” — Booklist