Entertainment is often a softer introduction to difficult discussions. In many instances a comedian is given the opportunity to place challenging content into perspective.
Mo Amer could be considered controversial, but the reality is he is only himself. The Palestinian-American, Houston based comic has risen to fame as many comedians do, discussing his life. His success led to the creation of the Netflix show “Mo”. The second season of the series (also the final season) is an absolute masterclass in gaining insight into the irrational treatment of immigrants in the U.S.
Season 2 of Mo on Netflix might be the most important cultural moment in understanding the complete absurdity of how the U.S. functions in its indiscriminate deportation practices. What’s even more disheartening and frustrating is waking up to stories like Dr. Rasha Alawieh.
Dr. Rasha Alawieh is a kidney specialist who did a fellowship at the Ohio State University’s medical school from 2018-20. Alawieh had been working at Brown University in Providence since July, according to the Providence Journal, a USA TODAY Network newspaper in Rhode Island. – Andy Rose, CNN
While the series on Netflix is entertainment and by no means should it be conflated or considered diminishing the importance of Dr. Alawieh’s situation, the finale of the series and moments throughout the short season touches the soul of humanity.
This post was initially going to connect to Season’s 1 and 2 and keep the discussion rooted in sneaker culture, as I attempt to do in many of my cultural posts. This was not a difficult position to write about as Mo’s character’s comedic position is rooted in his involvement in selling bootleg luxury products and his best friend in the show is artist Tobe Nwigwe, who has a collaboration with Reebok; but once I completed Season 2 and woke up this morning to find this story on Dr. Alawieh, the overwhelming feeling of fear for my own friends who could encounter issues moved me towards introducing you to this real-life version of Mo Season 2 happening right now.
The Providence Journal reported that Alawieh, 34, worked at Rhode Island Hospital with kidney transplant recipients, evaluating patients at multiple stages of their procedures.
She had recently attained from the American consulate in Lebanon an H-1B visa, a category for foreign nationals with extensive training in specialty fields that allowed her to be in the U.S. through mid-2027. That’s according to one of her colleagues and Thomas S. Brown, an attorney who handles immigration and visa issues for doctors affiliated with Brown Medicine who spoke with the Providence Journal.
Attorney Brown said Alawieh had the correct visa and passport: “She was clear to return,” he told the Providence Journal. – Anna Lynn Winfrey, Columbus Dispatch
