“I Am a Refugee Child”: Noma Dumezweni’s Hermione Moment

by · April 20, 2017

We all know that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child received copious honors at the recent Olivier Awards, but you may have missed Noma Dumezweni’s powerful acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress, in which she discussed coming to the UK as a refugee 40 years ago.

 

 

Dumezweni’s comments are significant in light of the ongoing Syrian Refugee Crisis, in which millions of Syrians have been displaced because of the ongoing conflict. Author J.K. Rowling has also been outspoken in her support of refugees, frequently re-tweeting the account of seven-year-old Bana Alabed over the past several months.

The resettlement of these refugees has been an issue of contention in countries all around the world, including, of course, the US and the UK. In her acceptance speech, Dumezweni reminds us of the human cost of both the Syrian conflict and the West’s failure to act. Hermione Granger couldn’t have done it better herself.

You can read the original article here.

Jessica J.

I've been making magic at MuggleNet since 2012, when I first joined the staff as a News intern. I've never wavered from the declaration in my childhood journal, circa October 2000: "I LOVE Harry Potter! If I clean my room, my mom says she'll make me a dinner a wizard would love!" Proud Gryffindor; don't hate.