Home in Dialogue: Khuê Phạm and Deniz Utlu illuminate belonging”

Home in Dialogue: Khuê Phạm and Deniz Utlu illuminate belonging”

On September 30, 2025, an important dialogue on the topic of home and belonging took place in the Humboldt Library. Khuê Phạm, a ZEIT journalist and author who grew up in Reinickendorf, and Deniz Utlu, an award-winning writer, discussed their experiences and the importance of communities for the personal sense of belonging. The reading entitled “I am writing to you while flying above the clouds at 800 kilometers per hour” attracted numerous interested parties and offered a space for deep reflections on childhood experiences and the feeling of security that one's own home provides.

Organized as part of Democracy Month 2025, entry to the reading was free. This made it easier for all citizens to access literary and cultural content. Khuê Phạm is known not only for her work about immigrant children, such as in the book “We New Germans” (2012), but also for her debut novel “Wherever You Are,” which is heavily inspired by her Vietnamese heritage. The fact that her work has already been adapted as dance theater and will appear internationally in 2024 as “Brothers and Ghosts” also contributes to her versatility.

Community and identity

The discussion at the reading reflected the central themes of migration and identity formation. Especially at a time when many people have to leave their homeland due to migration and flight, the question of belonging is becoming increasingly important. In this context, the role of communities as supportive networks that can give people a feeling of security and identity is discussed. In their contributions, Khuê Phạm and Deniz Utlu discussed how the experiences of migrants and refugees impact their identity and how the social, political and cultural factors in the host country play a decisive role.

As research shows, many migrants experience an identity change that has both positive and negative aspects. German migration literature increasingly deals with these topics and offers insights into the realities of those affected. The historical context of migration in Germany - starting in the 1950s through to the refugee crises of the last few decades - is increasingly being processed and explored in literary works.

Literary perspectives

Deniz Utlu, who was born in Hanover in 1983 and writes eloquently about social issues, is also a representative of this literary movement. His works, including the novels “Against Tomorrow” and “The Unheld,” address the complex aspects of life as a migrant and the challenges that come with it. Utlu is not only dedicated to literature, but also actively involved in teaching literary content in educational institutions. His jury work and the organization of literary events also help to raise awareness of these important questions.

In summary, it can be said that the reading by Khuê Phạm and Deniz Utlu was not only a literary event, but also offered a platform for exchange about identity, migration and attachment to home. Given the increasing diversity in society, these topics are more relevant than ever and will continue to be supported by literature and dialogue.

For more information about the event and the work of Khuê Phạm and Deniz Utlu, visit the website of Berlin.de, Democracy Day and Academia.edu.