About Me — Razane Cherk

A bit late to the party, but here we go!

The author in Rome, July 2019, before “that which shall not be named” began.

People always ask me about my name when I introduce myself, so I thought I’d start this with an explanation.

My name comes from the Arabic word “al-razana” (الرزانة). Someone who has “razana” is calm, wise, and doesn’t make rash decisions. I don’t think I’ll ever live up to my name, being the outspoken feminist rebel I am, but I try…

My dad spelled my name wrong when he registered me. My mother still gives him crap for it. It’s very amusing.

There isn’t supposed to be an “e” at the end. And because of this mistake, I constantly have to deal with people calling me “Razan-ey.” Thanks, dad!

Jokes aside, I do have a lot to thank my dad for.

My background

I was born to Moroccan parents in Queens, New York. But there’s more to it and my story wouldn’t make sense without telling my father’s first.

My father traveled across Europe, at 18, trying to find a country to settle in and call home. But Europe wasn’t enough for him. “I wanted the American Dream,” he told me recently when recounting his life story. “I wanted to go on an adventure, and crossing the Atlantic seemed like the best way to get one.”