See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love

As a member of the Sikh community living in post-9/11 America, Kaur’s novel instructs readers on how to wonder about others, how to grieve with others, and how to fight for others. This advice stems from the hate crimes Kaur and her community experienced after 9/11 and applies to how marginalized communities are perceived and treated because of stereotypes. To avoid perpetuating stereotypes, Kaur encourages readers to wonder about those who look, speak, act, or worship differently than themselves. Kaur describes this thoughtfulness as “the act that returns us to love” (4). As such, it is especially vital to consider strangers or people we may classify as outsiders. Curiosity can interrogate the stereotypes one may be inclined to accept and challenge individuals to love beyond their kin. As the book’s title exemplifies, Kaur desires for people to See No Stranger, or to break down the barriers presented by the sociological concept of “us” and “them.” She encourages readers to see both strangers and outsiders as “us.”

To support marginalized communities, Kaur encourages individuals to show up and grieve with those who have been subjected to violence. This means showing up for strangers when hate crimes have occurred and joining them as they mourn.