Keep Moving On: The Migration of a Punjabi-Sikh Family

by Amrit Singh

Overview

In 2017, Amrit Singh experienced the deaths of his grandmother and uncle. Soon after, his mother was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Raised in a family that lacked open communication among each other, Amrit struggled to understand his place in the world as the lives and histories of the people closest to him were being lost to time.

When the family comes together to care for his mother over the course of her treatment, Amrit begins a journey of unearthing and preserving the stories of his elders. He discovers the details of his father's years travelling undocumented and working at sea, the political and economic factors that sparked his family's relocation out of Punjab, the challenges they faced as new immigrants in Canada, and how key moments of his life still connect to his parents' migration.

'Keep Moving On' is a memoir that finds parallels between family members born in different eras and circumstances, and explores themes of mental health, intergenerational trauma, religion, death, and race through the lens of Amrit's upbringing as a first generation Sikh-Canadian. It is a story of discovery, hope, resilience, and the importance of making the most of the present.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781777334802
Publication date:	11/30/2020
Pages:	222
Sales rank:	594,130
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

Amrit Singh is an author, rapper, spoken word artist, and community organizer from Brampton, Ontario. Some of his verses discussing themes of migration, identity, and belonging have been published in the academic journal Sikh Formations, and in the book The Precarious Diasporas of Sikh and Ahmadiyya Generations: Violence, Memory, and Agency. Amrit studied psychology and neuroscience at McMaster University, and went on to complete his masters in cognitive psychology at York University. He has facilitated Hip-Hop & Mental Health workshops in schools and community spaces in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Best known as the rapper Noyz, Amrit has performed across North America and the UK, and has graced stages at SXSW and the Toronto International Film Festival. Amrit is also the co-host of The Immigrant Hustle, a podcast where he and B Magic interview individuals to discuss their stories as immigrants and children of immigrants. Through this work, Amrit aims to create a space where readers and listeners feel seen and connected with humanity.

'Keep Moving On' is Amrit's first book. Follow him on all social media platforms @noyzhiphop, or visit his website www.noyzhiphop.com for more information.

Editorial Reviews

"Heartfelt and candid, 'Keep Moving On' is an immigration memoir that speaks to what it means to be a second-generation Punjabi growing up in the diaspora. Weaving together past and present, Singh tells a story of complex family dynamics, life-threatening health struggles and unrelenting hope. In retelling his father's story, Singh allows each of us to find pieces of ourselves and our histories within his words. 'Keep Moving On' is a ballad of resilience written for the children of immigrants. It will stay with you."

- Jasmin Kaur, author of 'When You Ask Me Where I'm Going' and 'If I Tell You The Truth'

From the Publisher