Karim Shamsi-Basha, award-winning journalist, photojournalist, and author, spoke with Hayat about his illustrious career, moving to New Jersey, and more.
Karim Shamsi-Basha arrived in the US at 18
Born in Damascus, Syria, Shamsi-Basha moved to the US at 18.
As a freelance photojournalist and writer, his work appeared in publications such as the National Geographic Traveler, Sports Illustrated, People, Time, Southern Living, The New York Times, and many more. Such work took him around the globe, from the Czech Republic to China to Chile.
Tired of travel, Shamsi-Basha eventually settled in Birmingham, Alabama. He continued his careers in journalism and photojournalism, and ran the blog Arab in Alabama.
He has also published numerous essays, poems, books, and articles. These include coffee table books like Shelter from the Storm, which features portraits and quotes from the homeless. An essay also appeared in An Alabama Christmas, alongside works of Helen Keller and Truman Capote.
More recently, Shamsi-Basha moved to New Jersey. He covers Food & Culture for NJ.com.
“The Cat Man of Aleppo” by Karim Shamsi-Basha
In 2020, Shamsi-Basha published The Cat Man of Aleppo, a children’s picture book written with Irene Latham and illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. The book was awarded the prestigious Caldecott Honor in 2021.
The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha
Based on a true story, the award-winning book follows an ambulance driver in Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War. It was published by Penguin Random House.
“I did a book signing for Cat Man of Aleppo in New York,” Shamsi-Basha recalls. “And this little 6 year old girl came up to me and said ‘I have a cat, I found it on a street and took it home because of your book’. That just made my entire year. For her to realize that caring for living things is important.”
The Cat Man of Aleppo has been translated into 13 languages.
The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha
“The most rewarding part is changing lives, enriching lives. Through telling the story of humanity in Syria during the war, it touched a lot of people…when I say touching lives, enriching lives, making things better for the marginalized,” Shamsi-Basha says. “I want my books to reach those people.”
Karim Shamsi-Basha covers Food & Culture in New Jersey
Today, Shamsi-Basha is a food & culture reporter for NJ.com. He covers food and cultural events of all kinds, especially bringing his unique perspective as an Arab American.
In the meantime, he is also working on a young adult novel, Cactus Pear. The story follows a Muslim boy who falls in love with a Christian girl during the Syrian civil war.
For Shamsi-Basha, faith should never be an obstacle to love. “Enough with the labels,” he says. “They should not keep us apart, they should bring us together.”
“Ultimately we’re on a tiny ball hurtling through space together…and you want to tell me what you call it makes a difference?”
Check out The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha here.
Get updates on Cactus Pear and Shamsi-Basha’s latest here.
