Rutikanga Patrick

For Rwanda, July 4 is Liberation Day: the day the genocide against the Tutsi was brought to an end after one hundred days of unimaginable darkness. For my family, it is the day hope returned. Blue Ear Books is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. On June 27, 1994, my father made one of the hardest decisions of his life. He left the orphanage. It was not because he wanted to save himself.

Over the past ten years, five books have profoundly shaped who I am, both as a person and as a professional. Each of them connects deeply with my story and with the history of my country, Rwanda. They speak to the resilience of my people, the bravery of those who chose compassion over fear, and the lifelong journey of healing from trauma through understanding and connection. Among these stories stands that of Carl Wilkens, whose courage continues to inspire me.