What Does Identity Even Mean When You’re Always the Minority? | Lahib Jaddo | TEDxTexas Tech
What does identity mean when you’ve never belonged to the majority? Born in Iraq to a Turkmen family, Lahib grew up navigating life as a minority — in Iraq, in Lebanon, and later in the United States. In this talk, she shares her journey across cultures and borders, reflecting on how identity is shaped, questioned, and ultimately redefined when you’re always the outsider. Lahib Jaddo is an Iraqi-born artist, architect, and educator whose work spans painting, sculpture, and storytelling. Born in Baghdad to a Turkmen family, she spent her formative years in Iraq and Lebanon before immigrating to the U.S., where she earned a Master of Architecture and a Master of Fine Arts from Texas Tech University. Jaddo's art explores themes of memory, displacement, and cultural identity, blending her Middle Eastern heritage with her deep connection to the American landscape. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally and is the subject of the award-winning documentary Jaddoland. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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