Work 5

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Somali Bantus in America

Yusuf Hussein

TCU

Professor Koss

Intro Comp

11/19/2021

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Somali Bantus in America

Somalis have faced increased challenges as Africans and because of their religion as they

try to fit in the American society. The first immigrants from Somali to America were the Somali

students under scholarship and they were placed especially in Minnesota to complete their

studies. Most Somalis became refugees in the early 2010 and sort asylum in America where they

were welcomed as refugees (Grady, 2015). A huge war broke out in Somali during 2010 and

most people escaped as refugees to save their lives and importantly their families. However,

American life was not exactly promising as anticipated because of the challenges faced. Somalis

struggle to fit in America especially because how people relate war with the Islamic religion. It is

difficult to carry on with their cultures and beliefs especially when fitting within a society that

has stereotypes developed about their particular traditions. However, despite the negative

experiences, Somali refugees in America have ensured that they stick by their culture since it

defines their personality and originality.

Fitting in the American society was challenging for most Somali refugees since most of

them had inadequate skills which would help them secure employment opportunities. However,

despite the traumas experienced war breakout in Somali, the refugees experienced maltreatment

and alienation because of the negative experiences (Hilmer, 2019). The challenges have been

instigated especially with the language barrier existing between the refugees and the American

citizens. Somalis have an extreme difficult in English communication and moving to a new state

they have difficulty with finding translators help them navigate through life and stabilization.

The most taught language in Somali is Arabic because of their religion especially comprehension

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of the Holy Quran. Most Somali elderly refugees had an extreme challenge when fitting in

because they were not exposed to any educational institution. Furthermore, young refugees have

had exposure in English learning and various media ensures they develop strategies which will

help them fit and live within the American dream. However, they are in a dilemma situation

because they struggle in living by their culture and traditions. America has massive western

civilization since it is an already established state. However, Somali is among the third world

country struggling with development with less civilization thus their traditions are under erosion

threats.

Somalis struggle to maintain their faith and customs within the state. America introduces

them to a new exposure and most things are bound to change. For instance, women in Somali

have been stereotyped to have one particular work which is ensuring they give birth to children

and nurture homes. The religion has minimized women empowerment and has lived with that

notion for an extended period. Additionally, factors like divorce are unheard of in Somali culture

and it is an extremely avoided concept. The men have been placed in charge of providence and

ensuring the homes have been well taken care of. However, the refugees are worried about their

culture after interacting with the American society (Skillman, 2018). Many women have been

empowered and the new American culture has taught them they have a place within society other

than being wives and home cares. Such traditions have changed the family dynamics and

relationships because the women became open to divorce and they had minimal regards about

the significance of relationships. The women have expressed their interest in education and

financial management and have integrated in the American society. The Somali refugees should

expect such challenges because they have lived with outdated stereotypes for an extended period.

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A high Somali refugee population is in Minnesota and they have experienced such changes from

their immigration in America.

One identity which is treasured by the Somalis is their Islamic religion. They have

struggled for an extended period in being Muslims because they have been related with

terrorisms. Most of the terrorist groups have most Muslim members and it has automatically

affected their interaction with Americans. During the early refugee immigration duration,

America had minimal knowledge on the Islamic religion. Gradually, they have adapted to

Muslim customs and their different way of worshipping (Grady, 2015). They remained adamant

and avoided changing their outcomes because the religion represents their customs. The first

problem they have experienced is how to fit their faith with the existing religions. For instance,

Islam has prayers which are presented at different times of the day. Furthermore, they were

indulged in that faith because their homeland Somali had minimal barriers to their faith.

However, the job opportunities they secured in America have limited consideration of their

obligation to their religion. They do not have the space and time to dedicate prayers because their

full production in the companies without failure. Moreover, changing the working systems

through the human resource management systems was quite challenging since the American

society was not ready to make abrupt changes to fit a minority demand’s case.

The Somali refugees have been born and rose believing that alcohol and pork should not

be consumed since it does not align with their religion. However, most of the factors that have

been prohibited in their religion are practiced by the American society. For instance, alcohol has

been a leisure drink for friends during functions or relaxing after their work shift. The Somali

Bantu have been exposed to the prohibited factors in the religions and have slowly been shaken

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and incorporated to the systems (Hilmer, 2019). Bars and pork selling restaurants were rapidly

growing during that period. The refugees had no choice but to search for employment

opportunities in such places. Additionally, the women dressing code has been discriminated

against because they are seen as old and outdated. The American society believes in uniformity

which is not favorable for the Somali women refugees because they need to wear hijabs that

cover their heads to show respect. Many young children have been discriminated in the

educational institutions because of the hijabs and other dressing codes needed which is extremely

different from what they have been raised to believe in. Eventually, women dropped their

dressing codes because of fitting in to the society. That marked the changes in Somali refugee

culture and relations. Therefore, comparing the present day Somali citizens and the American

immigrants they have a great difference because of the immediate cultural influence.

Most of the Somali refugees had no connections with the terrorist groups but they risked

losing their jobs because their employers speculated they were involved in the atrocities. The

Somali Bantu community was negatively impacted especially when trying to assure the extended

community that they have no connections with the allegations (Skillman, 2018). Despite the

negative experiences, Somalis maintained their faith and beliefs even when far from their home

country. For instance, they developed organization in which they advocated for peaceful

existence. Some of the ideologies presented by the terrorist groups violate the Islamic laws. It

means that they ensure they relate with the community members and teach them some of the

religion beliefs. Youths have been major participants in ensuring a peace bridge with the

American society. Additionally, Somali refugees ensured that they have organizations which

would advocate for their rights and places in America. Eventually, the American government

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introduced policies that ensured they are well catered for and have access to the essential

amenities like education and health services.

The primary way that Somali Bantus have ensured they exist in the American society

through allowing for balancing of cultures. It means that they have compromised some of their

cultures and are open to socializing with the American society. They have embraced the fact that

they are part of American citizens but Somali is their native home and their religion is their

primary identification. They preserved their holidays ensuring that they celebrated them without

failure. The strategy is beneficial since they have connected with other Somali Bantus in

America and have been forced to live in hiding and denial (Grady, 2015). They have been

opened to overcoming negative stereotypes which have been taught and believed for an extended

period. Therefore, living in America might have been challenging for the Somali Bantus but they

eventually developed techniques in which they maintained their traditions. The refugees focused

in developing their lives in America while they interconnected with families back in Somali. The

present day Somali has significantly changed because the American immigrants have introduced

positive changes. Somali Bantu refugees live with the imminent hope that America will

eventually adapt to Somali customs and refrain from associating them with terrorism factors.

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References

Grady, S. (2015). Improvised adolescence: Somali Bantu teenage refugees in America.

University of Wisconsin Pres.

Hilmer, A. (2019). Sandra Grady: Improvised Adolescence: Somali Bantu Teenage Refugees in

America. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 2015, 174pp, ISBN

978-0-299-30324-2.

Skillman, A. E. (2018). Improvised Adolescence: Somali Bantu Teenage Refugees in America.