Dec 18th: Somali Entertainment Awards at The Cedar Cultural Center

by Nelima

The Blue Carpet Awards are upon us again, this time at The Cedar Cultural Center. It’s bound to be a sold out event so if you haven’t got a ticket, do so soon. Details can be found below.

In America, Somalis find proud footing

by Hussein Samatar 

Recent news, though, reinforces the need for dialogue and understanding

Many of us from Somalia see ourselves as Americans first and then Somalis. I include myself, having been born and raised in Somalia but having never worked a single day there due the ongoing civil war. My work, and the work of my colleagues, has been in Minnesota, where we’ve been making our state better and safer through sheer determination, hard work, entrepreneurship and can-do American attitude.

Americans of Somali descent now live in every corner of Minnesota, from Pelican Rapids to St. Paul to Minneapolis. In a very short time the community has produced an impressive amount of new businesses throughout the state. Even in cities like Willmar, you will find businesses owned and operated by the members of the Somali community. Students have been graduating in high numbers from high schools, colleges and universities and are becoming professionals in many fields.

Minnesota Racism

by Ross Anderson as published in the MN Daily

 

Racism has a newfound fervor when applied to the state’s largest migrant population: Somalis.

“What? (Expletive) you!” I initially thought.

Recently, the nation’s top law-dog, Eric Holder, our country’s first black attorney general, basically called Americans a bunch of yellow-bellies. We are “a nation of cowards,” he said, referring to our unwillingness to openly discuss race issues. “If we’re going to ever make progress, we’re going to have to have the guts … to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us,” he explained.

Okay, Mr. Holder, I heard you, and I write in response to your challenge.

Localize this subject and racism takes on special significance. Minnesota, and especially the metropolitan area, offers a unique and particularly potent brand of racism. Sure, it has a ‘Minnesota nice’ packaging and is mostly tacit and benign, but widespread and consistent nonetheless. Step outside the eternally tolerant collegiate bubble, and Minnesotans are not very welcoming of our east-African immigrant population, particularly the Somali community.

Rewriting the Star Tribune’s February 27th Editorial

by Silas,

(If this posts look weird it is because I made some changes to the original article that was the editorial of the Star Tribune of February 27th. The words in the reddish print are my additions, which I think the reader should take into consideration when reading the original editorial. I also crossed out what I thought should have been ommitted or re-worded.)

Editorial: A critical juncture for local Somalis and the mainstream media

Irresponsible and careless reporting connecting the Abubakar As-Saddique’s Islamic Center to a suicide bombing and disappearances have has created heightened fear, suspicion and encouraged xenophobia towards Minnesota’s Somali community.

It Wednesday’s open house at the Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in the Phillips neighbourhood of Minneapolis had all the trappings makings of a typical community celebration — colorful balloons, great food, happy families and easy conversation. But there was a tense undercurrent at Wednesday’s open house at the Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis.

The Somali Community and the Twin Cities Mainstream Media: Towards a More Perfect Union?

by Nelima

Frustrations and suggestions were exchanged at a panel discussion on the portrayal of the Somali community by the media. The accusations in the media that the Abubakar mosque was connected to the missing Somali men, seemed to be the cause of the community’s resentment towards and mistrust of the media.

Somali Community frustrations:

• Media presenting a one-sided view in only consulting Omar Jamal.
• Media insensitivity towards Imams, who are respected leaders in their community and mosques, which are the most important institutions in their community.
• Language used in their reporting, this article from NPR was referenced for the descriptions of the Imam’s dyed beard and the youth directors thumbs and other descriptions.

African Immigrants to the Rescue?

by Nelima

This is a rare immigration story.  As the economy worsens, immigrants are increasingly seen as a burden and competition for welfare resources, but this story in Newsweek gave a much needed fresh angle of the impact of immigrants on the American economy. Here are some excerpts, but make sure you read the full article.

Barely a decade ago, Lewiston, Maine, was dying. The once bustling mill town’s population had been shrinking since the 1970s; most jobs had vanished long before, and residents (those who hadn’t already fled) called the decaying center of town “the combat zone.” That was before a family of Somali refugees discovered Lewiston in 2001 and began spreading the word to immigrant friends and relatives that housing was cheap and it looked like a good place to build new lives and raise children in peace. Since then, the place has been transformed. Per capita income has soared, and crime rates have dropped. In 2004, Inc. magazine named Lewiston one of the best places to do business in America, and in 2007, it was named an “All-America City” by the National Civic League, the first time any town in Maine had received that honor in roughly 40 years.

U of MN student falsely accuses Somalis of bomb plot in order to skip class

by Nelima

Police officers tape off building entrances on the University of Minnesota campus after a bomb threat on April 18, 2007. Courtesy of Fox 9 News.

To say I was irritated by this incident is an understatement. At 7am on Tuesday a 19 year old white female U of MN student said she had overheard ’3 Somalis discussing bombs’ prompting a lock down and evacuation of two buildings. After further investigation her story was found to be false. Her reason for calling in the bomb threat? She wanted to avoid two classes!!!! Am I the only one who’s going what the heck????? Why didn’t she just cut class instead of going through all the trouble. Great, another Ashley Todd. According to the story in the MN Daily, she ‘may’ be charged and ‘could’ face discipline from the U. In the same article U spokesman, Dan Wolter, calls her use of a racial description ‘unfortunate’.  I may be wrong, but while I was at the U I was under the impression that they had a zero tolerance policy towards such stupidity. Perhaps the US board of education should introduce a mandatory Stereotyping 101 class somewhere in the education curriculum to deal with this still prevalent problem of racial prejudice. 

Here are links to the story as reported in various news outlets;

MN Daily, Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, Fox 9 News.