- Somali American
Infobox Ethnic group
group = flagicon|Somalia flagicon|US Somali American
poptime = 150,000 (est.)
popplace = Throughout theUnited States
rels=Sunni Islam
langs=Somali,American English
related= Afar,Agaw , Amhara, Bilen,Jeberti ,Oromo , Saho, Tigray and TigreSomali Americans are Americans that are originally from
Somalia , or other countries with ethnic Somali populations.The first Somalis to arrive in the United States came in the 1940s. They were seamen and New York was their destination. In the late '70's, more Somalis followed suit. However, it wasn't until the civil war broke out in Somalia in the 1990s that the majority of Somali Americans first arrived.
The Somali American community is the seventh largest in the world behind those of
Somalia ,Ethiopia ,Yemen ,Kenya ,Djibouti , theMiddle East , theUnited Kingdom (seeBritish Somalis ) andCanada respectively.The heaviest concentrations of Somali Americans live in the Twin Cities (
Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota), followed byWashington, DC ,Columbus, Ohio ,New York City andSan Francisco metro areas. The Twin Cities has the highest population of Somalis in North America. [Mosedale, Mike (February 18 ,2004 ), [http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1211/article11891.asp "The Mall of Somalia"] , "City Pages "]Arizona has seen Somali migration in recent years, mostly to Phoenix (especially the suburb of Glendale) andTucson . The states with the most Somali Americans areMinnesota , followed byOhio ,California , Georgia,Washington ,Texas ,Massachusetts ,Maryland ,Virginia ,Illinois ,Colorado andFlorida . In Minnesota it is possible to find Somalis in almost every small town, especially in SouthMinneapolis , St. Paul and Rochester. Although they are scattered throughout the United States of America in small numbers.People
While the overwhelming majority of people arriving from Somalia to the United States are ethnic Somalis, a minority belong to other non-Somali ethnic groups such as the Bantu.
Most Somali Americans have managed to retain their culture and religion despite long-term residence in the United States. Somali Americans are doctors, professors, and hold other important positions in American society.
* http://www.somaliamerican.net/
* http://www.somaliamericanmedia.org/Discrimination
Because of their
Islamic faith, Somalians have suffered various forms of discrimination, includingemployment discrimination , [ [http://www.pluralism.org/news/article.php?id=384 Somali Immigrants Face Discrimination in Columbus] ] [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CWU/is_2005_July_21/ai_n14814690 EEOC backs discrimination complaint by Somali airport workers] ]housing discrimination , [ [http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/27220504.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUHPYDiaK7DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU Human Rights Act covers rental issues] ] andharassment at school. [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08246/908638-51.stm 'A big difference': Somalian refugees find tough times here but also opportunity] ] InMinnesota , controversy arose after six Somalian women filed areligious discrimination complaint with theEEOC overMission Foods ' uniform policy. The women, who asserted that the uniform were immodest by religious standards, were, according to a statement, "relieved of their responsibilities for the time being, and may ultimately lose their jobs if they don’t wear uniforms." [http://www.startribune.com/business/19303124.html?location_refer=Homepage New Brighton Muslim workers claim religious discrimination] ] Recently, vandals spray painted "kill the Muslums" in aPennsylvania warehouse where Somali Americans were employed. [ [http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1220053209263701.xml&coll=1 Graffiti dismays plant workers] ]ee also
*
Somalia
*Somali diaspora
*Somali people References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.