Somali American

Infobox Ethnic group


group = flagicon|Somalia flagicon|US Somali American
poptime = 150,000 (est.)
popplace = Throughout the United States
rels=Sunni Islam
langs=Somali, American English
related= Afar, Agaw, Amhara, Bilen, Jeberti, Oromo, Saho, Tigray and Tigre

Somali 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, the Middle East, the United Kingdom (see British Somalis) and Canada respectively.

The heaviest concentrations of Somali Americans live in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota), followed by Washington, DC, Columbus, Ohio, New York City and San 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) and Tucson. The states with the most Somali Americans are Minnesota, followed by Ohio, California, Georgia, Washington, Texas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Florida. In Minnesota it is possible to find Somalis in almost every small town, especially in South Minneapolis, 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, including employment 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] ] and harassment at school. [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08246/908638-51.stm 'A big difference': Somalian refugees find tough times here but also opportunity] ] In Minnesota, controversy arose after six Somalian women filed a religious discrimination complaint with the EEOC over Mission 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 a Pennsylvania 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