A Truer Picture of Somalis in Columbus, Ohio

In the July 2008 issue of Ebony magazine (yes I
have included the cover page below for those who are challenged) there are a few pressing articles, one of which provides some information on the struggles of Somali refugees that have been resettled in the Columbus, Ohio area. Written by Sherri Williams, the article provided somewhat of a biased slant on the xenophobia faced by Somali refugees at the hands of African-Americans. Before taking anyone to task, and trust me, I've got something for both the African-Americans and the African refugees, I admit that not so long ago while shopping at Kroger I witnessed two White-American teens

flip the bird at a Somali sister as she attempted to put her groceries into her minivan. I only realized the commotion, yelling and horn-blowing after I put my little ones into their carseats. My first reaction was to run over to the woman to assist in any positive way I could since there were several older White-American men and women just standing there cornholing each other (see Urban Dictionary for the term). The teens sped off making funny indecipherable hand-gestures at the woman. I was also bewildered to see the Muslim woman hop into her van like a superhero, speeding toward the white Honda carrying the adventurers narrowly avoiding a collision. The woman was serious about confronting the boys and what appeared to look like a terrorist, kamikaze hit by a woman wearing a scarf on her head was really an attempt at some sort of vindication; that woman, with every appearance of a soccer Mom sans headscarf, wanted to send a message that she would not be accosted by some thrill-seekers in broad daylight at the grocery store.

The incident above was definitely problematic and wreaked of xenophobia. Notice that I did not use the term 'Islamophobia' for I believe it's definition is not concrete enough to enter into a category completely independent of xenophobia or racism. (Maybe I'll delve into that later) At any rate, I am sure Muslim women, primarily those even remotely appearing to have some ontological/relational kinship with the menaces of one dreaded event in America's not-so-distant past are quite tired of explaining their positions vis-a-vis extremist ideologies and American fidelity. These refugees, more pointedly, the female refugees are part of both the negative and positive aspects of American foreign policy. One of the goals of American foreign policies and the initiatives of private actors is to ensure that women and children in war-torn areas are removed from harm to safety whereby they are able to raise healthy families and provide their children with decent educations. It is indeed naive, yet understandable for these women to expect certain freedoms and protections in their host countries so it can be psychologically devastating to experience something contrary to those ideas on large scales. It is the battle of America, not just the Bush Administration, to maintain a decent level of civility for the people she welcomes.

Black on Black Crime and Hostility: Xenophobic Gangs, Heavy Hearts and Empty Wallets

The article told the story of African-American teen vandals spray-painting the outside of the Ibn Taymiyah mosque, a primarily Somali and immigrant-laden mosque in an area populated heavily by Blacks and working and lower-class Whites. Having my background, I could not fathom telling an African to "go back to Africa". The statement seems an oxymoron yet it was that very phrase emblazoned on the side of an establishment of religious worship. One can only imagine the backlash had a White male stamped the same "go back to Africa" mantra, directed at children of racial injustices in America, on the walls of the vocal Black Church in the neighborhood. Would it be too much to say that at least the local news would have made a stink about it along with all the activist organizations? Another incident of Black American on Black African crime occurred when a huge melee ensued at an apartment complex resulting in an eviction and several citations. There have also been reports of paintball attacks against African immigrants. And for you Islamophobia victimologists, the victims were not always African Muslims but Christians too. What hurts here is that the assailants were young Black teens but even older African-American people feel uneasy about the refugees and immigrants.

An esteemed organization, the NAACP, and it's local Columbus, Ohio branch president, Noel Williams is quoted to have said, "It's almost as if there is a betrayal...Some African-Americans feel the Africans have betrayed us because they can get the [economic] access and they haven't reached out to us".

Elwood Rayford, an African-American neighborhood activist in Columbus, Ohio is reported to have said, "No one told us they were coming, what they were about or why they were here...And no one told them the truth about us. They have heard we are all criminals, drug dealers and prostitutes."

I sympathize with both men but I am more troubled by Mr. Williams' statement, "...they haven't reached out to us", because it is the same charge leveled at all immigrants in the US who engage in business on any grand or small level, in and outside of the Black American community by some in that community. I am not sure we should have the audacity to insist that, upon entering into an area populated by Black Americans, entrepreneurial-savvy refugees and immigrants kow-tow to Blacks in a display of good faith. Notwithstanding exploitation of the locals by the new neighbors, it seems counter-intuitive to the American dream to insist that these refugees tiptoe and appeal for Black American sentiment. Forming partnerships is one thing, friendships another, but marauding as Tony Montana in Scarface just isn't going to cut it. As for Mr. Rayford, I know all too well that the perception of all Black Americans as criminals, drug dealers and prostitutes is just half-baked. I also know that at one point, right up to the fall of the Somali government, the US installed satellite television in Somalia to both entertain, and inform the Somali people. Unfortunately, the US programming depicted Blacks in America as backward, criminal, and lowly across the board. Do you remember shows like "Cops"? The bombardment of skewed entertainment was relentless and no doubt informed the Somali people. Also, as a Black American Muslim, I took grave offense in my younger years to Somalis who had no idea that Black American Muslims existed! Just yesterday my wife drove through an area of Columbus as I sat in the passenger's seat reading one of my many books. She pulled up to the stoplight and behold, a Somali Muslim woman was driving the car to the left of us. My wife kindly greeted her in the Arabic "Asalaamu Alaykum" and the woman replied in Arabic. "Walaykum Salaam".....then began rambling so fast in Somali thinking my wife was Somali (she apparently couldn't see me) and my wife turned her head away mumbling, stating, "she thinks I'm Somali", at which time I told her to inform the young lady that she was American and didn't speak Somali. My wife didn't bother to say anything but maybe after reading the Ebony article and my thrashing of it, she will next time.

And that leads me to the next phase. Up til now I have been kind in my defense of and report on the Somali people here in Columbus but there is something missing from the Ebony article, something of grave importance in this day and age for people who do not interact with immigrant Muslims. The people interviewed nor the author reported that there have been three major terrorism cases in the central Ohio area, two of which involved Somalis and one involving an African-American Muslim. By appearances all were young and had spent a considerable amount of time in this area. So why no mention of this? Keeping in line with what I said about opposing xenophobia, this is no claim for it, but not mentioning current world dynamics misplaces the article. Even if one bypasses, as one eventually should, the terrorism convictions that occurred (after all there were snipers on the Interstate here and people still drive on them), one has to acknowledge the need for a discussion on immigration. With Black Americans in mind, I am not suggesting that they play a major role in limiting immigration as much as they should push for integration of all people, including the Somalis. Specifically, Somalis and other African refugees and immigrants(although the West-African immigrants, even Muslims, seem to have less friction from Black Americans) need to do some basic exercises for integration. While the article tells the story of a few men engaging each other and their organizations to foster better understandings, I have found Somalis uncomfortable with learning the English language and basic business math. Nor do I see Somalis practice the prophetic tradition of smiling to people and greeting them, for that tradition no longer applies to their coreligionists alone but implies that courtesy be given to all, and not just to Black Americans either. As promised to my wife that I'd mention, it should be noted that not all American Muslim women are going to wear skirts everyday; that is apparently a cultural tradition among Somalis at large and fewer West Africans.

Black Africans at large need to be very careful not to appropriate certain aspects of pop culture as authentically Black culture. The author Williams states, "African youths stroll through shopping centers wearing the same low-hanging baggy jeans and gold chains as African-American youth." The older generations of Blacks, the pre-earring, saggy-pant Blacks, are a bit uncomfortable with their children and grandchildren sporting such attire and this will certainly be a thorn in the side of any religious Muslim family hailing from abroad. Who will join to counter this phenomenon?

Lastly, Somali Muslims need not make the mistake some other immigrant and refugee Muslims made when arriving to the lands of the US. As stated above, much to the dismay of some, American Muslims do exist and right in Columbus, Ohio. They have been Muslim for quite some time and have no debates over the legality of voting or shaking the hand of the opposite gender. It seems rather odd to read stories about Somali Muslims walking off the job in protest because they could not convince the human resource department and the legal advisers that they had to have a break at the commencement of every prayer time. Muslims in America have been working jobs for years and they didn't start praying after the HR department acquiesced. Our prophetic and scholarly tradition, along with the US Constitution and labor laws, have come to wonderful synergy.

The refugees need to work hard to build bridges and their communities and understand that none of the immigrants and slaves to America accomplished integration overnight. As for the Black Americans, moving away from anger to observation and emulation will ultimately provide their own prescription. Do-for-self was the message we all have been given, yet some of us still fail to acknowledge this.

A fellow blogger, Jamerican Muslimah, who just happens to live in the Twin Cities area which boasts a larger population of Somali immigrants and refugees, also took a moment to provide a colorful tale of being Black American, female, and Muslim. Here is an excerpt;

"Shortly after my first encounter I had the pleasure of meeting a Somali guy who attended high school with me. I have always been curious about other cultures and I wanted to understand these new people. After all, they were my Muslim brothers and sisters. Fortunately, he was very receptive to my inquiries. He told me about the civil war taking place in his country, how he narrowly escaped with his life, and what life was like in a refugee camp. Through him I was able to understand why I was suddenly seeing Somali refugees around town. Not long after meeting him I read article in the Star Tribune which told his story in much more depth. I was horrified that this teenager, my Muslim brother, had witnessed such atrocities. (His mother was raped and killed right in front of him). While my compassion for the horrors Somali refugees experienced was endless I still did not understand why the women wanted to distance themselves from me, a fellow Muslim. Why wouldn’t they speak to me?" You can read her story here.