Academic

Kayse Jama on Somali-Americans and alienation

By Tung Yin

Kayse Jama, executive director of the Center for Intercultural Organizing, has a guest editorial in today's Oregonian on some of the potential causes of alienation among Somali-American youth:

In the case of Somali-American youths in the United States, there are many factors that contribute to disfranchisement and social dislocation. Many young people are trying to relate to two cultures, neither one of which completely accepts them. This can lead to identity crises.

As soon as these Somali youths arrive in the United States, they become "black" in urban America. Their sense of identity begins to shift from their religion, tribe or clan to an American identity based on a U.S.-centric vision of race. Along with this new identity comes much of the historic and lingering oppression also endured by African Americans. Whether in school settings, when interacting with the police or through being denied employment, study after study reveals that youths of color -- particularly African Americans and Latinos -- are at the bottom of all social indicators. 

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But there is another dimension to the plight of Somali-American youths -- cultural and religious isolation. The United States' hostility and treatment toward religious and cultural minorities have been well documented. Somali-American and other Muslim youths are bullied in school hallways, teased in classrooms and denied employment opportunities simply because they are Muslims.

The whole thing is worth reading, especially in light of Marc Sageman's Understanding Terror Networks, which basically analyzes how alienation can breed radicalization in the wrong circumstances.

Full post as published by The Yin Blog on January 04, 2011 (boomark / email).