.
Revealing an identity under the
ashes to accomplish successful
students.
By
Hamida Ismael
“There has been no biological change in humans in 40,000 or
50,000 years. Everything we call culture and civilization we've
built with the same body and brain."
—Stephen Jay Gould
All our ancestors first came from the African
continent
Somalis vs. Egyptians
In the ancient world
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The Somali people are one of several Hamitic ethnic
groups in East Africa known as Cushites. Their
language is also one of several related languages
referred to as Cushitic languages.
There was much trade and interchange of ideas
between Egypt and Cush, as well as major battles
between them. The Kingdom of Cush played a major
role in introducing the technology and production of
iron and iron implements in this region.
The Kingdom of Cush exchanged ambassadors with
Rome and probably provided elephants and training
of elephants for military use in the Roman empire
and by its adversaries. It maintained extensive trade
with Arabia to its East and with Africa to its South.
Somalis similarities with others
civilizations
Greek soldier
Somali soldier
Japanese soldier
European soldier
Roman soldier
Egyptian soldier
New Era
Situated in eastern Africa, Somalia forms
the cap of the Horn of Africa.
 Bordered by Kenya in the south, Ethiopia
in the west, Djibouti in the northwest, the
Gulf of Aden in the north, and the Indian
Ocean in the east.
 Somalia covers an area of about 638,000
square kilometers, making it slightly smaller
than Texas.
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Somalia
Post-colonial
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In 1960 Northern region, previous British
protectorate and the Southern regions former
Italian’s colony united to form the Republic
Democratic of Somalia.
But after the first Somali civil war in 1980ties,
Northern regions declared their secession from
Somalia and took back their former name of
Somaliland.
Today Somalia's chief cities and towns,
Mogadishu* (the capital), Bossaso, Marka, Brava,
Baidoa, and Kismaayo, are completely destroyed
by the civil war; while on the other hand
Somaliland cities, Hargeisa, Burao, Berbera and
Borama, are peaceful with a flourishing economy
and infrastructures.
Somalis in United States
 Migration,
a means of survival: Refugees
camps to the US.
 Majority of Somali refugees live in 2 States:
Minnesota & Ohio
 Reason: heritage from a nomadic life: a
mentality of looking for greener pastures;
a strong social network that entails the
obligation to assist each other in
surviving.
Culture & Religion
Culture:
 Like many American families nowadays and
mostly before the 50ties, Somali women take care
of children and household chores while men are
the breadwinners.
 Although Somalis don’t have family name but a
tribe name, children take the father’s name.
 2 Baby showers in Somali culture: the first is during
the 8th-9th month of the pregnancy and the 2nd is
40 days after the baby was born.
Religion
 Islam=
believing to the holy book, the
Quran and the teaching of the prophet.
 Christianity= believing to Jesus’ tradition
and the bible.
 Other similarities: fasting, common prayer,
religious holidays….
More similarities
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Both religions teach there is one Creator
God, there are angels and demons,
especially the Devil known as Satan.
Both teach about righteousness and sin
and a Final Judgment Day with either heaven
or hell as the final destiny of humans.
Both believe in Scriptures inspired by God
and written by prophets and apostles.
In Green Bay
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Attracted by a cheaper rent and peaceful
environment, families move in Green Bay during
their first years in the US.
99% of parents never attended school.
Family’s priority is survival: getting a job to provide
roof, family’s need and transportation.
Language barriers and lack of community
advocacy cause bread winners to leave families
behind and seek jobs in more culturally diverse
cities like Chicago and Minneapolis.
Why do they move away?
 http://www.fox11online.com/news/local/
green-bay/schools-see-big-drop-insomali-students
Student’s struggles
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Mostly born in refugees camps or in a
transitional country.
They are facing a cultural clash: traditional
Somali way of life at home Vs TV and school
realities ( rules & Americans way of life).
Experiencing stability for the first time.
Sharing the household with a large number of
siblings.
They have just basic needs: roof, food and
clothes but are thrilled to learn and be just like
any other student at school.
More struggles
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First struggle: learning English, school rules, the
culture…..
Second struggle specially for teens: Parents Vs
adopted Culture.
Thus, adolescents may be in a disconnect
within families and the community: rebellion,
involvement in gang related activities, drug
use, and vulnerabilities to recruitment for
foreign terror activities are sources of intense
anxiety.
Students like any other
students
 Once
become fluent English speaker.
 Start making friends.
 Excel academically.
 Have mostly higher goals: doctor, nurse,
engineer..
 Some of them will stop after high school
graduation and seek jobs to help parents
raising younger siblings.
New celebrities
On the red carpet
Asad Trailer
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature
=player_embedded&v=fq6aJ7_8tcc#t=4
Previous celebrities
 Kanaan,
singer
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgyJY9yndv4
 Amira, super model
Pop Culture
 Caricature:
Parody
 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v
=170240249847218
Sources
 Amir
Amin Art work
 Jack. L. Davies. Reunification of Somali
people: The Somali Ethnic Group and Clan
 Diana Briton Putman & Mohamuud
Cabdi Noor: Refugee Fact Sheet N0.9. 1993
http://www.theirc.org/where/united_states_salt
_lake_city_ut/the-somalis-a-cultural-profile.pdf
 Nova
Science now/pbs:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/