Event Title
Seeking Salaam— Ethiopians, Eritreans, and Somalis in the Pacific Northwest
Description
Prolonged violence in the Horn of Africa, the northeastern corner of the continent, has led growing numbers of Ethiopians, Eritreans, and Somalis to flee to the United States. Despite the enmity created by centuries of conflict, they often find themselves living as neighbors in their adopted cities, with their children as class-mates in school. In many ways, they are successfully navigating life in their new home; however, they continue to struggle to bridge old divisions and find salaam, or peace, with one another. News from home of continuing conflict fuels historical grievances and perpetuates tensions within these communities, resulting in ongoing enmity that can undermine attempts at reconciliation. Such involvement with the past can also delay acculturation and sabotage opportunities to attain the American Dream. In conversations with more than forty East African immigrants living in Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, Sandra Chait captures the immigrants' struggle for identity in the face of competing stories and documents how some individuals have been able to transcend the ghosts from the past and extend a tentative hand to their former enemies.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
11-1-2012 12:00 PM
End Date
11-1-2012 1:00 PM
Location
Fairhaven College Auditorium
Resource Type
Moving image
Title of Series
World Issues Forum
Genre/Form
lectures
Contributing Repository
Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Ethiopia--History; Ethiopia--Ethnic relations; Eritrea--History; Eritrea--Ethnic relations; Somalia--History; Somalia--Ethnic relations; Immigrants--Horn of Africa; Immigrants--Northwest, Pacific
Geographic Coverage
Horn of Africa; Northwest, Pacific
Type
Moving image
Keywords
East African immigrants
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws.
Language
English
Format
video/mp4
Seeking Salaam— Ethiopians, Eritreans, and Somalis in the Pacific Northwest
Fairhaven College Auditorium
Prolonged violence in the Horn of Africa, the northeastern corner of the continent, has led growing numbers of Ethiopians, Eritreans, and Somalis to flee to the United States. Despite the enmity created by centuries of conflict, they often find themselves living as neighbors in their adopted cities, with their children as class-mates in school. In many ways, they are successfully navigating life in their new home; however, they continue to struggle to bridge old divisions and find salaam, or peace, with one another. News from home of continuing conflict fuels historical grievances and perpetuates tensions within these communities, resulting in ongoing enmity that can undermine attempts at reconciliation. Such involvement with the past can also delay acculturation and sabotage opportunities to attain the American Dream. In conversations with more than forty East African immigrants living in Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, Sandra Chait captures the immigrants' struggle for identity in the face of competing stories and documents how some individuals have been able to transcend the ghosts from the past and extend a tentative hand to their former enemies.
