User talk:Maadasefoi

Topic: West Africans Living in Minnesota, USA

The American immigration council states that “Immigrants from Africa constitute a highly diverse and rapidly growing group in the United States.” They hail from all 54 nations in Africa with Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya being the top countries. Statistics shows that the African immigrants population in the United States increased by 51% between 2000 to 2010 (American Community Survey 2010). According to the United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2010, immigrants referred to as foreign born population are nearly 40 million and make up about 13% of the entire population and Africans accounts for 4% of the foreign born population. African immigrants has the lowest median age of 38 years compared to Europe and North American immigrants with median age of 51.7 and 51.3 respectively. The survey also pointed that immigrates are more likely to get married and less likely to divorce, a testament to our value system of marriage and family. An estimated 29.7% never married, 54% married, 4.0% separated, 8.5% divorced and only 3.7% widowed. (ACS 2010). Africa women also account for the highest fertility of about 97% between the ages of 15 to 50 of every 1,000 women having had a baby 12 months prior to the research. Studies shows that about 70% of African immigrants either speak English or speak it very well and more than one-third of African immigrants work in professional jobs with 37.7% of employed African immigrants age 16 and over worked in management, business, science, and arts occupations in 2010  (African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview). Without any doubt, the African immigrant population is growing and also contributing to the social-economic development of its host country, the United States of America. Given the underline statistics which shows that about 51% of African immigrants came to the united states after the year 2000, this population of African immigrants represents my generation which has been deeply affected by this exodus, and by examining African immigration, we can learn that my generation values of tolerance, marriage, gender and equality and education is evolving and from time to time adapting to the value systems of the United States of America. Even though United States has been home for immigrants from different part of the world yet Africa is considered the beginning place of immigration as historical evidence indicates that the first slaves from Africa landed in the US in 1619 well ahead of the pilgrims (Thomas 4). According to Eltis and Nunn, “Africans later arrived during the trans-Atlantic slave trade that resulted in the forced  migration of over 10 million African slaves to destinations in the New- World” (qtd. in Thomas). The slave trade legally ended in 1865 which accounts for a drastic decline in the migration of African slaves to the United States (Thomas 5). However, Africans never lost the passion to seize every opportunity to migrate to this land seen, well if not all but by the majority of inhabitants of the world as the place where dreams come true and where life is lived in its fullest. Thomas argues that African migration could be associated to wage differential between countries of origin to that of US after the slave trade. On the other hand, Ahearn endeavored to categorize Africans migrating to united states in recent decades into refugees- people fleeing conflict in search of safety, immigrants- encompasses those who have legal residence whether by marriage, the diversity lottery visa or through work, migrants- guys with short term visa but plan to be back in their home country, and of course he talks about illegal aliens who are technically called undocumented workers (qtd in Kamya). Those who came before us around 1960s and 1970s were scholars motivated to acquire post-secondary education with little desire not to stay indefinitely (Takougang J, and Tidjani B). These early African immigrants were drawn to American Cities with huge infrastructure for institutions of higher learning like Boston, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Washington D. C. Those who chose to stay after schooling resided in places where they attended college (Takougang and Tidjani 32). The generation of Africans living in the United States now has a different perspective about marriage and traditional gender roles. Marriage as practiced by my parents’ generation was held together on the basis of respect and the values of hierarchy were the norm within the culture, which paves the way for the woman to be relegated to the wishes and desires of the men. Men on the other hand exercised supremacy and authority over the women. Of course this concept emanated from traditional gender roles which are being taught and internalized within the Africa society through everyday life. Under normal circumstances, men are bread winners and head of the family and thus are compelled to go out hunting, fishing, farming and mining as the case may be with one aim; to provide for the family. Women for sure are the ones who take care of the home and the children; hence it was quite rare to see a woman who did a professional job. They were house wives destined to manage the family. Susie Jolly and Hazel Reeves of the Bridge Institute of Development in an article “Gender and Migration” argues that “Experience shows that migration can provide new opportunities to improve women’s lives and change oppressive gender relations – even displacement as a result of conflict can lead to shifts in gendered roles and responsibilities to women’s benefit.’’ Members of my generation who migrated to the United States had no choice but to accept the changing gender roles. We have humbly accepted the dynamics of the changing situation and culture where couples see each other as partners working together; with equal responsibility, as well as shared decision making. My Dad use to tell me that women had one option during their time and that is to be a houses wife. But that is not the case for women from Africa who now resides in the United States. In fact they have one choice contrary to that of my father’s time and that is to work. Magdalene Tsion an Ethiopian who works as a registered nurse at Regions Hospital expressed how joyful she is for migrating to the US. She recently visited home and was shocked to see how some of her compatriots are even so immersed in traditional gender roles. J. Scott Carter, Mamadi Corra, and Shannon K. Carter, in their article "The Interaction of Race and Gender: Changing Gender-Role Attitudes, 1974–2006." Believes that the “United States has witnessed an increase in the number of dual-earner and female headed families. Consequently, traditional views of women in the home and workplace may be discard. The greater acceptance of women having more freedom is born out of necessity.’’ Without any question, one could safely say that migration has affected traditional gender roles among African immigrants, transforming us in to what I will call the new norm in the United States. We endeavor to conform to current trends as we absorb information disseminated by the media and more so from our transnational relationships with friends and families in the United States. For instance, Mohamed Rhaman a student at Inver Hills Community College who hails from Somalia opined that if his parents who still live in Somalia were to visit him now they will be in absolute shock to see him washing dishes after meal, feeding baby and changing diapers. According to Rhaman, “these are chores specifically designed for women not men.’’ He further substantiated his point by suggesting that Women assume the major share of care-giving in the family, including women living with and affected by HIV. This he said is often unpaid and is based on the assumption that women "naturally" fill this role. Moreover, one of the key benefits of being in the United States is the chance to be highly trained and educated. UNESCO April 27, 2011 report asserts that “Some 32 million children of primary school age are still out of school in sub-Saharan Africa.’’ An average of six in every ten African is illiterate and the female children account for about 60% of the illiteracy population. The female children are at a disadvantage position because society sees them as domestic tool, many being forced out of school and in some cases their education is not prioritized by society. For the most part, an experts contend that poverty could be a major contributing factor for the level of illiteracy in African (World Illiteracy Map). The continent is caught up in vicious circle; for education to be possible, government need to provide funds but less economic activity means lower gross domestic product thus fewer cash to spend on education, and the circles continues to revolve (World Illiteracy Map). Peter Wadri an African educationist insists that Africa has been adversely affected by illiteracy just like malaria, war and economic hardship. He went on further to declare that the girl child stands to be greatly affected as African culture and tradition has labeled them as source of wealth through their bride price which they assume opens doors of fortunes for the family. Even those who have been chance to make it to school suffer a great deal of lack, ranging from hunger, lack of adequate school materials especially those that flow with current trends that allows multitasking and the use of current technologies that aids learning. In our quest to succeed, African immigrants of my generation waste no time in thinking about how we could go back and reshape the faith of our continent. Instead we now sense the urgency of learning the language, gain the needed education or a career training which is pivotal in helping us succeed in United States declares Magdalene Tsion. Women no longer see themselves as house wives and domestic champions but equally strive for equal opportunity through education. Furthermore, the very special evolution I have seen happening among African immigrants is our level of tolerance. Africa as a continent still extremely values traditional marriage, its citizens as well as the political and religious leadership frowns at same sex marriage and probably in a more vehement way abhor the whole issue of transgender. According to the British Broadcasting Services in an article “Gay rights: Africa, the new frontier”, points out that, “Homosexual acts are illegal in most African countries, including key Western allies such as Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Botswana.’’ The article further pointed out that “hostility toward gay people has worsened on the continent.’’ In some countries like Nigeria, bills are in progress that criminalizes homosexuality. On a very personal note, the first culture shock I severely experienced was to see a transgender on TV highlighting the new life as transgender. Questions did flow my mind with just one puzzling thought, what a world have I found myself? Even though most African see same sex relationships as something that undermines family values and as a result are unacceptable and cannot be incorporated into the African way, yet this is not so true for most African immigrants living in the United States. The passage of time and the society we live in has helped us to understand the dynamics of a changing world where people are not judged by the color of their skin or by their sexual orientation. Traditional marriage stills holds a very big space in my ideology but I am more accepting and tolerant to those who are gays and lesbians. For example, I have friends who are gays and co-workers who are lesbians. The thing that matters most is how each of us truly realizes our American dream and what we could do to meaningfully contribute in making the world a better place. In conclusion, migration has not only imparted our traditional gender roles, education and tolerance and acceptance of others, but in a grand way has changed the standard of living for most of us. There is no way to compare living on less than a dollar a day to the promising hope we now have.

Work Cited "African Immigrants in America: A Demographic Overview." Immigration Policy Center. N.p., 28 June 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. . Chothia, Farouk. "Gay Rights: Africa, the New Frontier." BBC News. BBC, 07 Dec. 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2012. . Jolly, Susie and Reeves, Hazel. "GENDER and MIGRATION." BRIDGE - Home. Institute of Development Studies, 2005. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. . Kamya, Hugo A. "African Immigrants In The United States: The Challenge For Research And Practice." Social Work 42.2 (1997): 154-165. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Oct. 2012. Rhaman, Mohamed. Personal Interview 25 October. 2012 Scott Carter, J., Mamadi Corra, and Shannon K. Carter. "The Interaction Of Race And Gender: Changing Gender-Role Attitudes, 1974–2006." Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited) 90.1 (2009): 196-211. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. Takougang, Joseph, and Bassirou Tidjani. "Settlement Patterns And Organizations Among African Immigrants In The United States." Journal Of Third World Studies 26.1 (2009): 31-40. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Oct. 2012.

"The Foreign-Born Population in the United States: 2010." Census Bureau Homepage. N.p., May 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2012. . Thomas, Kevin J. A. "What Explains The Increasing Trend In African Emigration To The U.S.?." International Migration Review 45.1 (2011): 3-28. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. Tsion, Magdalene. Personal Interview 23 October. 2012 "UN Report Reveals Increasing Spending on Education in Sub-Saharan Africa." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. . Wadri, Peter. "Illiteracy Is Africa’s Most Virulent Disease, Especially For Women." InAfrica. N.p., 25 July 2004. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. .