Racialized Refugee Population: Narrative of Migration, Placemaking, and Faith

Announced by the University of Pittsburgh

Somali refugees are one of the largest and most visible African refugee groups in the United States. Yet, there is limited scholarship on their overall migration paths and the ways in which their intersectional identities as both Muslim and Black may impact their resettlement and integration in the United States. This presentation will focus on the experiences of Somali refugees in the United States, with particular attention given to how their racialized identities as both Black and Muslim may impact their experiences throughout their migratory journeys. The talk will also highlight the significant role of faith, culture, and placemaking in the migration narrative of Somali refugees. This talk will draw on field data from a community-engaged  qualitative research with Somali refugees in Chicago. Implications for policy and mental health practice will be discussed.