Somali Culture

Kelly CalhounYu-Chun LeeJana FowlerRenka OhtaTalip GonulalAshraf Mandourah

The Battle of Mogadishu

Black Hawk Down

Rated R for intense graphic war violence

Somalis cheer at 'Black Hawk Down' screening

Somalis watching a bootleg video of "Black Hawk Down" on Monday cheered as helicopters crashed and U.S. servicemen were killed.

http://articles.cnn.com/2002-01-23/world/blackhawk.screen_1_somalis-mogadishu-audience?_s=PM:WORLD

Angry reactions?

The people who live there .. genetically inclined to be violent and criminal.They don’t deserve any help from western countries.Somalians should all be killed. it was great that the US killed 3000 and we lost only 17 soldiers.

Pirates

Apartment Review

Yes it's true. Nothing against the people, that is unless you don't like being glared at, and smelling curry when you walk out of your apt. I have lived there for 2yrs, Club Lane for 18 months and 6 months on Balsam Lake. First year was great, we had good neighbors and no gate gaurds. After the first year our building was sold twice. The good neighbors moved out and the bad ones moved in. Loud music, dog sh** everywhere, 10" pot holes EVERYWHERE!!!!, the speed bumps are HELL! I feel like I have no shocks left on my car. You always have some ahole on your bumper or driving 50mph! (see review "joke", It's all true), took 3 days and 2 phone calls to get maintenance over to fix my furnace in the winter! Yes, someone was murdered 2 buildings down from us this year. Needless to say we are counting down the days until the end of our lease!!!!

"Somalia Club"

What do you think or know about Somalis?

Write it on a post it!

The Goal of the Presentation

For students and teachers: to facilitate the awareness and understanding of Somali culture and Somali people. For teachers: to apply this awareness in creating a caring-centered classroom environment, to make Somali students more included.

Somalia – a brief history

Somalia – Relevant info

Population: 10 million

Share one religion and one language

in 1991, 800,000 refugees fled.

About 84,000 resettled in the U.S. by 2008

35,000+ Somali refugee/immigrants live in

Columbus

Civil War – effects on education

Deaths, loss of family

Somali diaspora

All public schools closed

Trauma (mental health issues)

Teenage refugees Speak out

Intermediate level reading

General information about the civil war

Personal stories of Somali teenagers

Amina (19yrs when interviewed)

Amina's experience

Religion & Its Effects on Daily Life of Somalis

Somalis derive from Islamic tradition (Abdullahi,2001).

Most of Somali people are Muslims (almost 99%)

The five pillars of Islam (The confession of faith, Giving alms-

Zakat, Fasting of Ramadan, The Hajj, Prayer 5 times a day)

Praying & Problems in American Schools

Religion & Its Effects on Daily lifeTraditional Greetings (Intersex Relations): Like other practicing Muslims, Somali men and women do not shake hands for greeting. Gender Roles: Somali culture is male-centered. Preferred gender roles are for men to work outside the home and women to care for children. Some changes in gender roles have occurred in the Diaspora.

Dress Code

Dress is diverse.Influenced both by the desert climate of Somalia and by Islamic values In formal and public settings, such as work or school, most Somalis wear Western dress.Traditional dress is generally favored in rural areas and in non-formal settings.

The Evolving Role for Somali Women

Interview with Somali Association of Ohio

Collectivism

generosity/ hospitabilityclan-based culturerole model of older relativesvideo: Your guide to Somali Culture

Names

given name + father’s given name+ grandfather’s given name

Mary David David

Lisa Mike Hank David _______ John

_______ _______ RaymondAnnie Peter Justin

David

David John

Poetry

A "Nation of Bards“

Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame 'Hadrawi': the Somali Shakespeare

Many political activists are also poets

Why poetry?

Rely on oral language rather than written language Attempt to adopt national language since the 20's and formally adopted in 1972.Folktales/ proverbs/ poetry

Constrainedby Hadrawi

Resource

Illustrates the central role poetryIt shows how how Safie uses her poery to express herself .It has examples of poems written by famous somali poets. a valuable resource about Islamic traditionsAn excellent resource for teaching 7-9th graders For teachers who are teaching Somali students

Somali Community Association of Ohio - Interview

What should teachers know about Somali students the most?Is it okay for teachers to get Somali students in pairs with student of opposite sex?What is your expectation for education? Different hardship for Somali refugees and American-born Somali student

Address: 3422 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus OH 43224http://www.somaliohio.org/index.htm

To be Culturally Responsive Teachers?

parent involvementtraumatic experienceprejudice against Somalivaluing culture of every studentlooking for the “fund” instead of the deficit

Resource: http://www.somalilife.com/vbforum/showthread.php?t=90593

Common MisconceptionsCommon Misconceptions: Truth:

Funny names (Mohamed Mohamed) • Names have great significance, order is important

Inferior view of women • Women have important role of keeping family intact• Somalis have male-centered culture, however the role

of women has recently begun to change

Different clothing • Clothing is a way for Somalis to honor their religion

Somalis/Somali parents don’t value education

• Parents think education is invaluable(since many did not experience formal education) and they do not want to take it for granted

Somalis are here to take, not to giveSomalis don’t fit in

• Somalis have strong sense of family• Somali families work together and support each other• Somali students gain strength in group membership

and group activity• Somalis have big entrepreneurial movement in

Columbus, adding to the economy

Somalis are pirates • Most Somalis are NOT pirates• A FEW Somalis have adopted piracy because of the

limited, unorganized government

All Somalis are terrorists • Somalis as a people are NOT terrorists

Somalis are inhumaneSomalis are disrespectful/rude

• Somali culture is very hospitable, caring of strangers, generous and honest