Seeking salaam : Ethiopians, Eritreans, and Somalis in the Pacific Northwest / Sandra M. Chait.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chait, Sandra M.

Series:

Samuel and Althea Stroum Books

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ethiopians--Northwest, Pacific--Social conditions.

Ethiopians--Northwest, Pacific--Ethnic identity.

Eritreans--Northwest, Pacific--Social conditions.

Eritreans--Northwest, Pacific--Ethnic identity.

Somalis--Northwest, Pacific--Social conditions.

Somalis--Northwest, Pacific--Ethnic identity.

Group identity--Northwest, Pacific.

Northwest, Pacific--Ethnic relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (318 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Seattle : University of Washington Press, c2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

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 ethnic divisions and find salaam, or peace, with one another. News from home fuels historical grievances and perpetuates tensions within their communities, delaying acculturation, undermining attempts at reconciliation, and sabotaging the opportunity to reach the American Dream.In conversations with 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.

Contents:

At "home" in the Pacific Northwest

Within the American gaze

With eyes open

Having the last word

Cultural and economic rivals

The challengers within

Women speak out

Conclusion : new American narratives

Appendix 1. Time line (1890-2010)

Appendix 2. Participants.

Notes:

"A Samuel and Althea Stroum book."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

9780295801803

0295801808

OCLC:

772499867