Outreach to African Americans Raises Hope for Successful Transition

War, slavery, famine and a nomadic refugee sojourn landed more than 800 Somali Bantu in an Atlanta suburb. Provided less than 250 days of financial assistance, the group is expected to learn English, find a job, adjust to life in urban America and function independently. Somali Bantu are increasingly falling on hard times and soon to be homeless in America.

The plight of the Bantu is a high priority for the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda and the Joseph E. Lowery Institute for Justice and Human Rights. The Peoples’ Agenda has pledged to mobilize support from the Black community with a focus on Black churches and organizations.

“We are a loving and giving people and we identify in a profound and personal way with the struggles of our sisters and brothers from Somalia,” observed Dr. Lowery. “We were unaware of the situation until recently and now we must mobilize to ensure that their resettlement in America is successful.”

The Somali Bantu are originally from the southeast of Africa, countries such as Tanzania, for more than 200 years they endured discrimination and subjugation. Although slavery in southern Somalia was abolished in the early part of the 20th century, coerced labor laws and the conscription of the freed slaves for economic purposes in the agricultural industry was reintroduced by Italian colonial authorities in the mid 1930’s. During the recent civil war in Somalia, the Bantu were again the victims of violence in that country. In 1992, as a result of the war the Somali Bantu began arriving in Kenya as refugees. Many were resettled in their ancestral African homelands. The remaining 12,000 Somali Bantu refugees in Kenya were offered asylum in the United States in 1999. Georgia is one of 38 states targeted for refugee resettlement.

Much like the exodus of the southern slave following the US Civil War, lacking an education and marketable skills, the Somali Bantu enter America on the lowest economic rung. Coming from a rural less developed environment, Somali Bantu typically have large families and five to eight children is not unusual. Because families are intact with both parents present, the group generally does not qualify for cash welfare assistance placing large immigrant families in crisis.

Somali Bantu Idires Garaad’s last name means chief, in keeping with his name the “chief” is working vigorously to secure needed assistance for his fragile community.


“We want to be good Americans and to make a contribution to this great country,” explained the chief, “we must have housing for our families, jobs to take care of our families, education and health care, especially for the children” Garaad explains unaware of the extent to which many Americans share these problems. Garaad is gravely concerned about the growing number of Somali Bantu moving to other states such as Maine, Colorado and California out of fear of eviction in Georgia. “We do not want to become slaves or refugees here in America,” said the Bantu leader.

Georgia relief agency workers confirm that it has been more difficult than usual to place the Somali Bantu in jobs, however, once placed the majority of workers are managing to pay rent and function somewhat independently. The agencies readily admit that efforts to engage the faith community have been unsuccessful. There is some anxiety among relief workers and Somali representatives that exposing the problems may negatively impact future resettlement efforts for other refugees. The US State Department requires relief agencies to provide services essential to immigrant success prior to accepting new refugee families.

“First we must mobilize to address the needs and concerns of the Somali Bantu here in Atlanta, ultimately we will assess their status nationally,” stated Felicia Davis speaking on behalf of the Lowery Institute. “The response from the community has been very positive once they are informed of the situation; more than anything we must get the word out especially to the churches.”

The Lowery Institute and Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda are working with relief agencies, service providers, Black clergy and the broader Somali community to plan a town hall meeting focusing on the Somali Bantu issue.

“The plight of the Somali Bantu was the top issue to emerge from our Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Symposium back in January and there was a long list of issues such as water privatization in India, Africa and South America. Dr. King taught us that human rights goes beyond race but we cannot ignore race when it comes to jobs, housing and education, these three needs are at the center of the civil rights agenda,” concluded Rev. James Orange.

“Our brother and translator, Yassim Kassim, CEO of the Airport International Cuisine, should be commended for bringing this issue to the forefront. It is an honor to get to know the 120 newest African American families in the Atlanta area.”