Somalis in the western media are given bad press, whereas other immigrant communities are often heralded as though they have supposedly flourished. This is actually contrary to facts and ignores underlying factors that would give a more fair and accurate understanding.
Many parts of the media have a sinister agenda and are out to demonise and vilify Somalis. Because they are black, muslim, african immigrants. Somalis face a torrent of prejudicial vitriol, underlying racial discrimination and inherent bias in media reporting, disguised as journalism. Whether it be from the DailyMail, TheEconomist, Fox News or TheSun. The alt-white media houses are on the offensive. Their motivations and bias should be self evidence.
So I did some digging.
Somalis are not any less educated or employed than their comparable refugee counterparts. This assertion as factually incorrect. Nor is it the case that all "other refugees have flourished". It is clear that many journalists from these media companies have some strange sort of vendetta against Somalis. And they often use data and statistics to justify their prejudicial and deeply problematic stories about Somalis.
When looking at inherently backward looking statistics of educational performance, employment and social indicators we ought to interpret the data in this light and put it into context. Much of the media woefully misinterpret the statistics. High unemployment levels, inadequate English and poor social integration for example should not at all be surprising. After all, we are talking about first generation refugees here coming from Somalia. Rather there should be a recognition of the problems - yes - but also alongside that an acknowledgement that some of the challenges that Somalis faced were specific time-bound issues in the years after the 90s and the 2006 refugee waves. Especially the large wave of refugees that came to Europe after Ethiopia's brutal invasion of Somalia in 2006. It was a generational problem in the sense that it was being experienced by first generation refugees and immigrants, facing uniquely but pervasive first generation problems of, for example, not being able to speak the language.
To point out come very important considerations
1. Consider where Somalis come from. In a place like Somalia, that has been in conflict for a long time, government institutions are very weak or non-existent. Education is not available to a significant proportion of the population; many are illiterate. We as a society have also chose to not speak English in Somalia or Somaliland, but rather to maintain our own ancient language, history and culture. Whereas the Kenyans, Nigerians, Indians or even Pakistanis do speak English in their countries. It is therefore unrealistic to expect that first generation Somali refugees will all come here speaking English. It will take them time to adjust. And in that regard it should be acknowledged that Somalis had a huge disadvantage, but that they have overcome that and are now beginning to prosper.This necessarily means it will take first generation Somali immigrants some time to adjust, to learn the language, to learn the country's systems and ways of doing things. This does not mean, however, that they should be unwelcome in the UK or that they are not able to learn English or gain employment... it will just take them that bit longer.
2. It isn't constructive to compare immigrants from English speaking countries - with functioning governments and highly advanced education systems - to immigrants from non-English speaking countries. Those from English speaking countries i.e. Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Ghana, Bangladesh are far more likely to speak English. They will will therefore integrate quicker. But that is not to say that Somali immigrants do not and cannot make a highly valuable contribution to the U.K as indicated by the likes of Mo Farah, Rageh Omaar, Dr Sada Mire and many others.
3. Not all generations of immigrants are the same. Do not compare 1st generation Somali immigrants to 2nd generation Somali immigrants. Similarly do not compare 1st generation Somali immigrants and 4th generation British Indians. The latter have been brought up in completely different environments and their life prospects are completely different. If you look at the second generation (i.e. kids of immigrants), I would be extremely surprised if they didn't speak English or were unable to write and read. The majority of them will also be employed at some level, if not now, certainly in the future once they reach adulthood.
4. Employment prospects and income depend on and are affected by lots of things - one's ethnicity or background is just one of a multitude of interconnected factors. Other factors include educational attainment, qualifications, availability of suitable jobs in the local economy, discrimination, barriers to entry, competition in the job market. Is it their ethnicity or background that inherently causes them to experience high unemployment, or is it a little more complicated than that? There are parts of the UK almost exclusively inhabited by white British people where there is high unemployment, low educational attainment - does this make white Brits undesirable or inherently lazy? The answer is obviously no.
5. A person's employment status or educational achievement is not a permanent condition.No-one is born with a bundle of qualifications and degree certificates in their hand. These are obtained these over time, in enabling environments and given the right opportunities. I am sure there are first generation Muslim immigrants in the UK who have more qualifications and better paid jobs than the author - so journalists shouldn't generalise. And language is learned, not innate... and the learning process is not helped by, in the UK for example, the Government having cut funding to ESOL education across the country.
6. Living in social housing is not a crime, nor can journalists shame Somalis who live in social housing. Most Somalis have valid reasons to live in social housing. Firstly, the majority of Somalis arrived in the UK, USA and Europe since the year 2000 and they mostly live in the South East of England which is the most expensive place to buy property in the UK, if not in Europe. They therefore have not had the same opportunity to accumulate generational wealth required to buy properties with an average property price of £530,000 ($770,000 USD). Secondly, unlike the average British person or more established immigrant communities who have been here for three or four generations, they cannot rely on inheritances, 'the bank of mum and dad' or 'the bank of granddad and grandma' to pay for housing deposits in the tens of thousands of pounds. Thirdly, Somalis for religious reasons choose not to engage in activities that involve being charged or charging interest, as in Islam interest is considered usury, and therefore contrary to the teachings of Islam. So for religious reasons many Somalis, other Muslim communities and orthodox Jews choose to live in social housing. However, there are 4 million households in the UK who live in Social housing. Somali households in social housing are less than 0.5% of the total, so it is not the case that they are putting strain on the system.
7. Large families are not necessarily problematic and should not be demonised. In the end, it the large Somali families of 6, 7 or 8 children who will provide the labour and workforce that is badly need. As evidenced by the countless Somali nurses for example now working in the U.K's hospitals. It is these large families whose sons and daughters will almost inevitably together pay more in income tax, national insurance, council tax, value added tax. Espcially when compared to the standard families who have just one or two children. It is these large families who inevitably pay more in taxes over their lifetimes than they receive in welfare. It is these same larger families whose children will pay towards the pension contributions of the greying population, now ageing at an alarming rate, for decades to come. Their vilification is again underpinned by culturally prejudicial stereotypes rather than an analysis of the hard economic facts.
So don't be brainwashed or disheartened by media who seek to destroy your spirit and in doing so subjugate your mind. Your a Somali, be proud and work hard.
Many parts of the media have a sinister agenda and are out to demonise and vilify Somalis. Because they are black, muslim, african immigrants. Somalis face a torrent of prejudicial vitriol, underlying racial discrimination and inherent bias in media reporting, disguised as journalism. Whether it be from the DailyMail, TheEconomist, Fox News or TheSun. The alt-white media houses are on the offensive. Their motivations and bias should be self evidence.
So I did some digging.
Somalis are not any less educated or employed than their comparable refugee counterparts. This assertion as factually incorrect. Nor is it the case that all "other refugees have flourished". It is clear that many journalists from these media companies have some strange sort of vendetta against Somalis. And they often use data and statistics to justify their prejudicial and deeply problematic stories about Somalis.
When looking at inherently backward looking statistics of educational performance, employment and social indicators we ought to interpret the data in this light and put it into context. Much of the media woefully misinterpret the statistics. High unemployment levels, inadequate English and poor social integration for example should not at all be surprising. After all, we are talking about first generation refugees here coming from Somalia. Rather there should be a recognition of the problems - yes - but also alongside that an acknowledgement that some of the challenges that Somalis faced were specific time-bound issues in the years after the 90s and the 2006 refugee waves. Especially the large wave of refugees that came to Europe after Ethiopia's brutal invasion of Somalia in 2006. It was a generational problem in the sense that it was being experienced by first generation refugees and immigrants, facing uniquely but pervasive first generation problems of, for example, not being able to speak the language.
To point out come very important considerations
1. Consider where Somalis come from. In a place like Somalia, that has been in conflict for a long time, government institutions are very weak or non-existent. Education is not available to a significant proportion of the population; many are illiterate. We as a society have also chose to not speak English in Somalia or Somaliland, but rather to maintain our own ancient language, history and culture. Whereas the Kenyans, Nigerians, Indians or even Pakistanis do speak English in their countries. It is therefore unrealistic to expect that first generation Somali refugees will all come here speaking English. It will take them time to adjust. And in that regard it should be acknowledged that Somalis had a huge disadvantage, but that they have overcome that and are now beginning to prosper.This necessarily means it will take first generation Somali immigrants some time to adjust, to learn the language, to learn the country's systems and ways of doing things. This does not mean, however, that they should be unwelcome in the UK or that they are not able to learn English or gain employment... it will just take them that bit longer.
2. It isn't constructive to compare immigrants from English speaking countries - with functioning governments and highly advanced education systems - to immigrants from non-English speaking countries. Those from English speaking countries i.e. Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Ghana, Bangladesh are far more likely to speak English. They will will therefore integrate quicker. But that is not to say that Somali immigrants do not and cannot make a highly valuable contribution to the U.K as indicated by the likes of Mo Farah, Rageh Omaar, Dr Sada Mire and many others.
3. Not all generations of immigrants are the same. Do not compare 1st generation Somali immigrants to 2nd generation Somali immigrants. Similarly do not compare 1st generation Somali immigrants and 4th generation British Indians. The latter have been brought up in completely different environments and their life prospects are completely different. If you look at the second generation (i.e. kids of immigrants), I would be extremely surprised if they didn't speak English or were unable to write and read. The majority of them will also be employed at some level, if not now, certainly in the future once they reach adulthood.
4. Employment prospects and income depend on and are affected by lots of things - one's ethnicity or background is just one of a multitude of interconnected factors. Other factors include educational attainment, qualifications, availability of suitable jobs in the local economy, discrimination, barriers to entry, competition in the job market. Is it their ethnicity or background that inherently causes them to experience high unemployment, or is it a little more complicated than that? There are parts of the UK almost exclusively inhabited by white British people where there is high unemployment, low educational attainment - does this make white Brits undesirable or inherently lazy? The answer is obviously no.
5. A person's employment status or educational achievement is not a permanent condition.No-one is born with a bundle of qualifications and degree certificates in their hand. These are obtained these over time, in enabling environments and given the right opportunities. I am sure there are first generation Muslim immigrants in the UK who have more qualifications and better paid jobs than the author - so journalists shouldn't generalise. And language is learned, not innate... and the learning process is not helped by, in the UK for example, the Government having cut funding to ESOL education across the country.
6. Living in social housing is not a crime, nor can journalists shame Somalis who live in social housing. Most Somalis have valid reasons to live in social housing. Firstly, the majority of Somalis arrived in the UK, USA and Europe since the year 2000 and they mostly live in the South East of England which is the most expensive place to buy property in the UK, if not in Europe. They therefore have not had the same opportunity to accumulate generational wealth required to buy properties with an average property price of £530,000 ($770,000 USD). Secondly, unlike the average British person or more established immigrant communities who have been here for three or four generations, they cannot rely on inheritances, 'the bank of mum and dad' or 'the bank of granddad and grandma' to pay for housing deposits in the tens of thousands of pounds. Thirdly, Somalis for religious reasons choose not to engage in activities that involve being charged or charging interest, as in Islam interest is considered usury, and therefore contrary to the teachings of Islam. So for religious reasons many Somalis, other Muslim communities and orthodox Jews choose to live in social housing. However, there are 4 million households in the UK who live in Social housing. Somali households in social housing are less than 0.5% of the total, so it is not the case that they are putting strain on the system.
7. Large families are not necessarily problematic and should not be demonised. In the end, it the large Somali families of 6, 7 or 8 children who will provide the labour and workforce that is badly need. As evidenced by the countless Somali nurses for example now working in the U.K's hospitals. It is these large families whose sons and daughters will almost inevitably together pay more in income tax, national insurance, council tax, value added tax. Espcially when compared to the standard families who have just one or two children. It is these large families who inevitably pay more in taxes over their lifetimes than they receive in welfare. It is these same larger families whose children will pay towards the pension contributions of the greying population, now ageing at an alarming rate, for decades to come. Their vilification is again underpinned by culturally prejudicial stereotypes rather than an analysis of the hard economic facts.
So don't be brainwashed or disheartened by media who seek to destroy your spirit and in doing so subjugate your mind. Your a Somali, be proud and work hard.
Haters will always try to make it seem as if we're a particularly awful outlier of people, a sickening reflection of their hatred towards both Muslims and blacks.
