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Chapter 12. The New African Americans: Liberians of War in Minnesota
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C Ch ha ap pt te er r 1 12 2 The New African Americans: Liberians of War in Minnesota EARL P. SCOTT Landscapes reflect cultural and socioeconomic imprints of the societies that occupy the land. Discernible landscape features give meaning to human-environment interaction over time. Understanding the culture and experiences of the societies that occupy a land leads to better interpretation of any landscape including slightly modified, “nuanced” landscapes. These landscapes must be understood from the perspective of the people who gave them functional and emotional meaning (Tuan, 1979, p. 387). Because America is still open to immigrants, its landscapes are constantly under modification as new arrivals imprint the land surface. The four goals of this chapter relate to the Liberian immigrant settlements in Minnesota. First, it examines the formation and distribution of Liberian communities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area in Minnesota. The second goal addresses the question: What cultural elements are shared by Liberians and African Americans? The third goal is to analyze the extent to which shared traits influence Liberian-African American interactions and promote cultural solidarity and convergence between the two groups. The final goal is to examine the nature of landscapes and the reconstruction of Liberian ethnic spaces in the Twin Cities. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the future cooperation of these two ethnic groups with a common heritage. THE FORMATION OF LIBERIAN COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA The “Established” Liberian Immigrants: Pre-1996 Arrivals Recent strife brought global attention to Liberia and Liberian immigrant flows to the U.S. However, a relatively small number of Liberians immigrated to the U.S. before 1996. Given its interior location, harsh winters , and predominately northern European population, Minnesota appears to be an unlikely destination for such African immigrants. Still, a small number of African and Liberian immigrants made their way to Minnesota in two waves. The pre-1996 period is considered the first wave and the immigrants are termed the “established” Liberians. These immigrants, like others, sought better education, job opportunities, and generally, hope for a better life that America could offer. While a small number of these original Liberians settled in small farm towns and university communities, the vast majority settled in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Generally, like local African Americans, the established Liberian immigrants continue to reside near the inner city. However , Liberian immigrants of the second wave are mainly suburban residents. These are referred to as “recent Liberian immigrants,” because they came after 1996. They also are mainly refugees of war and subsequent reprisals . 142 Earl P. Scott Recent Immigration Process: Liberian Families of War The recent Liberian immigrants comprise by far the larger of the two waves, and continue to arrive in Minnesota. Often, entire families ultimately reassemble in Minnesota. The Lutheran Social Services and other service agencies assist refugees in their resettlement because Minnesota requires agency or family sponsorship. For most refugee immigrants, the journey from war-torn Liberia to Minnesota was long, hard, and unbelievably frightening. Most came to escape the civil unrest and violence of the 1990s. One family’s story illustrates what immigrants have endured to reach safety and freedom. Members of this family, who lived and worked in Monrovia , escaped arrest and possibly death moments before the soldiers arrived at their door. The family abandoned its home, valued possessions and other properties, and with grandparents and children, waded through mosquitoinfested swamps. The family hid with friends and acquaintances until they reached their traditional vernacular region. After days of uncertainty, fear, and harassment by rogue elements, the family managed to cross the eastern border (i.e., the Cavally River), and found shelter and food in a refugee camp in northern Ivory Coast. They stayed in the camp for more than two years, until the father, who had attended the University of Minnesota, became established with friends in Minnesota and met the requirements of the Lutheran Social Services. Then the entire family reassembled in Minnesota. The Lutheran Social Services assists such families in settling into permanent homes, obtaining proper identification cards, and employment. However, Liberian-organized agencies, such as the Pan-African Social Services and the Liberian Community of Minnesota Corporation, now have assumed the same responsibilities. These service organizations are social institutions providing multiple functions. They not only support recent arrivals in their settlement, they have become vehicles through which recent immigrants speak, criticizing American-Liberian policy and their desire to return to Liberia to change their home nation.1 Meanwhile, these immigrants of war make...