Somali population of Lewiston (Brunswick, Richmond: tax, living in, professionals)

[hinher]

Does anyone know if the somali population of Lewiston is Somali, Somali-Bantu, or a combination of the two? Thanks

[flycessna]

Both are here.

[hinher]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Both are here.

Do they live together in harmony or is their tension between the two groups. I would assume the former if they are choosing to live in the same town

[flycessna]

The only thing I heard was that there was a class issue between the two but I dont know of any incidents. There could be some internal strifes but I also think they live in different parts of the city???? but I am not positive about that.

your question caused me to read up on the Bantu. Interesting... I wish I knew how things were going internally...

The Italian colonial administration abolished slavery in Somalia at the turn of the 20th century. Some Bantu groups, however, remained enslaved well until the 1930s, and continued to be despised and discriminated against by large parts of Somali society

Unlike Somalis, most of whom are nomadic herders, Bantus are mainly sedentary subsistence farmers. Sharp physical differences also distinguish the two groups: Bantus have kinkier hair than the soft-haired Somalis, and are shorter, darker, and more muscular with broader features.

[roadrat]

There are definte tensions between the two groups, in some cases a somali will refuse to speak thru a bantu interpreter and vise-a-versa, thus forcing our weak willed spineless state and city goverments to hire 2 sets of interpreters, on the tax payers dime.


bill

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by roadrat

There are definte tensions between the two groups, in some cases a somali will refuse to speak thru a bantu interpreter and vise-a-versa, thus forcing our weak willed spineless state and city goverments to hire 2 sets of interpreters, on the tax payers dime.


bill

Per federal law municipalities are required to provide an interpreter when requested..

However the city does not employ them, 99% of the time people bring their own or there is usually someone around that can do it, this cost NO money.

In those rare instances where the city needs to find an interpreter there are 1-800 lines that are used that charge like $4 per minute. You are talking to professionals who are doing this for a living and I have never heard of someone refusing to interpret..

[Maineah]

There is a Somali Restaurant in Lewiston called Taste of Three One Cafe' which is featured in the October 2010 issue of Downeast Magazine. The place has a pretty good following and seems to be a particular favorite with some of the Lewiston Police. Personally I would not eat goat but some of the other dishes look to be pretty good. They are not only catering to the Somalian population of the area but by becoming entrepeneurs they are assimilating into our community. Hats off to them and I wish them success!

[Clarissa2010]

Originally Posted by Maineah

There is a Somali Restaurant in Lewiston called Taste of Three One Cafe' .... by becoming entrepeneurs they are assimilating into our community. Hats off to them and I wish them success!

I also wish them success. Over a year ago a friend and I went to Lewiston for the express purpose of trying a Somali restaurant we had read about in th papter (Times Record/Brunswick area). When we go there the restaurant was closed and so was another Somali restaurant on the other side of the same street.

The Somalis are known as "secondary immigrants" in that they didn't arrive in Lewiston when they first came to the U.S. They were scattered around in several different states. They communicated together on the Internet and collectively were hunting for a city where there was public transportation available and plenty of housing. One of them found Lewiston communicated that to the others via the same Internet.
In the places where they settled before they received refuge settlement money but when they moved away from the places they came to as refugees, they lost those refugee benefits.

It reminds me a bit of the Russian movement to Richmond. Some Russians bought up land in Richmond because it looked so much like Russia. They then advertised it in Russian Language newspapers saying that the land and the views were like Russia's. Russians who had been refuges in another place were a community in their new place - Richmond, ME

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by Clarissa2010

I also wish them success. Over a year ago a friend and I went to Lewiston for the express purpose of trying a Somali restaurant we had read about in th papter (Times Record/Brunswick area). When we go there the restaurant was closed and so was another Somali restaurant on the other side of the same street.

The Somalis are known as "secondary immigrants" in that they didn't arrive in Lewiston when they first came to the U.S. They were scattered around in several different states. They communicated together on the Internet and collectively were hunting for a city where there was public transportation available and plenty of housing. One of them found Lewiston communicated that to the others via the same Internet.
In the places where they settled before they received refuge settlement money but when they moved away from the places they came to as refugees, they lost those refugee benefits.

It reminds me a bit of the Russian movement to Richmond. Some Russians bought up land in Richmond because it looked so much like Russia. They then advertised it in Russian Language newspapers saying that the land and the views were like Russia's. Russians who had been refuges in another place were a community in their new place - Richmond, ME

Catholic charities had plenty to do with the Somali Immigration. I wish them success too but the reality is most of them do not work and support themselves.

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by Clarissa2010

It reminds me a bit of the Russian movement to Richmond. Some Russians bought up land in Richmond because it looked so much like Russia. They then advertised it in Russian Language newspapers saying that the land and the views were like Russia's. Russians who had been refuges in another place were a community in their new place - Richmond, ME

I checked City Data's info on Richmond says there are 15 people of Russian ancestry in Richmond. Out of a population of almost 2000, 15 doesn't sound like much of a movement.

How many Russians would you guess are living in Richmond now?

And how did they find jobs?