Blog #2: Educational History

One very important historical fact about education's history I learned that struck me the most was in the first article "Historical Perspectives Informing the Schooling of a Diverse Society: A Legacy of Inclusion and Exclusion" the Arab American Education section. 36.3 percent of Arab Americans hold bachelors degrees, with 15.2 percent holding graduate degrees. Higher than the national average for Americans. Arab Americans have always been known for being the highest educated rate of muslims in America. I first learned about the Arabs in the United States after 9/11. I was 7 at the time I believe and being so young I didn't think there was any other race of Muslims other then Somali's in America. I seen the torment that had come after that tragic event and it was hard to watch the transition that they had to go though education wise int he past decade of stereotyping and discrimination. I was amazed to find out that there was barely any studies on Arab American student from K-12 which is where the research should begin usually in tracking progress in students. the under appreciation and knowledge of Arab American is the U.S. makes me feel like we were in the same boat all along.

My Mothers name is Mariam, and my Fathers name is Abdulkadir. They migrated to the United States after the Somali Civil war in 1996. I was 1 years old when I came to Minnesota, my parents decided Somalia was not a great country with many opportunity at the time to raise they're six children so they decided to migrate through a refugee in Kenya. Coming to America was a big deal for my family. My father barely knew english and my mother was fluent in both Somali and English they both graduated from high school but could not go to college because the colleges were getting bombed. My oldest brother was the first in my family to go to college that is a big thing in my family. College was always something that wasn't up for debate. The journey my parents under went to get us to where we are now is the reason I strive to achieve and better myself as a student. There is no days off and for all the commemorbale things in the Somali Community education wise doesn't get enough support from the United States especially in Minnesota,which is one of the biggest Somali communities in the U.S today. My father now owns a grocery store in St. Paul and my mom got her associates in minor medicine and works for the red cross. These things fuel me to make a big change in the studies of Muslim American education in the U.S. It's very pleasing to know someone cares out there.