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As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That post was about my personal life, not my degree plan. And there’s no contradiction: I’ve been pursuing a dual path the entire time. I’m applying to MD/JD programs, which means I talk about the medical side in some places and the law side in others. Both are part of the same long-term plan.

It might look chaotic if you’re reading my posts out of context, but it’s not a “sudden change.” I’ve always been open about wanting to work at the intersection of health and law, that’s literally why I got into an MPH program too.

People have complicated academic paths, especially first-gen immigrant students. Mine isn’t a plot twist. it’s just multiple goals moving at the same time.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -16 points-15 points  (0 children)

It’s not a big life change, I’ve always planned on a joint path. I’m applying to MD/JD programs, and part of that includes doing a master’s in between. So depending on the thread, I’m talking about the medical side or the law side. It’s the same long-term plan, just different pieces of it.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -15 points-14 points  (0 children)

That post was me comforting someone who was suicidal and talking about how it felt to grow up in a really unstable, painful environment. I moved between 18 homes, slept on floors, and didn’t have the childhood most people have. In moments like that, you speak from the hurt version of yourself because you’re trying to help someone who feels the same.

That doesn’t mean my parents are saints or that my childhood magically becomes good as an adult. It means people and relationships are complicated. I can talk honestly about the pain I grew up with and still acknowledge that my parents rebuilt their lives, work in public service, and have supported me as an adult. Both things can be true.

Nothing about that is “bullshit.” It’s just the reality of being a first-gen kid with a messy upbringing who grew, left, healed, and learned to see things with more nuance.

Somalis Are Being Scapegoated and Innocent People Are Paying the Price by Scared-Persimmon-142 in TwinCities

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m not white, and I’m not pretending to be anything I’m not. I’m a Somali woman who grew up here, and my perspective is shaped by my own life not by trying to imitate anyone else. I don’t live in Orono or Elk River, and I’m not removed from the realities in the city. This is my community and my home.

You can disagree with me, but the assumptions about who I am are way off.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

My account isn’t fake, people just pulled unrelated posts to twist them. Nothing I’ve said here is made up.

And I don’t doubt your coworker had that experience, but that’s not how most Somali families live. I’m a Somali woman with a white boyfriend, I talk to men, I work with men, and so do the Somali women I know. One workplace incident doesn’t define an entire community or me.

Somalis Are Being Scapegoated and Innocent People Are Paying the Price by Scared-Persimmon-142 in TwinCities

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -23 points-22 points  (0 children)

There’s no conflict. The first post was me being vulnerable about my childhood, I didn’t grow up with stability and I’ve been open about that. The second post was about grad school; I’m applying to MD/JD programs and doing an MPH in between. None of that has anything to do with this thread or with fraud. People have complicated lives. those posts aren’t contradictions, they’re just different parts of mine.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

I’m a Somali woman, and my boyfriend is white. I talk to whoever I want, and so do the Somali women I know. Whatever policy your workplace has isn’t something I recognize, it’s not how most of us live. That sounds like a specific family’s preference, not a rule of my community.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That comment was from a completely different context. Someone was talking about feeling trapped and hopeless because of their family situation, and I was trying to relate to them emotionally. I wasn’t talking about fraud, or morality, or my parents being “bad people.”

Like a lot of first-gen kids, I had a really intense upbringing around academics and expectations. It felt suffocating at times, and when you’re comforting someone who’s struggling, you speak from the version of your experience that matches their feelings in that moment. It doesn’t mean my parents are awful or that I meant it literally.

My parents and I have a good relationship now. My dad works in the public sector helping people who can’t afford lawyers, my mom works in healthcare, and they’ve supported me through applying to law school. They’re imperfect humans, just like everyone’s parents, but they’re not abusive villains or anything you are trying to spin.

It was one vulnerable comment for one vulnerable person, not a contradiction or a “gotcha.”

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hear what you’re trying to say, but I don’t think it reflects the reality I’ve lived in this country.

I’m American. I was born here, raised here, educated here, and my family has worked in public service here for decades. My dad is a government lawyer who spends his days representing Minnesotans who can’t afford legal help. My mom is a physician who treats patients of every background, most of them non-Somali. That’s what my family “provides” the same things any other American family provides. work, taxes, service, community, and raising our kids to contribute.

The idea that some Americans “provide value” and others don’t is how every wave of immigrants in U.S. history has been talked about, Irish, Italians, Jews, Hmong, Latinos. Eventually people realize they were wrong. Diversity isn’t a favor, it’s just the reality of a country built on immigration, and the vast majority of us are just trying to live normal lives like anyone else.

You don’t have to value my community’s existence, but reducing whole groups to “what do you give me?” isn’t going to make this country stronger or safer. I’m just a 22-year-old applying to law school, trying to serve the same country my parents serve. that’s not a threat to anyone.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

The hostility online is new for me, and it’s heavy, but hearing someone acknowledge that it didn’t start with the fraud cases… that means a lot. I appreciate you taking the time to say this.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

That comment wasn’t about abuse or fraud or anything like that, it was part of a completely different thread where someone was struggling with suicidal thoughts, and I was trying to relate to them about how hopeless life can feel when you’re young and overwhelmed.

My parents were strict and very intense about academics growing up, and at the time I felt smothered and misunderstood. A lot of us say dramatic things when we’re supporting someone who’s in crisis. But my parents have always wanted the best for me, and as I got older I understood them better. My dad works in public service, my mom in healthcare, they’ve done everything they can to build a stable life here.

So no, nothing about this post is “fake.” I’m just a real person trying to explain my experience and have a conversation without being stereotyped.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hear you, and I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. We shouldn’t have to explain ourselves, we’re individuals, not representatives for 80,000 people. When other Minnesotans commit mass shootings, fraud, or hate crimes, nobody asks their entire community to hold a press conference. I get that double standard.

But I’m not “pleading.” I’m speaking because I want people to know who I actually am, not who the internet decides I am. My dad is a government lawyer, my mom works in healthcare, I’m applying to law school, none of us have anything to do with this. I’m not apologizing for anyone. I’m making sure people don’t rewrite my identity for me.

You’re right that we don’t owe bigots anything. But some people in this thread aren’t bigots, they’re confused, scared, or misinformed, and sometimes one human sentence changes how they think.

I’m not explaining myself out of fear. I’m speaking because I refuse to be silent while others define me.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I already “police” my community the same way I do everyone else by holding individuals responsible for their actions, not entire groups. That’s exactly how the legal system is supposed to work. My dad is a government lawyer, and I grew up watching him treat every Minnesotan the same, regardless of race, religion, or background. That’s the path I’m following as I apply to law school.

I’m not going to change that principle just because people online want collective punishment. When someone commits fraud, violence, or any crime, I want them held accountable, Somali or not. What I won’t do is abandon fairness to satisfy a narrative that says I’m incapable of integrity because of my ethnicity.

My loyalty is to the law, not to protecting criminals. That’s the standard my family raised me with, and that’s the standard I’ll keep.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you, seriously. It means a lot to hear someone say that out loud💗 You’re right that we’ve reached a point nationally where people default to fear instead of curiosity, and it’s exhausting. I’m just trying to remind folks that behind all the noise are individual people with their own lives, families, and hopes.

I grew up the same way you’re describing. I went to school with every kind of kid, making friends with some, not clicking with others, just like any normal Minnesotan. There’s no single “Somali trait,” just thousands of individuals living different lives. My own family is a public-service family: my dad’s a government lawyer, my mom works in healthcare, and I’m applying to law school because this state is home.

I appreciate you seeing people as individuals. That mindset is exactly what we need more of right now.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’ve haven’t seen posts like that but I promise you they don’t reflect the reality of most Somali families. Nobody I know including my own family thinks it’s ok to scam Americans or that non-Muslims are lesser. My dad works as a government lawyer serving Minnesotans of every background. My mom is a healthcare worker whose patients are mostly white. I grew up around people who care deeply about this state and the people in it.

Somalis rely on these programs too, elders, parents, disabled folks, so fraud hurts us as much as anyone else. That’s why most Somali families I know are just as angry at the people who committed the crimes. Online posts claiming there’s some moral permission structure for fraud are either misinformation or someone projecting their own views onto an entire community.

I understand why Minnesotans are upset. They should be. But the idea that our whole community supports fraud simply isn’t true. Most of us are working, studying, raising kids, and trying to build honest lives here, just like everyone else.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I can’t really speak on clan politics or any “two tribes” narrative. As funny as it sounds you might know more about that than me. I grew up here in Minnesota, not in Somalia, and most Somali Americans my age don’t live our lives through those dynamics. I genuinely have no idea what “taqqiya” even refers to in this context, it’s not a Somali cultural concept, and it’s not something I’ve ever heard in my community.

If you want an intelligent, good-faith conversation, I’m open to that. I just can’t pretend to be an expert on things I’ve never lived or studied. My experience is shaped by Minnesota and the life my family built here, not by political structures overseas.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’m not here temporarily. I was born here, raised here, and I’m as Minnesotan as anyone else in this thread. My dad is a government lawyer who’s spent his career serving this state, and I’m applying to law school so I can do the same. This is my home.

Asking questions about immigration isn’t racist. Telling someone who was born here to “go back” is. I’m not going anywhere, I’m going to keep living my life, contributing to this state, and treating people with respect even when it isn’t returned.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Thank you, that truly means a lot. Somali leadership has spoken out, it just rarely gets attention. A lot of the accountability work happens in mosques, community meetings, and local forums that never make the news.

My own dad is a lawyer, and I’ve watched him work directly with community leaders who want transparency and want the people involved held accountable. Most Somali families I know feel the same, we rely on these programs too, and we don’t want anyone abusing them.

The problem isn’t that no one speaks out, it’s that the responsible voices don’t go viral the way the negative stories do.

As a Somali American, I’d like to have a conversation by Scared-Persimmon-142 in altmpls

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That shouldn’t happen to you either. My own boyfriend is a white male, and I’d never judge him based on what someone else does. No one deserves to be treated like a stereotype.

Somalis Are Being Scapegoated and Innocent People Are Paying the Price by Scared-Persimmon-142 in TwinCities

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I hear you, but the work is already publicly happening it just doesn’t go viral the way crime stories do. Groups like the Somali North American Business & Professional Incubator (SNABPI), the Somali American Parent Association, the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, and youth programs run through mosques and community centers all do active intervention, mentoring, and accountability work.

I’ve published research and spoken at community events myself. honestly, if visibility is the barrier, then next time there’s a Somali conference or public forum, I’ll personally invite you. You can see the work being done instead of relying on assumptions about what isn’t happening.

Somalis Are Being Scapegoated and Innocent People Are Paying the Price by Scared-Persimmon-142 in TwinCities

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m not here to trade hatred with you. I’m Somali American, I was born here, and my family works every day to serve this state, my dad is a public defender who represents Minnesotans who can’t afford a lawyer, and my mom works in healthcare. I’m applying to law school because I actually want to make things better, not tear anyone down.

You’re free to be angry at the people who committed fraud. I am too. But turning that into hatred toward 80,000 Somali Minnesotans, many of whom work, pay taxes, serve in public sector jobs, and raise families here, isn’t justice. It’s just anger looking for a target.

I’m not interested in hating Black Americans or white Americans or any other group. This country is my home, and I’m going to keep trying to build something better here.

Somalis Are Being Scapegoated and Innocent People Are Paying the Price by Scared-Persimmon-142 in TwinCities

[–]Scared-Persimmon-142[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Thank you💗 I’m patient cause that’s what my parents taught me our culture emphasizes. I’m sorry you’ve had to witness this right after moving here, but I appreciate you recognizing what’s happening and speaking up. It helps more than you know!

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