Week 7_ Alexandra Tan_A01

There seems to be a high level of respect from refugees to their host countries, just as there is respect for host countries to the refugees they accept. Refugee status seems to be one that is often overlooked as many focus most of there attention on legal vs illegal residents. It was surprising to me, as Brown reveals in Refugees, Rights, and Race, that West African refugees are resentful to African-Americans because of the way they are perceived by others due to their racial affiliation with African-Americans. Though, it makes sense that in legal situations they choose to clearly separate themselves and distinguish themselves as African refugees rather than African-Americans. This is an odd predicament due to the fact that one would guess and someone with refugee status would be acted upon more harshly by the state than someone who hold citizen status. The fact that this occurs could have something to say about the problems of race and society that still hold true in the United States.

Why do West African refugees feel the need to distinguish themselves from African  Americans? Do West African refugees feel that they are superior than African Americans? I think these questions are some that could be answered about this topic as to why West African refugees take pride in their refugee status, while other refugees do not necessarily feel the same way.



Citations:
Brown, H. (2011). Refugees, Rights, and Race: How Legal Status Shapes Liberian Immigrants' Relationship with the State. Social Problems, 58(1), 144-163.

Effiong, B. (2016, August 17). Central and South America a New Haven for African Refugees. Retrieved from http://nigerianreporter.com/2016/08/17/central-and-south-america-a-new-haven-for-african-refugees/