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This Is What America Looks Like summary
Ilhan Omar
My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman
23 mins
Brief summary
"This Is What America Looks Like" by Ilhan Omar is a powerful memoir that chronicles her journey of fighting for social justice and her experiences as the first refugee and one of the first Muslim women in Congress. It's an inspiring call for change and inclusion in American politics.
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This Is What America Looks Like
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Ilhan Omar’s carefree childhood was interrupted by civil war.
When Ilhan Omar was a child, she was physically tiny. However, she punched above her weight – literally. In her hometown of Mogadishu, Somalia, she often got into fights at school. Despite her size, she wouldn’t put up with bullies picking on her or other kids.
Ilhan wasn’t a typical Somali girl. But her family wasn’t a typical Somali family, either. For one thing, Ilhan and her siblings grew up without their mother, who died when Ilhan was two years old. For another, her family was Benadiri, an ethnic minority in Mogadishu. Her family had learned long ago that they didn’t fit in, so they might as well do and act as they liked. That meant, among other things, raising the girls in the family with as many privileges and responsibilities as the boys.
Ilhan’s first few years were happy. But that happiness wasn’t to last.
The key message here is: Ilhan Omar’s carefree childhood was interrupted by civil war.
When Ilhan was eight, war broke out in Somalia, seemingly overnight. Her house was hit by bullets and mortar shells multiple times, and the war caused serious food shortages, leaving her family with only rice and beans to eat. Still, they were the lucky ones: in 1992, the year the war broke out, around 350,000 Somalis died, many from starvation or disease.
When armed men tried to break into the house as the family cowered inside, Ilhan’s grandfather realized that they had to leave Mogadishu. The next morning, the family split up and loaded themselves onto several different cattle trucks, which were crammed with people fleeing the violence. Ilhan left with her pregnant aunt Fos, heading for southern Somalia. But the violence was spreading throughout the country, and soon the family was forced to cross the border into northern Kenya.
Eventually, they ended up at a refugee camp outside the Kenyan city of Mombasa, joining the rest of her family from Mogadishu. It was bleak, but at least people gave Ilhan food and water. At the camp, she felt looked after.
However, while Ilhan and her aunt Fos had escaped the violence of Somalia, they weren’t totally out of danger. Disease was rife in the camp, and soon, her beloved aunt contracted malaria. After a few weeks, she died of the disease. For the first time, Ilhan felt angry and scared for the future.
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What is This Is What America Looks Like about?
This Is What America Looks Like (2020) is a memoir tracing Ilhan Omar’s incredible, trailblazing journey from war-torn Mogadishu to the floor of the US House of Representatives. In the process, she learned what truly matters to her as a Muslim, mother, American, and human being.
This Is What America Looks Like Review
This Is What America Looks Like (2020) by Ilhan Omar provides a powerful account of the congresswoman's journey as a refugee turned elected official. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- With candidness and authenticity, it sheds light on the challenges faced by immigrants in America, offering a fresh perspective on the immigrant experience.
- Packed with personal anecdotes and stories of resilience, the book offers a unique insight into the world of politics and the pursuit of social justice.
- Through its thought-provoking narratives and calls for action, the book inspires readers to engage in conversations about community, compassion, and the future of America.
Who should read This Is What America Looks Like?
- Superfans of The Squad
- American politics junkies
- Anyone looking for a modern-day fairytale
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This Is What America Looks Like FAQs
What is the main message of This Is What America Looks Like?
The main message of This Is What America Looks Like is a powerful reflection on the challenges and triumphs of being an immigrant and a woman of color in America.
How long does it take to read This Is What America Looks Like?
The estimated reading time for This Is What America Looks Like varies depending on the reader's speed. However, you can read the Blinkist summary in just 15 minutes.
Is This Is What America Looks Like a good book? Is it worth reading?
This Is What America Looks Like is a remarkable book worth reading. It offers an inspiring perspective and sheds light on important social issues and personal experiences.
Who is the author of This Is What America Looks Like?
Ilhan Omar is the author of This Is What America Looks Like.
What to read after This Is What America Looks Like?
If you're wondering what to read next after This Is What America Looks Like, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Promises to Keep by Joe Biden
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- Stop Self-Sabotage by Dr. Judy Ho
- The Daily Laws by Robert Greene
- The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart by Meggan Roxanne
- Dancing in the Streets by Barbara Ehrenreich
- Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela