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RealTalk for East Africans in Florida

A group of Ethiopian-Americans standing in front of a background that fades into images of the Ethiopian and United States flags. Illustration made using elements via Canva.com
Project Members
Engagement Method
Social Engagement
Action Area
Community
Health
Housing
Livelihoods
Strategic Priority
Achieving Racial Justice
Closing the Wealth Gap
Enhancing Multi-Racial Democratic Governance

The RealTalk for East Africans in Florida project aimed to understand the concerns and challenges faced by East African immigrants and children of immigrants living in South Florida. More specifically, the project focused on the current community as well as what could be done to improve the lives of the next generation of East African Americans. Because of difficulties in locating participants, most of the individuals involved are of Ethiopian descent meaning the insights found predominantly reflect the experiences of this specific demographic.

The study used small group conversations, lasting 45 minutes to 2 hours, focusing on topics like family, growing up as immigrants, discrimination, cultural identity, and raising kids in the U.S. versus in Africa. From this, a report was produced, exploring themes of "Community," "Maintaining Culture," "Discrimination," "Belonging," and "Call to Action." Though the focus is on the South Florida Ethiopian community, the findings could be relevant to the broader East African community in the U.S. By sharing this information with East African community leaders, we hope they can identify concerns that resonate with their community and implement the suggested changes to address these concerns.

Led by Sarah Habona with support from Patricia Michelle Garcia Iruegas and Melissa Jimenez Camejo and in collaboration with Bego Adragot East African Communities.

RealTalk for East Africans in Florida

This paper draws from conversations conducted during the summer of 2023, which were intended to take place with individuals of East African or East African descent residing in South Florida. This initiative sought to amplify the voices and stories of East Africans, contributing to a deeper understanding of their unique challenges, dreams, and the dynamics shaping their lives in the United States. It's important to note, however, that all responses received were from Ethiopian or Ethiopian-American participants, consequently, the insights presented here predominantly reflect the experiences of this specific demographic. Throughout the paper, the term “Habesha” is used to refer to Ethiopians/Eritreans as a whole. The insights presented in this paper are a testament to the power of meaningful conversations, the participatory essence of research, and the compelling narratives that emerged during our dialogues.
 

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