Nuer Journeys, Nuer Lives: Sudanese Refugees in Minnesota (Part of the New Immigrants Series)

by Holtzman, Jon D.; Foner, Nancy

• ISBN13: 9780205296798
• ISBN10: 0205296793
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

This book examines contemporary migration to the United States through a surprising and compelling case study the Nuer of Sudan, whose traditional life represents one of the most important case studies in the history of anthropology. In understanding the experiences of the Nuer, readers will not only gain insights into the world of the refugee problem and the role of immigration in the Unites States, they will also learn about the features of Nuer life which are considered a standard part of the anthropology curriculum. The book juxtaposes elements of Nuer culture which are well-known within anthropology and featured in most anthropology textbooks with new developments arising from the immigration of many other Nuer to the U.S. in the 1990s as refugees from civil war in southern Sudan. Consequently, this book will fit well within existing anthropology curricula, while providing an important update on descriptions of traditional life. In addition to fascinating vignettes and case studies, this book provides an opportunity to examine issues of current importance within anthropology, such as social change, transnationalism, displacement, and diaspora in a way which is easy to understand and through a familiar example. For anyone interested in cultural anthropology, race, and ethnicity.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the Series	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	1	(1)
The Nuer	2	(5)
The War in Sudan	7	(2)
The Context of Fieldwork	9	(4)
Nuer Journeys: War, Flight, And Resettlement	13	(16)
The International Refugee Problem	14	(1)
The War in Southern Sudan	15	(7)
The Camps in Kenya	22	(2)
Applying for Resettlement	24	(5)
The Birth of a Community	29	(22)
Getting Started in the United States	30	(3)
Patterns of Resettlement	33	(4)
Nuer in Minnesota: An Overview	37	(4)
Becoming a ``Community''	41	(1)
The Basis of Nuer Community in Sudan	42	(1)
Transformations in Minnesota	43	(2)
Mutual Assistance Associations	45	(6)
Jobs, Welfare, College, and Cars	51	(20)
Lifestyle	52	(3)
Economic Life	55	(4)
Making a Living	59	(5)
A Car is a Bad Cow	64	(6)
Conclusion	70	(1)
Gender, Generation, and Family Change	71	(36)
Nuer Family Life in Sudan	72	(3)
Refugee Flight and the Nuer Family	75	(3)
Changing Gender Relations in Minnesota	78	(11)
From Domestic Conflict to Domestic Violence	89	(6)
Discussion	95	(1)
Children's Issues	96	(1)
Parental Guidance	97	(2)
Older Children and Youth	99	(1)
School	100	(3)
Starting Families in the United States	103	(2)
Conclusion	105	(2)
Nuer Refugees in the American Community	107	(26)
The American Community and its Response	108	(2)
Understanding the Nuer	110	(2)
American Images of the Nuer: Race and Refugees	112	(6)
Formal Contexts of Interaction	118	(5)
Nuer Refugees in American Churches	123	(5)
Transforming Americans	128	(2)
Conclusion	130	(3)
Looking Forward	133	(4)
References	137