Somali Minnesotans celebrate a different Independence Day

<p>Safiya Mohamed reports: </p><p><br></p><p>This weekend, Americans celebrated Independence Day. Just a few days earlier, on July 1st, Somali-Americans celebrated Somali independence day. The holiday dates back to 1960 when Somalia liberated itself from British and Italian colonial powers. </p><p><br></p><p>Hundreds of Somali residents gathered in Eagan to mark the occasion. </p><p>Local author Deqo Muhidin said this day means a lot to her. </p><p><br></p><p>“Being able to celebrate our independence, being able to dance, celebrate, listen to music together, and just be a part of history as we continue to celebrate our legacy of building our nation,” she explained.  </p><p><br></p><p>Muhidin has yet to experience a peaceful Somalia, but it’s something she dreams of. </p><p><br></p><p>The majority of Somali-Minnesotans came here in the 1990s to escape civil war. Minnesota Compass estimates that there are between 72,000 and 85,000 Somali residents in the state. </p><p><br></p><p>As black immigrants in a white majority culture, celebrations like this also provide an opportunity to recharge and heal from racialized trauma. </p><p><br></p><p>Hodo Ali is the financial manager of Isuroon, the non-profit that organized the event. </p><p><br></p><p>“It means to me that I have something, that I remember where I come from. And it also means to me that I have a country and I have a culture,” she said. </p><p><br></p><p>Ali says she hopes the event connects young people with their homeland and their history. For teenagers Luqman Abdi and Zaki Sahal, it appears to have been a success. They said the event means a lot to them, and showed them just how big their community is.  Many attendees said it was exciting and emotional to see so many Somali people gathered together in a predominately white city. </p><p><br></p>