- Many people picture cornfields: the Great Plains of the American heartland.
- Together with colleague Amy Weismann, we aim to build connections with this population and learn from African immigrants’ experiences as they resettle in Iowa.
- Despite their contributions to the region’s labor force, African immigrants across the Midwest are often overlooked and sometimes struggle to access resettlement services.
From Africa to Iowa
- As of 2019, around 2 million Black immigrants from Africa were living in the United States – a number that has tripled since 2000.
- The number of African migrants and asylum-seekers apprehended at the southern border of the United States has also increased as people look for alternatives to Europe.
- According to the Migration Policy Institute, around 30,000 of the 3.2 million people in Iowa were born in Africa.
- Some newcomers are attracted to the region because of economic opportunities, especially in meatpacking plants.
- Some of the refugees first arrived in other states, including California and Michigan, before making their way to Iowa.
- Refugees and immigrants are eligible for short-term aid with groceries, cash assistance, medical care and English classes.
Safe − and sacred − places
In interviews, most immigrants are grateful for friends, family, colleagues and the staff of the secular nonprofit and government agencies who help try to make their stay in Iowa comfortable. However, religious organizations also fill gaps in many arrivals’ new lives – not only with goods and services, but spiritually and socially.
- Religious groups also organize food drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- One interviewee recalled, “It was snowing, and this elderly woman saw me and my baby around the church.
- She helped me so much.” Religious places are also used as safe spaces for African migrants’ stories, highlighting the problems they are facing as individuals and as a community, and thinking of ways to proffer solutions.
- A few congregations also open up their spaces for African attendees to hold cultural events and get-togethers with familiar music and food.
Change ahead
- Many of our interviewees complain about lack of assistance from the government during the assimilation process and advocate for additional support such as more citizenship education for newly resettled immigrants.
- Yet, they are confident that with time, Iowa will diversify, making it feel more like home: a state where they can put down roots, worship among friends and even access African foods such as “ugali” cornmeal, pilau and jollof rice.
Osamamen Oba Eduviere is affiliated with Refugee Alliance of Johnson County. Brady G'Sell is affiliated with the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, IC Compassion and the Refugee Alliance of Johnson County.
