Nuer Journeys, Nuer Lives: Sudanese Refugees in Minnesota / Edition 2

by Jon D. Holtzman

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2900205543327
Publication date:	04/25/2007
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Jon D. Holtzman, Indiana Univeristy - Purdue University, Indianapolis
Nancy Foner, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York

Table of Contents

Foreword to the Series.

Acknowledgments.

1. Introduction.
The Nuer.
The War in Sudan.
The Context of Fieldwork.

2. Nuer Journeys: War, Flight, and Resettlement.
The International Refugee Problem.
The War in Southern Sudan.
The Camps in Kenya.
Applying for Resettlement.

3. The Birth of a Community.
Getting Started in the United States.
Patterns of Resettlement.
Nuer in Minnesota: An Overview.
Becoming a “Community.”
The Basis of Nuer Community in Sudan.
Transformations in Minnesota.
Mutual Assistance Associations.

4. Jobs, Welfare, College, and Cars.
Lifestyle.
Economic Life.
Making a Living.
A Car Is a Bad Cow.
Conclusion.

5. Gender, Genderation, and Family Change.
Nuer Family Life in Sudan.
Refugee Flight and the Nuer Family.
Changing Gender Relations in Minnesota.
From Domestic Conflict to Domestic Violence.
Discussion.
Children's Issues.
Parental Guidance.
Older Children and Youth.
School.
Starting Families in the United States.
Conclusion.

6. Nuer Refugees in the American Community.
The American Community and Its Response.
Understanding the Nuer.
American Images of the Nuer: Race and Refugees.
Formal Contexts of Interaction.
Nuer Refugees in American Churches.
Transforming Americans.
Conclusion.

7. Looking Forward.

References.