My Somali neighbors have opened my eyes to the beauty of America

When I was a child, one December Sunday, my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Watts, gathered all the half-used candles we brought from home, placed them in a large pot in the church kitchen, and lit a fire. Curious, I asked her what she was doing. She explained she was creating new Christmas candles. When another student questioned why, she pointed her wooden spatula at us and said slowly, "God doesnt make junk. Every one of you carries His light." That lesson has stayed with me for 47 years.

It pains me to recall that while President Trump called Somali immigrants "garbage," I was in south Minneapolis speaking with a Somali man. Thinking about my neighbors, what stands out most is their devotion to family, education, and opportunity. We are the same age, our children are the same age, and his hopes for his family mirror mine for mine. Arriving in the U.S., he began as a laborer and eventually attended college. Despite Minnesota winters, he said, "As long as my family has opportunities, the cold doesnt matter." Our conversation took place in a sauna, and his only complaint was that it could be warmer.

During the two years I coached little league and middle school baseball in south Minneapolis, Somali children were focused, cheerful, and eager to participate, even if soccer or basketball were their first love. Their parents ensured punctuality, helped with cleanup, and never burdened me with heavy equipment. Remarkably, they didnt complain about playing time or team decisions; their concern was only if practice interfered with study time.

In 2020, while attending George Floyds funeral under an oak tree across from North Central University, I noticed Somali neighbors offering comfort food, sambusas, to the mourners. One family shared their journey from a refugee camp in Kenya to the United States, seeking a better life for their children. Their only lament was, "Why does this violence happen in America?" Despite the hardships, they strive to create a sense of hope and opportunity in their new home.

Somali families in Minnesota have endured burned mosques, workplace and school discrimination, and the threat of deportation. Yet, they persevereraising children, working diligently, studying, organizing communities, running for office, advocating for change, and maintaining faith in America. Their resilience and dedication are inspiring, reflecting the best of our nation.

Mrs. Watts lessonthat everyone carries Gods lightresonates deeply with the principles underlying our countrys founding. The Declaration of Independence asserts that all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights by their Creator. In the same spirit, God doesnt make garbage; He creates beauty. I hope those in power, like the president, recognize that the true value of peoplelike my Somali neighborsreflects the best of America.

Author: Noah Whitman