What will I learn about: how being raised in a minority family in Somalia instilled a fierce independence that helped Ilhan Omar survive civil war, refugee camps, and childhood bullying?

Discover how being raised in a minority family in Somalia instilled a fierce independence that helped Ilhan Omar survive civil war, refugee camps, and childhood bullying.

What will I learn about: how the harsh realities and profound losses of a Kenyan refugee camp taught Ilhan that shared tragedy can powerfully unite a community to care for one another?

Understand how the harsh realities and profound losses of a Kenyan refugee camp taught Ilhan that shared tragedy can powerfully unite a community to care for one another.

What will I learn about: why Ilhan's father specifically chose the United States for refuge, driven by the profound belief that only in America can an immigrant ultimately become a full citizen?

Find out why Ilhan's father specifically chose the United States for refuge, driven by the profound belief that only in America can an immigrant ultimately become a full citizen.

What will I learn about: Learn how Ilhan channeled the isolation and school detentions of her early days in Virginia into rapidly mastering English and replacing physical fights with effective communication?

Learn how Ilhan channeled the isolation and school detentions of her early days in Virginia into rapidly mastering English and replacing physical fights with effective communication.

What will I learn about: Explore how Ilhan's first foray into leadership at a diverse Minnesota high school taught her the vital political skill of building coalitions to successfully bridge cultural divides?

Explore how Ilhan's first foray into leadership at a diverse Minnesota high school taught her the vital political skill of building coalitions to successfully bridge cultural divides.

This Is What America Looks Like

My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman

Ilhan Omar

★ 4.3 / 5(53 ratings)

Start ListeningDownload QR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App Store

Try free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds

Categories:

Biography & Memoir Politics

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that one of the most influential voices in modern American politics began her journey as a refugee fleeing civil war in Mogadishu?
💡Have you ever wondered how Ilhan Omar balances her identity as a mother and a Muslim while navigating the high-stakes world of the US House of Representatives?
💡What is the secret to transforming the experience of being a political outsider into a trailblazing career that redefined what leadership looks like in America?

Listen to This Is What America Looks Like — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from This Is What America Looks Like

✓Discover how being raised in a minority family in Somalia instilled a fierce independence that helped Ilhan Omar survive civil war, refugee camps, and childhood bullying.
✓Understand how the harsh realities and profound losses of a Kenyan refugee camp taught Ilhan that shared tragedy can powerfully unite a community to care for one another.
✓Find out why Ilhan's father specifically chose the United States for refuge, driven by the profound belief that only in America can an immigrant ultimately become a full citizen.
✓Learn how Ilhan channeled the isolation and school detentions of her early days in Virginia into rapidly mastering English and replacing physical fights with effective communication.
✓Explore how Ilhan's first foray into leadership at a diverse Minnesota high school taught her the vital political skill of building coalitions to successfully bridge cultural divides.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from This Is What America Looks Like

Mind Map

This Is What America Looks Like

Early Life & Refugee Experience+

Immigration & Assimilation+

Personal Struggles & Growth+

Political Awakening & Organizing+

Running for Office & National Stage+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8

Why did Ilhan Omar's family raise the girls with the same privileges and responsibilities as the boys?

A. They were heavily influenced by Western media and literature.
B. Her mother was a prominent feminist activist in Mogadishu before she passed away.
C. They were an ethnic minority that already didn't fit in, so they decided to live by their own rules.
D. The local schools in their Somali community mandated gender-equal education.

Question 2 of 8

According to her father, what was the primary reason he dreamed of settling the family in America rather than another country?

A. America offered the most generous financial aid and housing for refugees.
B. America was the only place where they could ultimately become full citizens rather than feeling like 'guests.'
C. He had a large network of relatives already living in Arlington, Virginia.
D. The orientation videos promised them a wealthy lifestyle with a house and a white picket fence.

Question 3 of 8

How did Ilhan primarily learn to speak English during her first year in the United States?

A. By watching Bollywood movies with her neighbors.
B. Through a specialized ESL program provided by her middle school.
C. By spending long hours reading and writing while serving detention for getting into fights.
D. Through daily political lessons taught by her grandfather.

Question 4 of 8

What prompted Ilhan to resume wearing the hijab as a young adult after not wearing it for years?

A. She took a trip to Sweden and realized the hijab could be a personal anchor for her rather than an external expectation.
B. She was pressured by her father and the close-knit Somali community in Minneapolis to conform to their standards.
C. She started her political career and wanted to visibly represent her Muslim constituents.
D. She was required to wear it while attending the college program at the Mall of America.

Question 5 of 8

What pivotal event helped Ilhan and her father reach a mutual understanding and forgive each other for their past clashes?

A. Working together to manage Andrew Johnson's city council campaign.
B. A joint trip back to Somalia to carry out her undergraduate research project.
C. Her father's intervention and support during her destructive second marriage.
D. The birth of her first daughter, Isra, shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

Question 6 of 8

What did Ilhan's grandfather introduce her to that first sparked her appreciation for American democracy and voting?

A. A televised presidential debate.
B. A community protest against the Iraq War.
C. A local political caucus.
D. A town hall meeting on refugee resettlement.

Question 7 of 8

During her campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives, what surprising obstacle did Ilhan face from within her own community?

A. Somali youth boycotted her campaign because they felt her policies were too conservative.
B. Somali elders told her father it was inappropriate for a woman to lead and spread malicious rumors about her.
C. Community organizers refused to support her because she had previously managed a white candidate's campaign.
D. Local mosques banned her from speaking due to her previous divorces.

Question 8 of 8

How did Ilhan Omar respond to President Trump's travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries?

A. She organized a massive protest at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport that shut down terminals.
B. She immediately filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration.
C. She resigned from the state legislature in protest to run for the US House of Representatives.
D. She held a press conference inviting Trump to have tea so she could educate him about her people.