Alright – so the state of Minnesota legislators and governor set an agency to help those lacking health insurance coverage. When this was being set – we were told it is good for everyone and will reflect our state. Never believe many of MN DFL’s political words as far as the eye can see.
As anyone can see, Minnesota is no longer Lake Wobegon and has become lake diversity by the thousands. According to officials, Somalis are the largest growing New Americans who become American Citizens by the thousands every year. They made Minn their home, certainly not because of the weather but because MN has lots of good stats in business opportunities and room for growth.
Well – so they thought and lied to by many of their elected officials. Here is what I mean by that.
The unemployment rate for Somalis who are part of African American community is twice higher as Whites. The education gap for Somalis is one of the worst in the country. The high school drop out is becoming a huge problem. The elderly Somali population is mostly diagnosed with some kind of chronic disease such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. And of course our children have a higher rate of autism. I think anyone can see this with their eyes.
Despite all of these hardships and obstacles, this community manages to open thousands of businesses and manages to have many of their children graduate from college and even earn higher degrees. Therefore, one would think that some of these folks would have been hired by Sen Franken (the 312 vote senator), Gov Dayton’s office (the 8770 vote governor) or even the newly created state agency – MNsure.
But noooooo that is never the case, even though we were told most people who are uninsured are low income who are disproportionately minorities including Somalis who supported this program. They are just not good enough to be hired in a leadership position. I always love how a non-minority person is hired, nurtured and moved up the ladder, but an African American person not so much. They need to come out of their mother’s womb perfect and ready to lead. I always hear they are told “they just don’t have the qualifications we were looking for”. By the same token, a non Black person is hired, trained and taught. Isn’t that ironic – yet we keep voting for these same politicians who create these agencies and never give our own the same opportunities.
Think about that.
If you voted for Governor Dayton and you are Black who lives in Minnesota, especially Minneapolis – how is it going? Does your community’s face represent MNsure, his office, the mayor’s office (charming RT) so on and so forth? If not – how can you possibly vote for them again. Insanity is voting for the same people and expecting different policies.
If the answer is no – then why do we keep hiring them to represent us. They surely have zero desire to make us part of the American melting pot. See MNsure Leadership here. And see which organizations that have been funded here.
I guess my question, why does MNsure, the very agency to help the under-served lack faces of color? In addition, it has become clear that those that were funded have very little African American faces including the big agencies that have a good history and record with our communities, such as Confederation Somali Community of Minnesota, Minneapolis Urban League and others.
Vote Wisely – Please – pretty please in 2014!
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate