another room

I stopped by to see Mbamie and her kids the other day and drove up to a crowd of teenagers bubbling with tension and violence. At first I didn't know if I should take our kids out of the car, but then I saw apartment managers and employees and that the crowd was dissipating- the police shortly arrived. Apparently this happens all the time and it's not the kids living in the complex, which at this point has a very high percentage of refugees living there, but it is across from one of the local high schools and has a courtyard, so I guess the highschoolers figure it's a great place to fight. It's not fair for those who live there and what a sight for all our newly arrived guests trying to make this place their home. I love their perspective though. Here they are coming to America to flee real serious war and fighting and they witness the squabbles of a bunch of teenagers.

A congolese woman asked why the kids were fighting that day. One of Mbamie's nieces told her a hispanic kid called another kid a "niger". Congo lady says- "yeah AND?-- you mean that's why they were fighting? Who cares if someone calls me, us, him a niger? I am a niger! God made me black and if they have a problem with it, they need to take it up with God. Why get upset over them saying the truth, what I am, negre (black)" The nieces tried to explain what they have been told regarding the connotations of the term going back to slavery issues and Congo lady rolls her eyes and says "please!!!" (I have to admit that the French translation for niger does not hold all the venom that it seems to have in English- but it was humorous none the less and does put things in perspective).

This is one of the few places in Abilene where you can see a teen carrying a baby sibling slung on her back with an African "pagne" cloth. We have so much to learn from these people who have been through so much, if we would only get over our petty issues and listen.

Mbamie amazes me. Today the local rescue vehicle that got her here called her in to tell her the date her husband will arrive (the 11th or 12th of Sept!!!) Her housing, which is government subsidized told her to come with the date when she had it. She applied for a bigger apartment and already paid the transfer fee. We get there and they say they don't have anything there. She argued that there are 3 four bedroom apartments available and she would get one. They said they weren't available. I'm heading for the door- looks like there's no solution here and she is making herself comfortable in the chair- we'll stay until I get what I came for- she says. I'm asking her what should I say to them. She said the other people those apartments are for, have they paid the transfer money? They have? Well they haven't signed a lease, so you can still give one to me. We end up being ushered to the back where we are told again by some higher up that there is nothing available. Mbamie starts calling off apartment numbers- apt. 204 has 4 bedrooms and has been vacant forever, as well as the one next to it. The higher up tells us those are not in the system as they need extensive repairs. Mbamie keeps on... the apartment next to her brother's is free and she tells me the saga story about the women and kids who were moved to something smaller. Suddenly the higher up asks me if Mbamie's name is... She happens to remember that she had an apartment reserved for her and gets on the phone giving permission to her repair guy to work the next day. Mbamie's 4 bedroom should be ready tomorrow or Wed. at the latest giving her time to transfer utilities and move over the weekend so that her husband can come to America and a home with room for him. Then the higher up brings up another detail. Does he have paperwork? He has to have paperwork in order to get into the gov. system (which he can't possibly have immediately). Again, Mbamie digs in and argues laboriously until the higher up figures out a way to work the system to allow him to come and stay at her home and not at some hotel after years of not seeing each other. Apparently you have to give the government a permission slip so much as to have a sleep over in these places.

Why are the poor so beaten down? They don't have the stamina. They've been taught the doors will shut and not open, but that is not always the case. It's amazing what can be accomplished when someone just stays there until a way is found. Mbamie will move ahead and forward because she has learned to fight for what should be hers, for the important things. The teens were fighting over name calling while Mbamie fights for the reunion of her family after nearly four long years, war, incredible distances and what seemed like insurmountable odds.