Dear Reader

I want to begin this newsletter with transparency: I’m not a journalist — I’m not even sure I’m a good writer. But here I am, writing to you anyway.

I’m a 21-year-old college student living in Minnesota. For most of my life, I’ve been surrounded by Somalis. Only recently have I started digging deeper into the richness and contradictions of our culture. What I found is a broken beauty.

One thing that defines us is our fierce loyalty. When one of us is under threat, we come together with unmatched energy. But just as quickly, we can turn on one another, often over something as shallow as where our bloodlines do or don’t cross. I'm talking, of course, about qabyaalad — tribalism.

It breaks my heart. How can we ignore our shared faith, identity, and humanity in favor of clan lines that won’t stand with us when we stand before God?

This project — this newsletter — is an attempt to heal. Through dialogue, cultural celebration, and honest storytelling, I hope to help seal some of the fractures in our society.

Every Friday morning, we’ll send out a newsletter covering global news that affects Somalis, wherever they are. Our mission is simple: to help at least one Somali become more informed. We hope that person is you.

Thank you for reading,

Anas Mohamed