Jan 15, 2001
By
Staff Writer
Star Tribune
On January 15, 2001, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on the "frequent fights and
verbal conflicts" between African-American and Somali students at Minneapolis' Roosevelt
High School. Student council member Matt Oxendale attributes the conflict to the Somali students' "trying
too hard and
too fast to fit in." Senior Fred Powell said the Somalis "think they're better than us." Another senior said that the fact that both groups are the most populous at the school sets up "a subconscious power struggle...Junior Nimco Ahmed said she believes that the problem is based on
cultural and religious differences" that can easily be misunderstood." Other students think the problem "is just plain 'lack of
respect for each other.'...Some African-American students say there is resentment among them
because they think teachers regard Somali students as better behaved and give
them preferential treatment." Principal Michael Huerth said he thinks "'the reason why my African-American and
Somali students fight is because most people with similar
characteristics fight
with each other.'...He said a forum for discussion of the problem is in the works."