MCTC Students Call for Black and Somali Solidarity Amid Rising Fear and Immigration Crackdowns
Students at Minneapolis Community and Technical College say fear has become part of daily life as heightened political rhetoric and immigration enforcement impact Somali and African American communities. Interviews conducted by the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reveal a shared sense of vulnerability and a growing call for solidarity rooted in history, survival, and mutual care.
On a bitterly cold evening at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, conversations among students drifted from homework and jobs to a more urgent topic: fear.
MCTC, a campus known for its racial and cultural diversity, enrolls a large number of African American and Somali students. Amid a national climate of heightened political rhetoric and immigration enforcement, students say they feel that fear in their daily lives.
During interviews conducted by the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, students were asked whether the African American community should stand in solidarity with Somali students and families.
Kameron White, a second-year pre-med student, answered without hesitation. “What Trump is doing right now is just wrong overall, no matter what community you’re a part of,” he said. “Because he’s attacking Latinos and now Somalis, too.
“This is like modern-day Hitler. Wherever you come from, that shouldn’t be acceptable. If someone is trying to eradicate certain people because of where they come from, we shouldn’t be silent.”
White, who is African American, connected the threats facing Somali communities to historical trauma in his own community. “Being Black, I know what that feels like,” he said. “So, we absolutely should stand up for Somali people, Latinos, anyone experiencing this kind of oppression.”
Some Somali students were hesitant to speak on record, citing concerns for their families’ safety. One male student said quietly, “It’s just not right. That’s all I can really say.” Another said fear permeates every part of life. “Yeah, we feel fear,” he said.
“Not just immigrants — citizens too. It affects our daily life. We’re always being watched. My uncles, everyone, they’re afraid … especially for girls going out at night. They’re scared of ICE. They’re scared somebody could just be taken.”
For many students, solidarity is both moral and practical. J’Hakeem Scott, a freshman majoring in health science, said African American and Somali students share a minority experience in the United States. “We can help another brother out,” he said.
“People come here for better lives … same with Latinos and all that. And I think it’s super unfair for people who came for refuge to make better lives for themselves to be treated like criminals and get deported.”
Scott said he is unsure how communities can effectively support one another under current laws. “I see stuff in the media where people try to stop deportations,” he said. “But if you interfere, you could go to jail, too. So, I honestly don’t know what the safest way is, but I know we should care.”
Others framed solidarity as a connection rooted in shared history. Sabria Kadir said, “We should stand together. Either way, we all came from Africa at some point.” Sharina Mudd said it is a matter of self-preservation. “After them, it’ll be us,” she said. “If you’re African American, they’ll say we’re not from here originally either.”
The fears voiced at MCTC echo broader national trends. Somali Americans, especially in Minnesota, the state with the largest Somali population in the U.S., have faced increasing scrutiny in public discourse and immigration enforcement. Students say even rhetoric alone can destabilize daily life.
Despite the tension, students report a quiet solidarity on campus. It appears not in protest chants or viral videos but in hallways, student lounges, and cautious conversations where mutual recognition crosses cultural lines.
For Labryan Young, 19, the principle of solidarity is simple. “I think we should support each other, help each other out as a Black community. I feel like even though we’re from different places, they’re from Somalia, we’re from America, I feel like we can still come together.”
The consensus among students is clear: Unity is not optional but rather a necessity for safety and belonging. For African American students, fear gripping their Somali peers is painfully familiar. For Somali students, the support of Black classmates provides reassurance in a moment of uncertainty.
As the nation debates immigration, race and democracy, MCTC students remind us that solidarity is not a slogan: It is lived experience. And for them, it is not just political: It is about survival.
Scott Selmer welcomes reader responses at sselmer@spokesman-recorder.com.