This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
On July 17, 2020, Raphael Obonyo reviewed Ilhan Omar's memoir, This is What America Looks Like, a biography that chronicles her remarkable journey from refugee to congresswoman.
Ilhan Omar's story is one of hope and perseverance, as she recounts her early life in Somalia, her four years in a refugee camp in Kenya, and her eventual move to the United States at the age of 12.
At just 37 years old, Omar made history by becoming the first Somali-American elected to both a state legislature and to Congress in 2018.
As the first lawmaker to wear a hijab on the House floor, after receiving a religious exemption to a head-covering ban, Omar called her election a rejection of 'religious bigotry' and a testament to the American people's willingness to fight for a more inclusive society.
Through her memoir, Omar reminds us all of the importance of fearlessly striving for a better life, a better nation, and a better world.
Her unwavering commitment to fighting against structural racism and injustice has inspired a new generation of young voters to join her political journey and 'political revolution.'
