Resettled refugees in America face a land of daunting obstacles
where small things--one person, one encounter--can make all the
difference in getting ahead or falling behind.
Fleeing war and violence, many refugees dream that moving to the United
States will be like going to Heaven. Instead, they enter a deeply
unequal American society, often at the bottom. Through the lived
experiences of families resettled from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Blair Sackett and Annette Lareau reveal how a daunting obstacle
course of agencies and services can drastically alter refugees'
experiences building a new life in America.
In these stories of struggle and hope, as one volunteer said, "you see
the American story." For some families, minor mistakes create
catastrophes--food stamps cut off, educational opportunities missed,
benefits lost. Other families, with the help of volunteers and social
supports, escape these traps and take steps toward reaching their
dreams. Engaging and eye-opening, We Thought It Would Be Heaven brings
readers into the daily lives of Congolese refugees and offers guidance
for how activists, workers, and policymakers can help refugee families
thrive.
