Hamid Bejeen
Interview conducted by Thao Nguyen and Zaid Khatib
Listen to an excerpt here:
In July 2013, Hamid Bejeen became a refugee when he fled his Sudanese homeland to seek asylum in Egypt. Though by 2013 the long-lasting civil war in Sudan had technically ended, his departure is another testament of its ongoing consequences and continued violence in the country. Prior to leaving his country, Hamid had been a history teacher in Sudan. He also worked to teach people basic Arabic and Nubian language. On the side, he also worked in the trade industry. In 2004, he left his teaching career but continued working in trade until his departure.
Hamid was reluctant to go into the details of his circumstances in Sudan, including how he was handicapped. Hamid only stated that he was handicapped–he has no arms below his elbows–in 2004 while in Sudan. He also mentioned that he decided to flee to Egypt because he already had a brother residing there. Using connections with his friends working in the government, he was able to get some loans to fund his departure and a visa. In Egypt, he applied for asylum and remained in the country for over two years. There, he was able to make a living by selling Sudanese items in a street stand.
He goes into detail describing his experiences in Egypt, speaking of the persecution he experienced there as a result of his race and background. He was often called names like “dark one” and “chocolate” and taunted for his skin color, even by children.
“Sometimes, they make fun of you in the streets. In a public street, they would grab you. So many times they grabbed me from my shirt. They want to see you as a broken person, to push around, to play with. This isn’t of Arab manners.”
The persecution heightened to the point where he was uncomfortable going out into the streets alone because he might encounter children or other people. He felt defenseless in a society that constantly oppressed him.
“At the end of the day, I’m a person, I want to live like any other human. What’s important, all those days, sweet or sour, passed.”
Hamid’s application for resettlement was eventually approved, and he arrived in New York on August 18, 2015. He and his brother were immediately resettled in Durham, North Carolina. Like many refugees, Hamid and his brother have struggled economically since their arrival in the United States, but are grateful for the opportunities they have been afforded. Hamid was initially amazed by the amount of help that is given to people in the United States, particularly considering his disability. He wants similar help to be given to refugees everywhere and to people still struggling in Sudan. Even amidst Hamid’s continued struggle to find his way in the United States, he is always looking toward the future for his family, for which he has many hopes and dreams.
“My dream is to get a better education to improve my financial situation. I hope to give whatever I am paid back to my family [in Sudan] to help my brothers and sisters.”
