We Thought It Would Be Heaven: Refugees in an Unequal America

by Blair Sackett, Annette Lareau

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology

207 pages, Hardcover

Published August 22, 2023

Reviews

[Maggie Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic depiction showing the real realities refugee families face when intersecting with so many institutions upon American resettlement. My anthropology minor brain really appreciated the format of this book too :-) it’s all case studies of Congolese families resettled in Philadelphia. A great book for anyone who wants to learn more about the refugee experience.

[Amanda Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the books I’ve read about refugee resettlement, this one feels the most real. It’s one of the most accurate depictions I’ve read of what life in America can actually be like for refugee families — not just the hope and opportunity, but the confusion, barriers, grief, resilience, and complexity that all exist at the same time.

It also does an excellent job of highlighting the ways our systems — education, healthcare, employment, public assistance — are often fragmented or inequitable. You see how families can do everything “right” and still run into structural barriers that feel nearly impossible to navigate. The book doesn’t exaggerate this, but it clearly exposes where the system is broken and who bears the weight of that brokenness.

[Abby Grimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My science brain loved the “case study” feel of this book. Such a thorough analysis on the challenges refugees face after coming to America. Anyone who believes that all refugees are automatically handed an easy life in America should read this book (and then befriend a refugee family in your city:).

[Grace Cogar]

Wish there was more details of each family but understand privacy concerns. I considered this a non-fiction page turner; lovely to read.