In honor of World Refugee Day 2025, Hannah explores the day’s history, this year’s theme Solidarity with Refugees, and why it matters now more than ever. She highlights trailblazers like Luma Mufleh and Omar Bah, outlines ways to celebrate meaningfully, and urges listeners to turn awareness into action through advocacy and support.
Host: Hannah Joos
Original Opening/Closing Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie
Resources:
Luma Mufleh Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/luma_mufleh_don_t_feel_sorry_for_refugees_believe_in_them?language=en
UNHCR We Were Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbpi6ZahtOH7c6nDA9YG3QcyRGbZ4xDFn
Emi Mahmoud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av77E3le9ho
Flee Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgj7DUEtfg0
We Dare to Dream Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KvH55DDNzQ
Peace by Chocolate Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YN5ZXrCkik
Salam Neighbor Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6SxPSZVD9o
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In honor of World Refugee Day 2025, Hannah explores the day’s history, this year’s theme Solidarity with Refugees, and why it matters now more than ever. She highlights trailblazers like Luma Mufleh and Omar Bah, outlines ways to celebrate meaningfully, and urges listeners to turn awareness into action through advocacy and support.
Host: Hannah Joos
Original Opening/Closing Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie
Resources:
Luma Mufleh Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/luma_mufleh_don_t_feel_sorry_for_refugees_believe_in_them?language=en
UNHCR We Were Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbpi6ZahtOH7c6nDA9YG3QcyRGbZ4xDFn
Emi Mahmoud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av77E3le9ho
Flee Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgj7DUEtfg0
We Dare to Dream Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KvH55DDNzQ
Peace by Chocolate Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YN5ZXrCkik
Salam Neighbor Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6SxPSZVD9o
Season 2, Episode 6: A Pause for Some, A Pathway for Others
ESL For Equality Podcast
19 minutes 12 seconds
5 months ago
Season 2, Episode 6: A Pause for Some, A Pathway for Others
In this urgent episode, host Hannah Joos returns to unpack one of the most jarring developments in U.S. refugee policy: the expedited resettlement of white South African Afrikaners under a new executive order from the Trump administration. While the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program remains largely suspended for most global populations, this exception, made for a historically privileged group with deep ties to South Africa’s apartheid regime, has ignited global criticism.
We dive into the legacy of apartheid, the mechanics of refugee vetting, and the political messaging embedded in this decision. With policy unraveling for the many and being selectively extended to the few, this episode asks listeners to look directly at how racism continues to shape immigration law.
Call to Action:
This time, we won’t pretend there’s a clear next step. There’s no hotline, no form letter. But we can stay informed. We can name what this is. And we can refuse to normalize it. Because when refugee policy becomes a tool of white grievance, we are all implicated. See resources below.
Host: Hannah Joos
Original Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie
NPR: "Trump ignites political firestorm in South Africa over Afrikaner asylum status offer": https://www.npr.org/2025/05/09/nx-s1-5391815/first-afrikaners-granted-refugee-status-due-to-arrive-in-u-s
Reuters: "First white South Africans to arrive under US refugee plan as soon as next week": https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-officials-seek-bring-first-white-south-african-refugees-us-next-week-nyt-2025-05-09/
Associated Press: "US to accept white South African refugees while other programs remain paused": https://apnews.com/article/us-south-africa-refugees-a8ef81e11667041f6d87c33f613774a9
ESL For Equality Podcast
In honor of World Refugee Day 2025, Hannah explores the day’s history, this year’s theme Solidarity with Refugees, and why it matters now more than ever. She highlights trailblazers like Luma Mufleh and Omar Bah, outlines ways to celebrate meaningfully, and urges listeners to turn awareness into action through advocacy and support.
Host: Hannah Joos
Original Opening/Closing Music: Michael Caskey aka Bunny Patootie
Resources:
Luma Mufleh Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/luma_mufleh_don_t_feel_sorry_for_refugees_believe_in_them?language=en
UNHCR We Were Here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbpi6ZahtOH7c6nDA9YG3QcyRGbZ4xDFn
Emi Mahmoud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av77E3le9ho
Flee Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgj7DUEtfg0
We Dare to Dream Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KvH55DDNzQ
Peace by Chocolate Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YN5ZXrCkik
Salam Neighbor Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6SxPSZVD9o