Diverse Congress

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/03/politics/new-congress-history-women-diversity/index.html

The 116th US Congress is the most diverse US Congress in history. The elections in November 2018 saw more women voted in to congress than ever before. America also voted for leaders who were African-American, Muslim, Latin-American and Native-American. In January 2019 each representative attended a 'swearing in' ceremony where they accepted the responsibilities of their role.

The photo shows Rep. Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American member of congress at Washington Airport with her Dad, Ilhan says, "23 years ago from a refugee camp in Kenya, my Dad and I arrived at an airport in Washington DC. Today we return to that same airport on the eve my swearing in as the first Somali-American in Congress."

This is the first time Muslim women have been elected to Congress. Ilan Omar, representing Minnestoa, wore a hijab during her ceremony. For 181 years there has been a ban on headwear on the floor of the house, but the ban has been lifted and a hijab was worn for the first time during the ceremony. Rep Rashida Tlaib is also Muslim and the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, making her Palestnian-American. Rashida chose not to wear a hijab.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/03/ilhan-omar-hijab-congress-headwear

Sharice Davids from Kansas and Deb Halaand from New Mexico are the first Native American women to serve as representatives in Congress. Sharice is Lesbian which also makes her the first openly LGBT representative from Kansas.  There are also Latina women representatives for the first time.

What do you see in the picture?
What do you think is happening?
Where was the photo taken?

explain the picture

- Ilhan Omar arrived in America from a refugee camp. What is a refugee?
- Why are Ilhan and her Dad looking so happy in the photo?
- Ilhan was once a refugee and she has now been elected to represent Minnesota in Congress; what can we learn from Ilhan?
- What does this show about people in Minnesota and attitudes towards refugees in America today?
- Why do you think this is the first time so many people from different backgrounds have been elected? What does this show about attitudes changing around the world?
- For 181 years no headwear was allowed on the floor of the house of representatives- why? (tradition)
- Why has the ban been lifted? Was it the right thing to do? Why? What does this show about ideas and attitudes changing?
- Ilhan chose to wear a hijab and Rashida chose not to wear a hijab; what does this show about Muslim women and hijabs? (women can choose to wear a hijab or choose not to)
- Is it important for a country to have a diverse group of people in Government or in Congress? Why?
- What message does Ilhan's story give to people who are different?
- What can we learn from America today?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

Reclaiming radical ideas in schools: Preparing young children for life in modern Britain by Andrew Moffat