The Burgess Boys

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism.

The Burgess Boys is set in a time and place loosely based in historical fact. In 1988, civil war broke out in Somalia when Nationalist groups challenged the nation’s president, Mohammad Siad Barre. Barre had seized power in a military coup in 1969, and his regime had become known for brutally suppressing opposition. Barre’s fall on January 27, 1991, led to increased conflict and in-fighting among Nationalist groups, various Islamic sects, and militia groups; many of these conflicts had roots in the 19th century, when Great Britain, France, Italy, and Ethiopia divided Somalia into five separate colonial possessions, splintering long-established kinship networks and fostering competition for resources. Establishing a central government after Barre’s fall proved difficult as rival groups fought for representation (“Somali Civil War.” The Organization for World Peace). Land disputes disrupted the food supply so that by 1992, much of Somalia suffered from famine.

After the outbreak of war in 1991, Somalis fled to nearby Kenya, where refugee camps were established. However, conditions in the camps were poor, and residents lived in fear of violence and robbery. Some sought asylum in the United States, leading to a secondary migration. Though the climate of Maine contrasts greatly with that of Somalia, a decline in population created a rise in available and affordable housing, making parts of Maine attractive to Somali refugees between the years 2001 and 2003. The city of Lewiston, Maine, became home to 3,500 of the 6,000 refugees living in the state. Towns like Lewiston were attractive because they offered not only housing but also English as a second language (ESL) education and public assistance. As more Somalis became established in cities like Lewiston, more Somali refugees were attracted to the area, leading to a strong population of Somalis among the previously 96% white area (Huisman, Kimberly A. “Why Maine? Secondary Migration Decisions of Somali Refugees.” University of Maine).

The influx of refugees gave rise to controversy as white supremacist groups and political demagogues treated the newcomers as a threat to the city’s way of life. Though the refugees quickly became a boon to the local economy, they were blamed for straining social services. Citing the need for interpreters and increased ESL resources in schools, then-Mayor Laurier T. Raymond publicly voiced his desire for the influx of refugees to cease. Accusations of racism followed, and a white supremacist rally sprung up (Molmud, Jack. “How Somali Refugees Paved the Way for Today’s Asylum Seekers.” News Center Maine, 22 Aug. 2023).

Over time, it has become clear that Somali refugees have benefitted Maine by bringing a younger workforce to an aging community, fueling the economy by starting new businesses, and aiding the housing market by purchasing homes. Though initially requiring public aid and services, refugees have thrived in the city, aiding the local and state-wide economies with their tax dollars. In many cases, they helped to revitalize places where businesses were failing and populations were struggling (Myall, James. “People Seeking Asylum and Refuge Benefit Maine’s Economy.” Maine Center for Economic Policy, 27 Mar. 2024). Cities like Lewiston have subsequently been praised for the way in which displaced refugees have increased diversity within their communities and also paved the way for future immigration.