Somewhere in the Unknown World: A Collective Refugee Memoir

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses genocide, war, displacement, racism, and xenophobia.

The term ethnic minority refers to a group of people who share common cultural, linguistic, or ancestral characteristics that distinguish them from the majority of the population in a particular society. The term religious minority refers to a group of people who share a common religion that distinguishes them from the majority religion within a population. Members of an ethnic or religious minority may face unique social, economic, or political challenges stemming from their minority status. In many societies, ethnic and religious minorities grapple with the preservation of their cultural heritage while navigating the pressures of assimilation into the dominant culture. People from minority groups may also face barriers to education, employment, and economic opportunities as a result of discrimination. Historically, ethnic and religious minorities have been given limited access to decision-making processes and political institutions, hindering their ability to address issues specific to their communities. This lack of representation can exacerbate existing inequalities.

Many of the stories featured in Somewhere in the Unknown World feature ethnic or religious minorities. In the first section of the book, Yang collects stories from religious minorities across Europe: Chapter 1 describes Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Russia, and Chapter 4 describes the deadly discrimination against Christians in Bosnia. Nearly all of the remaining chapters describe the displacement of ethnic minorities. The collected stories demonstrate the plight of ethnic and religious minorities globally, and the violence to which these communities have historically been subjected. Yang also demonstrates the effects of discrimination on these refugee communities in the United States, where they are once again ethnic minorities.