Why Thanksgiving's true message hits home for these Louisville refugees

Bailey Loosemore | Courier Journal

Alinoti Malebo thought the instruction was just another school assignment.

Write a thank you note to someone important to you.

It was 2015, and the teenager had recently moved to Louisville with his family through a refugee resettlement program. He wasn't yet familiar with all of his new country's customs — let alone the holiday that had inspired the exercise.

Malebo wrote the first name that came to his mind.

Barack Obama.

"He was the president and he was the one who signed for me to enter this country," explained Malebo, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who spent his first 16 years living in a refugee camp in Tanzania.

Since 2013, Louisville has welcomed more than 12,000 immigrants through resettlement programs at two local nonprofits:Catholic Charities and Kentucky Refugee Ministries.

Like Malebo, now 19, many were not familiar with Thanksgiving before arriving here. But as the holiday approaches, representatives from the nonprofits say some immigrants will join in the celebration — finding similarities between Thanksgiving and their own traditions.

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This week, both Catholic Charities and Kentucky Refugee Ministries will hold potluck dinners for their clients, inviting them to bring dishes that represent their various cultures.

"I think that food brings everybody together, no matter where you're from in the United States or if you're here as a newcomer," said Adrienne Eisenmenger, family and youth services manager at Kentucky Refugee Ministries.

"Food speaks to everybody, and I think it's around tables that we get to know people, we build community and we break down barriers and divides."

Zina Radhi, an Iraqi refugee who works as a bilingual liaison at Fern Creek Elementary, said sharing a meal in her culture goes even further than forming a temporary bond.

"In Iraq, if you eat with someone from the same dish, that person becomes like a member of your family," Zina Radhi said. "... Because the family eats from one dish, so if anyone comes and eats with you from the same dish, it's like serving a member from your family."

Zina Radhi and her younger sister Zainab Radhi moved to Louisville with their families in 2015 and 2011, respectively.

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Both sisters love to cook and spend hours each week whipping up classic Iraqi dishes like rice with lentils, eggplant casserole and tabbouleh salad, a combination of parsley, tomato, onions and cracked wheat.

"Every day we have Thanksgiving," said Zainab Radhi, who spent three hours Sunday making saffron rice, baba ganoush and duck seasoned with tandoori spices. "When my sister comes, we do double."

On actual Thanksgiving, Zina Radhi said she expects the families will gather to share turkey and some of their new favorite American dishes, like stuffing and pumpkin pie.

But they'll supplement the meal with rice and maybe one of her sister's famous cakes.

"In Iraq, when you love someone, when you want to respect someone, when you want to make somebody happy, we cook," Zina Radhi said. "I believe if you cook with love, your food will be perfect."

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Malebo said he plans to attend the Thanksgiving dinner at Catholic Charities, which has helped his family find housing, learn English and land jobs.

Malebo is the oldest of eight siblings and currently attends classes at Jefferson Community and Technical College. He hopes to eventually work as an international lawyer, assisting other refugees.

"I think God gave us two hands because one hand is for helping ourselves and the other hand is helping others," Malebo said. "So if they help me, I need to help others. ... I know what it means to be a refugee. I need to help those people who are still in pain."

On Thursday, Maledo said he looks forward to thanking the people who helped him escape his family's painful situation.

"Thanksgiving is something I think a lot of people recognize," Malebo said. "If you say thank you to somebody, the only thing to say back is you're welcome. When I am celebrating Thanksgiving, I feel more welcome."

More coverage of Thanksgiving Day 2018 in Louisville:

This Thanksgiving, Louisville chefs are most thankful for you

Turducken? Louisville chef swears this is the holiday dish to impress

Shake up your Thanksgiving tradition with 8 new dishes by local chefs

Thanksgiving arrives early this year and could change the way you shop

Do Kentuckians cook on Thanksgiving? This report suggests we don't

Bailey Loosemore: 502-582-4646; bloosemore@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @bloosemore. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/baileyl.