Capital Matters

Abstract

This article investigates accrual, role, and impact of social capital of the southern Sudanese formerly known as the Sudanese refugee Lost Boys living in the greater Kansas City area. Since their resettlement in the United States in 2000, Sudan has seen a dramatic transition in its long geo-political conflict since its independence in 1956 ending up in cessation of the south from the north. This cessation has created the newest country in the world (South Sudan). Simultaneously, a group of refugee Boys commonly known as the Lost Boys of Sudan has renounced being called so. Instead, they prefer being called “South Sudanese.” The study uses semi-structured interviews to assess the degree of social capital of each refugee participant relative to types of “capital” valued in mainstream American society. An adjunct inquiry is finding what type of social capital endured by each of these Boys played a key role in helping them cope/integrate into American mainstream society.