Our neighbor, and Harry's friend Hasan

Hi! Harrison and the Barnes family are helping to raise money for our friend and current next door neighbor Hasan Fall. Hasan is a 22 year old refugee from the African country Mauritania. Mauritania was the last country to abolish slavery in 1981, have it criminalized in 2007, but unfortunately it is still prevalent in many areas of the country today.

Hasan was born into a poor family. His father was a mason who built buildings in the country. Hasan remembers from an early age the beating and violence that was committed against his father. He also realizes that what he witnessed wasn't even the reality in that as a child he was probably shielded from the real brutality. He remembers asking his dad why he wouldn't take the business manager to the police when they wouldn't pay him for the work he had done so he could provide food for his family. He also remembers his dad crying and saying that one day Hasan be would old enough to understand the injustices and life lessons of the caste system into which he was born.

Mauritania is dominated economically and politically by the dominant Arab and Amazigh people who have historically enslaved Black people from the Northwest Sahara. The government is far more energetic in suppressing anti-slavery protestors, and arresting more of them than actual slave owners. Such was the fate of Hasan’s friend Diop who was discriminatorily killed by the government this past April. Hasan was then jailed for speaking out on the injustices surrounding Diop’s death. Hasan became a wanted man by the overly corrupt government and due to the torture and brutality that was to ensue, he was forced to flee and leave the country. Leaving meant leaving his family he was so incredibly close to – his mom, his dad, his younger brothers. He was now a wanted man by a racially prejudiced government. He is 22 with no family and now on the run….

Hassan had a harrowing journey to get to the US. He flew from Mauritania to Istanbul, and then on to Colombia. From there, with the individuals his family had contracted, his journey continued overland with a variety of transports – including walking – to go through several countries in Central America – Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, to Mexico to the US border at Arizona. It was dangerous and difficult. Any money, clothes, property he had was stolen. Hassan was arrested by Customs Border Control while crossing the border at the Sonoran Desert. From there he was placed into a US detention camp. He was treated well, checked out medically, had adequate food and rest. He was in contact with his family back home. Hasan's family knew our Mauritanian neighbor Sid who has been granted asylum from the country and properly issued a work visa and other documents. Sid is a roommate to our amazing friend and next door neighbor Ruth Blackstock who tirelessly works as a guidance counselor for a Title 1 school in the area and is always doing something to help the underserved populations in our community. Hasan is currently staying with Ruth and Sid, but cannot stay there permanently.

Hasan is a truly kind and gentle being. Our six year old Harrison enjoys ringing Ruth's doorbell most days after school to see if Hasan can come out and kick a ball in the front yard with him and a few of the neighborhood kids. We have neglected to mention that that is how we had our first encounter with Hasan. He wandered over when Harrison was out front kicking a ball to pass back and forth with him. Come to find out he was the best player in his region of Mauritania. On our list is finding him a place to play. :-) We are constantly amazed that the despite the language barrier, Hasan and Harrison can carry on about Messi, Holland, Ronaldo, Mbappe and the like. Futbol truly is a universal language. We imagine that kicking around with Harry in the front yard is probably the highlight of Hasan's day. We have tried to expose Hasan to American life: taken him to some soccer fields around town, Spirit Halloween, have introduced him to s'mores as well as taught him the universal clapping and foot stomping of Queen's 'We will Rock You.' :-) Despite having two big brothers already of his own, Harrison refers to Hasan as his best friend and loves including him in everything we do. He loves to hug him and have Hasan carry him while he rests his head on his shoulder. We imagine Harry fills a small part in Hasan’s heart of the void left in leaving his family. His profile picture on his WhatsApp is that of his mom. He is still just a boy facing this insurmountable struggle. We are incredibly touched by Hasan’s plight and committed to helping this young man start a fresh new chapter of his life.

The funds will be used to get Hasan on his feet here in the states. His next meeting with the Customs Border Patrol/INS is on November 2nd. The money will be used to get him clothes, toiletries and essentials. A winter coat, winter clothes and a wallet so he can feel like he has a few dollars in his pocket. Perhaps rent when he gets on his feet a bit more. We are still unsure if Atlanta is the best place for him to find and commute to work once his paperwork gets processed. If not, it may be used for a plane ticket where we know there may be better work opportunities in either New York or Minnesota as well as any legal fees with his immigration paperwork.

We can't thank you enough for your consideration to donate to our friend and neighbor. The money normally put towards a Starbucks drink, a round at the pub or a night out can really make a difference in his life. In the short time we have known him, Harrison's and our lives have been permanently touched and changed by Hasan. Thank you for your kindness.