the first time in Afghani history, that a person’s last name and where they lived had no significance on their status or success in life. Fremont and urban issues The Afghani communities began to disperse throughout the Bay Area and Los Angeles. In the Bay Area, Afghani immigrant’s patterns concentrated in the South Bay, particularly Fremont. In the early 80’s, Fremont was barely a city; what was lacking was a sense of community. Fremont began a new housing program through the incorporation of section A (Mohammadi, 2004). Brand new homes that were affordable were being built in Fremont, Union City, and Hayward. This was a great opportunity for the Afghanis. Not only was there a great abundance of homes, but they were also provided with government aid. This was necessary in that the Afghani Immigrants were a group that migrated with literally nothing as far as materials and money went. Many of the immigrants that came to the Bay Area were approved for housing and medical aid, particularly in the area of Fremont or rather Alameda County as a whole. Not all were accepted for the government aid. However the city of Fremont was still a good opportunity due to the extremely low prices during that particular time. It was then that the community of Afghans in the Bay Area began to build itself. This sparked the beginnings of “Little Kabul.” Stores started to be opened along the strip of Fremont blvd and Mowry Avenue. It began with just a couple of Kabob shops, and within years bread markets opened, gift shops, rug shops, Halall Meat shops (Kosher meat), wedding halls, and Mosques. By the early nineties (about ten years after settling in Fremont) the majority of Fremont blvd became Afghani owned. As the community began to grow in Fremont, there was a need for an organization or committee to be able to represent Afghanis in the city. This is how organi-
zations such as the Society of Afghan Professionals (SAP) began. This organization is one that deals with urban, religious, and political issues among the Afghani community in Fremont. Issues ranging from having Muslim burial grounds and Mosques, to concert halls for entertainment, and celebrations for holidays were all handled by the SAP and other organizations that they cooperate with. The current urban issue today that the SAP is working on, is to call the Area of Fremont blvd and Mowry Ave “Little Kabul.” SAP has proposed this to the city of Fremont, and this issue is still under work (Mohammadi, 2005). According to city regulations when a certain number of businesses are all of one type, this can be done, much like China town. The Afghan Leaders of the community are pushing for this neighborhood that is currently known as “Centerville” to be officially given the title of “Little Kabul” (the unofficial nickname it contains now) due to the growing numbers of Afghanis in the area. The leaders of the community claim that future generations need some sort of symbol and identity in order to recognize the struggle in which they went through to get here. They even have hopes of setting a monument and community center one day. CBS did a story on “Little Kabul” when this urban issue first came out in 2000. One of the leaders was asked by CBS what the significance of this name change is, he responded to CBS by saying, “The new generation coming after us must have something to remind them of how their parents came to the United States with empty hands.” (Amerie, 2000 ) This issue sparks great controversy, and this is part of the reason it has not passed yet. Other ethnicities such as White, Latino, Indian, and many others in Fremont are arguing that calling the neighborhood Little Kabul could start a separation in the different ethnic groups of Fremont. This shows a fear of domi-
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