Outcasts United Themes

Outcasts United tells the story of the Fugees, a boys’ soccer team in Clarkston, Georgia. The team is started by Luma al-Mufleh, a young Jordanian woman who creates the team as a free program for the many young refugee children in Clarkston. Over the 1990s and 2000s, Clarkston became a prime location for international organizations to resettle refugees from around the globe. The boys on the Fugees team faced hardships in their home countries…

Due to the myriad cultural backgrounds of the Fugees, Luma recognizes how, even at a young age, boys will intentionally divide based on groupings like race, nationality, or religion. At first, the boys are somewhat distrustful of each other and have a difficult time playing as a team. But over time, and with Luma’s serious efforts, they gradually are able to look past their different cultures to find success together. By showing the team’s arc…

For children across the globe, sports teams represent a means of cultivating a good work ethic and a dedication to achieving a goal, and the Fugees are no different. Luma, the Fugees’ coach, sees this discipline and dedication as a requirement for her players—particularly for refugee children who will need to take on more responsibility than other children might. Often, these children’s only alternative activities are getting involved in gangs. Both Luma and St.…