Personal Narrative: My African Identity

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On Monday, October 11, 1999, in a hospital in Nigeria, I was born. If questioned about the early part of my life, I would not be able to respond. I cannot recall memories of elementary school, let alone early childhood, everything was hazy. I was not born in the United States, but I have no memories from Nigeria. In my childhood, I felt separated from my African side, like I could not be called Nigerian and the only remnant of my African identity was my name. I felt on a similar level, what civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, called the double consciousness, of how I did not feel like I could choose a side. My nationalities were in conflict because I was hesitant to accept the Nigerian culture, and I could not call myself an American. I would become apathetic when Nigeria was brought up in conversation. I was more attune with identifying myself as an American rather than being a Nigerian, I was afraid of claiming a nation that I did not belong to. My family traveled to …show more content…

I lean on them and they are the reason I strive for greatness.For example, one quote that I enjoy is written as, “Family like branches on a tree, can grow in different direction, yet our roots remain as one.” I realized that family is the most sacred bond in the world created from blood. Family can disagree and argue with each other, but they will always love each other at the end of the day. In the same way. I am grateful that I was able to reconnect with my family on a personal level and that I was able to absorb their ways of living. The Nigerian people value education because knowledge is power and with an education there is nothing that can limit your life. In my daily life, my parents are always encouraging that I get straight A’s and even though I get mostly A’s, I still push myself to get better scores and grades.I know that in order to make my family proud that I have to put myself in the best possible position in order to achieve my

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