Coming to America
Immigration to America from African countries is growing at an ever-increasing rate, bringing with them expansive cultures and diverse lifestyles. From language and slang, cultural dishes and festivities, to music and dancing, the presence of African culture is growing more prevalent day by day. Although not always in ideal ways (see TikTok’s latest “fufu” challenge, in which white teens taste the West African dish on camera for the first time), aspects of the culture that were once treated as anomalies, are now coalescing into the day-to-day of the American lifestyle. The estimated 2.4 million immigrant population size seems smaller when scaled against immigration from other countries, however there is a more noticeable uptick in the spread of African culture as a result of their presence. Most specifically on the rise are immigrants from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Somalia. These individuals have found space for themselves in pockets all across the U.S., forming towns that recognize and celebrate their heritage. Arguably this rise in immigration from African countries has led to diversifying the perspective of Black people in America as a whole. A key facet of the African-American identity within the United States trails back to our forced passage across the Atlantic to live in servitude. With African-American history being intricately tied with perseverance and endurance, the presence of varied backgrounds allows for more emphasis on joy and celebration within the Black community.