By America's definition and measure I am black in skin color only. I don't talk black, I don't think black, and I don't feel black. I am first and foremost an American. My family is Nigerian, and I am a Nigerian citizen but the Nigerian culture I have absorbed as compared to the American culture I have absorbed is very small. Anyone who has heard me speak knows I have an odd, unplaceable accent, and I am a college graduate. I am
sure peole are also aware of the rate of incarceration of young black males. The fact that I have graduated college makes me different from 90% of the 23 yr. old black males in Dallas and probably 70% of young black males nationwide. I don't fit the norms of this country in any way other than that I am foreign. The people I have the most in common with are other children of recent immigrants and Nigerians in particular. I don't associate much with other Nigerians though so my peer group is really small. I feel like an oddball in just about every social setting I am in. So new social settings aren't really that big of a deal since I am an outsider most place that I go. I don't fit, I won't ever fit, and I am tired of trying. (Doesn't mean I'll quit though.)