Don't tell me who I am.

        

Nigerian or Nigerian-American? This question comes to mind every time someone asks about my last name. No doubt, I carry my heritage with pride. As a first-generation American, I find myself caught in between two cultures and lacking the qualifications by some to officially claim either one. My parents immigrated to the US in the 1980’s, just in time for my sister to claim her American citizenship by birth. From childhood, my cultural experiences were an odd blend of Nigerian and American expectations.            

           As a Nigerian girl I was expected to respect all elders, learn how to properly prepare Agousi soup, and always put my education on the top of my list. However, my American atmosphere provided a platform where respect to anyone is earned not learned, where the ability to successfully make Mac & Cheese in the microwave was a rite of passage to adulthood, and homework would be done if time persisted. I couldn’t really pinpoint these specific differences growing up, but I did recognize that I was a bit different from my classmates.

           Now as an adult-or the beginnings of one-I have mastered my “double-life” quite well. It’s almost like being bilingual. I can understand both cultures and switch mannerisms back and forth when necessary. For a while, I’ll forget the re-occurring tendency for people to classify me as either a Nigerian or an American. Never both. Amongst Nigerians, I am an American. My voice, my mannerisms, and my lack of ability to speak my parent’s native tongue all categorize me as a ‘foreigner’. However, amongst Americans, my voice, my mannerisms, and my last name classify my as only an African. I got used to people saying, “Oh, you’re not Nigerian,” or, ” Oh, you’re not a American then, you’re Nigerian.” But who’s to classify me, as me?

        People are only given the opportunity to categorize you if you hand them a blank label. So let me take this chance to label myself, before anyone else does. I am Elizabeth. I am Nigerian. I am American. I am Igbo. I am Ishan. I am me. So take this as your opportunity to write your label. Who are you?

~Elizabeth Uduehi