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African Immigrants and the American Experience

Race, Anti-Black Violence, and the Quest for the American Dream

Edited by Wanjala S. Nasong'o; Imali J. Abala and Kefa M. Otiso - Contributions by Imali J. Abala; Margaret W. Gichane; Fatuma Guyo; Faith Maina; Abou-Bakar Mamah; David Monda; Wanjala S. Nasong'o; Wycliffe W.S. Njororai; Lilian Nyindodo; Kefa M. Otiso; Gloria Nziba Pindi; Anne Jebet Rotich; Brenda Nyandiko Sanya and Lyndah Naswa Wasike

The population of African immigrants in the United States has grown rapidly over the past few decades. African Immigrants and the American Experience: Race, Anti-Black Violence, and the Quest for the American Dream by Wanjala S. Nasong’o, Imali J. Abala, and Kefa M. Otiso explores contemporary sub-Saharan African immigrants’ experiences with issues of race, ethnicity, and systemic violence in the United States. Each contributor within this volume dissects how these issues have impacted, and in many cases snuffed out, the immigrants’ quest for the fabled American dream. Divided into three sections, each chapter focuses on these main themes: race and anti-black violence, educational attainment among African immigrants in pursuit of the American dream, and African immigrant’s socioeconomics, health, and well-being. Through research and first-hand accounts, the contributors provide perspectives of what it truly means to be a sub-Saharan African immigrant in the United States.

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  • Details
  • Author
  • Author
  • TOC
  • TOC
  • Reviews
  • Reviews
  • Features
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Lexington Books
Pages: 256 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½
978-1-66692-504-3 • Hardback • July 2023 • $100.00 • (£77.00)
978-1-66692-505-0 • eBook • July 2023 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
Subjects: Political Science / World / African, Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies, Social Science / Emigration & Immigration

Wanjala S. Nasong’o is professor of international studies at Rhodes College.

Imali J. Abala is professor of English at Ohio Dominican University.

Kefa M. Otiso is professor of geography at Bowling Green State University.

List of Figures and Tables

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction: African Immigrants and the American Experience by Wanjala S. Nasong’o, Imali J. Abala, and Kefa M. Otiso

Part I: African Immigrants, Race, and Anti-Black Violence

Chapter 1: A Geographic, Demographic, and Socioeconomic Portrait of Recent African Immigrants to the United States by Kefa M. Otiso

Chapter 2: “I want my father to tell me how I should deal with being Black in America”: Disruption of Racial Socialization in Black African Immigrant Households by Margaret Gichane and Faith Maina

Chapter 3: Antiblackness and American Exceptionalism: African Immigrants Navigating the Racial Contours of American Life by Brenda Nyandiko Sanya

Chapter 4: Deadly Encounters with American Law Enforcement: African Immigrant Victims of Police Violence by Wanjala S. Nasong’o

Part II: Education and Pursuit of the American Dream

Chapter 5: African Immigrants and the Pursuit of the American Dream in Higher Education by Wycliffe W.S. Njororai

Chapter 6: by Educational and Career Trajectories of African Immigrants by Fatuma Guyo and Gloria Nziba Pindi

Chapter 7: A Fragmented Life in the Land of the Free by Imali J. Abala

Chapter 8: An African Immigrant in Pursuit of the American Dream by Lyndah Wasike

Part III: Socioeconomic Portraits and Health and Wellbeing

Chapter 9: The Lived Experiences of Senegalese Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Little Senegal, New York City in the Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic by David Monda

Chapter 10: African Diaspora and Cultural Identity: West African Immigrant Community Experiences in Memphis, Tennessee by Abou-Bakar Mamah

Chapter 11: African Immigrant Health Issues in the US by Lilian Nyindodo

Chapter 12: Negotiating Race and Health Within African Refugee Immigrant Communities, by Anne Jebet Rotich

About the Contributors

The book under review is a collection of essays broken into three sections on race and racial violence, educational and career attainment, and socioeconomics and health. The essays often concentrate on the more difficult aspects of immigrants’ lives and their place in American society. [The] essays provide important background information on this understudied community, including the history of African immigration to the US, basic demographic data, geographical distribution, and socioeconomic statistics. The contributors also analyze many relevant contemporary issues, such as confronting stereotypes, police violence, health outcomes, and the children of African immigrants navigating social structures often without their parents’ understanding or assistance. Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.


— Choice Reviews


African Immigrants and the American Experience is a well-researched treatment on an often unexplored topic: the life and varied experiences of African immigrants in the United States. It is a clever study, revealing at every turn the complexity, diversity, and changing nature of American society.


— Mickie Mwanzia Koster, The University of Texas at Tyler


The journey of the struggles, survival, and success by African immigrants in the United States has not been accorded enough academic attention it deserves. Finally, an assemblage of accomplished African scholars has put together a volume that examines the intersectionality of the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of African immigrants in America, despite their many challenges. This 'must read' twelve-chapter volume provides data, and analysis that will surprise many Afro-skeptics.


— Augustine E. Ayuk, Clayton State University


6/27/24, Choice: This title was included in “The Top 75 Community College Titles: June 2024” roundup.

Link: https://www.choice360.org/choice-pick/the-top-75-community-college-titles-june-2025/



African Immigrants and the American Experience

Race, Anti-Black Violence, and the Quest for the American Dream

Cover Image
Hardback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • The population of African immigrants in the United States has grown rapidly over the past few decades. African Immigrants and the American Experience: Race, Anti-Black Violence, and the Quest for the American Dream by Wanjala S. Nasong’o, Imali J. Abala, and Kefa M. Otiso explores contemporary sub-Saharan African immigrants’ experiences with issues of race, ethnicity, and systemic violence in the United States. Each contributor within this volume dissects how these issues have impacted, and in many cases snuffed out, the immigrants’ quest for the fabled American dream. Divided into three sections, each chapter focuses on these main themes: race and anti-black violence, educational attainment among African immigrants in pursuit of the American dream, and African immigrant’s socioeconomics, health, and well-being. Through research and first-hand accounts, the contributors provide perspectives of what it truly means to be a sub-Saharan African immigrant in the United States.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 256 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½
    978-1-66692-504-3 • Hardback • July 2023 • $100.00 • (£77.00)
    978-1-66692-505-0 • eBook • July 2023 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
    Subjects: Political Science / World / African, Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies, Social Science / Emigration & Immigration
Author
Author
  • Wanjala S. Nasong’o is professor of international studies at Rhodes College.

    Imali J. Abala is professor of English at Ohio Dominican University.

    Kefa M. Otiso is professor of geography at Bowling Green State University.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • List of Figures and Tables

    Preface

    Acknowledgements

    Introduction: African Immigrants and the American Experience by Wanjala S. Nasong’o, Imali J. Abala, and Kefa M. Otiso

    Part I: African Immigrants, Race, and Anti-Black Violence

    Chapter 1: A Geographic, Demographic, and Socioeconomic Portrait of Recent African Immigrants to the United States by Kefa M. Otiso

    Chapter 2: “I want my father to tell me how I should deal with being Black in America”: Disruption of Racial Socialization in Black African Immigrant Households by Margaret Gichane and Faith Maina

    Chapter 3: Antiblackness and American Exceptionalism: African Immigrants Navigating the Racial Contours of American Life by Brenda Nyandiko Sanya

    Chapter 4: Deadly Encounters with American Law Enforcement: African Immigrant Victims of Police Violence by Wanjala S. Nasong’o

    Part II: Education and Pursuit of the American Dream

    Chapter 5: African Immigrants and the Pursuit of the American Dream in Higher Education by Wycliffe W.S. Njororai

    Chapter 6: by Educational and Career Trajectories of African Immigrants by Fatuma Guyo and Gloria Nziba Pindi

    Chapter 7: A Fragmented Life in the Land of the Free by Imali J. Abala

    Chapter 8: An African Immigrant in Pursuit of the American Dream by Lyndah Wasike

    Part III: Socioeconomic Portraits and Health and Wellbeing

    Chapter 9: The Lived Experiences of Senegalese Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Little Senegal, New York City in the Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic by David Monda

    Chapter 10: African Diaspora and Cultural Identity: West African Immigrant Community Experiences in Memphis, Tennessee by Abou-Bakar Mamah

    Chapter 11: African Immigrant Health Issues in the US by Lilian Nyindodo

    Chapter 12: Negotiating Race and Health Within African Refugee Immigrant Communities, by Anne Jebet Rotich

    About the Contributors

Reviews
Reviews
  • The book under review is a collection of essays broken into three sections on race and racial violence, educational and career attainment, and socioeconomics and health. The essays often concentrate on the more difficult aspects of immigrants’ lives and their place in American society. [The] essays provide important background information on this understudied community, including the history of African immigration to the US, basic demographic data, geographical distribution, and socioeconomic statistics. The contributors also analyze many relevant contemporary issues, such as confronting stereotypes, police violence, health outcomes, and the children of African immigrants navigating social structures often without their parents’ understanding or assistance. Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.


    — Choice Reviews


    African Immigrants and the American Experience is a well-researched treatment on an often unexplored topic: the life and varied experiences of African immigrants in the United States. It is a clever study, revealing at every turn the complexity, diversity, and changing nature of American society.


    — Mickie Mwanzia Koster, The University of Texas at Tyler


    The journey of the struggles, survival, and success by African immigrants in the United States has not been accorded enough academic attention it deserves. Finally, an assemblage of accomplished African scholars has put together a volume that examines the intersectionality of the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of African immigrants in America, despite their many challenges. This 'must read' twelve-chapter volume provides data, and analysis that will surprise many Afro-skeptics.


    — Augustine E. Ayuk, Clayton State University


Features
Features
  • 6/27/24, Choice: This title was included in “The Top 75 Community College Titles: June 2024” roundup.

    Link: https://www.choice360.org/choice-pick/the-top-75-community-college-titles-june-2025/



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