Voices of African Immigrants in Kentucky

“A rich blend of narrative history, personal recollections, and heart-wrenching oral testimonials . . . powerful.” —Imali J. Abala, author of The Dreamer

With an introduction that provides a historical and theoretical overview of African immigration, the heart of this book is built around oral history interviews with forty-seven of the more than twenty-two thousand Africa-born immigrants in Kentucky.

A former ambassador from Gambia, a pharmacist from South Africa, a restaurant owner from Guinea, a certified nursing assistant from the Democratic Republic of Congo—every immigrant has a unique and complex story of their life experiences and the decisions that led them to emigrate to the United States. The compelling narratives in this book reveal why and how these immigrants came to the Bluegrass state—whether it was coming voluntarily as a student or forced because of war—and how they connect with and contribute to their home countries as well as to the US.

The immigrants describe their challenges—language, loneliness, cultural differences, credentials for employment, ignorance toward Africa, and racism—and positive experiences such as education, job opportunities, and helpful people. One chapter focuses on family—including interviews with the second generations—and how the immigrants identify themselves.

“Compelling . . . a must read for anyone seeking the substance behind the newspaper headlines and statistics.” —Frank X Walker, author of Affrilachia