SE 4/EP 32: Community Conversation Part 3, It takes a Village: A Community Forum, African Parents and their Children.

On April 9th, 2022, we held the third and final part of this ongoing conversation within our community. During this forum, no particular speakers were initiated, but all members of the community were encouraged to give their perspectives on the prior two forums conducted, what each group learned from each other, and building a solid intergenerational relationship. There were limited participants in the final forum, but those who joined were thoughtful in their input and provided solid advice in moving forward as a community. Dr. Kelechi Ibe Lamberts of My Black is Translational was the moderator of the conversation. Mr. Abdoulaye Cisse of BABA coordinated the chart conversation and other technical support. I gave a closing statement, and I am very grateful to members of our community who continue to contribute their thoughts, ideas, and expertise to the betterment of our community. African Immigrant Experiences - Expectation Vs. Reality Many immigrants would describe their reality as a “shock” or an awakening that they did not expect. Before migrating to the United States, many immigrants held American dreams with the projection of many opportunities, equality, and freedom for themselves and for their children. Many may never think about the hurdles and challenges we may face after migration. The United States has a reputation as “the land of opportunity,” which is one of the reasons these immigrants saw migration as a viable option that would change their situation. Many immigrants experience the following stressors after migration, and it could have a major effect on the parent/child relationship. Parents may not express these stressors to their children. Some of these challenges include A. Difficulties with Social adjustment B. Cultural issue/adjustment C. Religious differences D. Separation from Family members and friends E. Worrying about the family back home and the inability to visit F. Language Barrier G. Loss of material Possessions H. Loss of identity I. Discrimination and biases based on race, country of origin, level of education, social and economic status J. Financial difficulties, poor economic conditions, and employment-related difficulties M. Isolation – not being able to connect with the community they reside. May not be open to connecting with the community due to differences in culture and value system N. lack of resources, or not aware of the resources even if it is available, Not open to the resources available because of beliefs. For example, seeking mental health specialists or rather talking to religious leaders in the community. Majorities of parents tend to raise their children to emulate the core values in which they were raised. African immigrant parents are no different when it comes to keeping the core values they grow up with and passing those values to their offspring. These parents could be more stringent in making sure that their children comply with these values because their children are growing up in a multicultural society that is quite different from their own. As a result, many parents use the authoritarian parenting method, which includes strict discipline, high expectations, one -way communication, where parents mostly communicate by giving directions and lack patience if the child falls short. The parents tend to focus more on obedience, discipline, and control rather than being nurturing, responsive, and supportive parents but still set firm limits for their children. The difficulties in managing children’s behavior within the home and in the community and the inability to discipline or raise our children the way we were raised lead to parent-child conflicts. This may heighten stress within the home for the family and eventually affect the parent-child relationship. Pánsá Pánsá continues to normalize the conversation about the importance of community engagement regarding African immigrant experiences in America. Please remember to share!