Johnny Little

Everyone in the world has the need to be wanted. In “Saying Something in African” Emiene Shija Wright tells her history of that quest to fulfill the feeling of acceptance. In American culture, Wright is constantly put down and looked upon as an uncivilized African Girl. From the 1970’s to the 1980’s Wright and her mother struggled to make ends meet. As a child, Wright fought the hardships of stereotypical children and their childish demands of “Say something in African.” As Wright grew older her need of acceptance was growing. She attended college in Michigan, the time she was waiting for to join a group that were like her, but in their minds she wasn’t a true Nigerian she was just a “Mix.” The reader also gets a sense of irony when she fought so hard to become accepted in college as a Nigerian compared to her desire for acceptance as a child to be known as an American. As a reader, I wanted to know how her name affected her life and how she was treated as a child.

"What's in a name? That