This summer I’ll be working on a project called 'Composite' which seeks to highlight the stories and perspectives of first- and second-generation Black Immigrants. This is a project that I tried to take on last year but for a number of reasons decided to put on hold. However, after a year of immense personal insight and self reflections, I’ve decided that now is the perfect time to pick it back up. Check out the information below for why I’m doing this, and learn how you can participate or otherwise help!
‘Composite’ is a proposed ongoing webseries that highlights the thoughts, ideas and impressions of Black Americans who are first- or second-generation citizens of the United States (i.e. people who identify as black where one or both parents are immigrants from Latin America/the Caribbean/Africa, or those who were born in another countries themselves).
Presently, there are over 40 million People in the United States that identify of Black. Although the vast majority of these people are descended from the country’s history of slavery, a sizable and rapidly growing number of Black Americans are recent immigrants from the Caribbean, South America, the African Continent and other parts of the world. This figure currently hovers around 9% of the American Black Population and is expected to double by the year 2050.
Historically, immigrants from West Indian countries such as Jamaica, Haiti, and Trinidad have dominated the waves of Black immigration. However, African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Ethiopia are now becoming more represented in the population of Black immigrants and Black Americans as a whole. People from these countries have markedly different histories from one another and from the multi-generational Black Americans that make up the majority of the Black population in the United States. These histories, and cultures impact our identities and worldview.
‘Composite’ explores a range of topics through the perspectives of this corner of the Diaspora. And, in doing so, hopes to paint a better picture of the Diaspora as a whole.
Each Issue of the Series will focus on one person, or Character. These Characters will be interviewed on a number of topics related to their interest and expertise which are approved in advance by the Character. Issues last from 5 – 7 minutes showing a quick insight into the Characters thoughts about a certain topic.
Each Character will be interviewed on a range of topics that reflect their personal experience and expertise. These topics will be shared with the Character before the interview date. They will guide the conversation in hopes to draw out insight from each Character on the Day.
Selected topics may range from:
What is it like being the first daughter in a Nigerian Household?
How has having one West Indian parent and one African parent shaped your experience?
What is it like being a gay man in a Jamaican Household?
How has afrobeats impacted global music?
What are misconceptions of being Afro-Latina/o
Full length episodes will be posted on Vimeo, Facebook and IGTV. Short, digestible clips will be posted on IG (page) and Twitter.
For more information about how you can get involved please reach out to me via thecompositedoc@gmail.com. And follow the project at instagram.com/thecompositedoc
Let's making something special together!