Chapter 13

Immigration!!!

The first time I heard or have an idea of the infamous slave trade in Africa was in 1989 after I watched the movie called ‘Roots’.‘Roots’ was a story about a teenage boy named Kunta Kinte who was captured and
taken to America as a slave in 1767. He was sold to John Waller and renamed Toby.
The gruesome experience of the captivity of Kunta Kinte and millions of Africans who were forcefully removed from their abode as narrated in the story was an eye opener and also gave me a considerable knowledge of what had transpired in the history of  Africa.

 My mother was a native of Badagry, the second largest commercial city in Lagos State Nigeria. This ancient town is located within the boundary of Republic of Benin on the south Gulf of Guinea and surrounded by creeks, ocean, islands and lake. Unknown to me the town in early 1500’s had served as the route for transporting people to America and Europe.

Even though the infamous slavery wasn’t that popular in Nigeria like other West African countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Republic of Benin, and Togo but my mother’s town of Badagry till date  kept the historic reminiscent of the infamous trade artifacts and landmarks which has now become a center of tourist attraction. The historic heritage of Black race in Western states directly and indirectly was as a result of the infamous Trans-Atlantic trade that happened many years ago. Till date some Nigerians and Africans that were  affecetd by the trade still have their names embedded to this history. For example in Nigeria if you have a foreign last name such as George, Braithwaite, King and so on, it means that the family somehow has had relationship with that history.

The Europeans also had their history in America. Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer who discovered Florida in 1513. Later in 1540 another Spanish captain named Cabeza de Vaca with other group of people
discovered Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The point I’m trying to make is that besides the Native American, all other races that became American migrated or emigrated through different circumstances. Hence, America is a country of immigrants.

The issue of immigration will continue to be volatile not only in America but also in other developed countries where standard of living are considerably better and as long as long as factors such as poverty, political instability, violent and insecurity persists in developing countries the issue of migration either legal or illegal would continue to persist.

Apart from the societal norms and culture In United States which is different from Africa culture, factors such adaptation to new society and  legal documentation are some of the challenges of immigrants that are looking for greener pastures in foreign land.

Sadly, the issue of illegal immigrants will continue to be controversial and triggers protest from pro and anti-immigration activists and also between the lawmakers of the affected developed countries all over the world. If drastic measures are not taken to end the world's economy inequalities and disparities.