According to the Population Reference Bureau, African cross-border migration is not well recorded or often talked about (PRB, 2013). However, looking at the image I shared, there seems to be a lot to discuss particularly in regard to how economics influences/impacts the patterns of internal African migration. For instance, the image shows how Southern Africa is experiencing shifts in population due to people leaving in search of more opportunity in richer countries while also receiving an influx of less wealthy migrants in search of jobs. Specifically, people who are leaving know that they must find jobs beyond that of an agricultural position if they want to be paid more and are aware that cities away from the rural south tend to have more schooling opportunities for children (Adepoju, 2008). In terms of the people heading South, many of them, regardless of how low the pay may be, know that jobs in rural areas are more available as agriculture requires many laborers (Adepoju, 2008). 

Interestingly, the largest internal migrant flows within their own respective regions were found in Central, West, and East Africa. Most people within those areas are moving around but not venturing outside to other countries or regions of Africa. East Africa seemed to have the most migrants staying within the region and according to Gandhi (2018), this could be related to East Africa having “several smaller economic corridors with migrants moving around the East African Community (EAC) countries, largely due to relaxed labor laws for migrants from EAC countries.” 

Looking at this image, I think it highlights the push and pull factors of both demographic and economic inequalities that contribute to the various movements within Africa, but also hints at how something such as rapid flow of information allows people to know what areas may or may not provide what they need (PRB, 2013) Additionally, it is important to keep in mind what we have learned about the role of “choice” in these movements and consider how mobility is being defined within in these migration patterns (Kumar & Moledina, 2017.)

Gandhi, D. (2018) Figures of the week: Internal migration in Africa. Retrieved March 31, 2022, from Brookings website: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2018/06/07/figures-of-the-week-internal-migration-in-africa/

Elizabeth Lake- Group 4

Video: Do you feel American? Immigrant Parents vs First Generation | Middle Ground– https://youtu.be/jZA34onP-ZA

In the video I shared, immigrant parents and first generation Americans come together to discuss their experiences with ties to cultural roots, speaking different languages, in how certain topics are viewed and openly discussed in one’s culture (e.g.mental health), and parenting. All of this connects to the several challenges and perspectives that having a transnational identity may hold. 

In Louie (2006), there is mention of how important it is to consider where the “old country” is situated in the lives of immigrants and their children; and the ways in which children of immigrants relate to their parents’ experiences and views on culture can vary greatly. For instance, some first generation Americans have a strong connection to their families’ background as they may have an open dialogue with their parents about culture as well as take it upon themselves to adopt/ continue cultural practices and traditions. For other first generation Americans, it can be very difficult to relate to or understand their immigrant parent’s experiences and culture, especially when the life they have created for themselves in America does not always coincide with the generational patterns and expectations of one’s familial culture.

When these divides occur, I think it makes it a lot more challenging to see exactly where assimilation lies because while it may seem like some children of immigrants have assimilated fully to the American ways, is it really assimilation if American practices are all those children have ever known? However, even first generation Americans sometimes struggle to feel American because their identity is pulled into different directions. For example, one of the participants in the video explained how they “don’t feel Asian enough or American enough” because depending on who they are engaging with–Asian friends or American friends–they get judged on how they present themselves in either culture. Immigrant parents also go through these transnational challenges. One parent in the video said that it is not so much about him accepting America and becoming American, but that it is more so about wanting America to accept him.

Louie, V. (2006) Growing up ethnic in transnational worlds: Identities among second-generation Chinese and Dominicans. In Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power Vol.13 No.3 [363-394]