Coming to America: Day 6: Sunday, 24/1/2010

Today we worshiped at St. Matthew’s Juga. It was the Kenyan version of Morning Prayer with lots of music and preaching and thanksgiving for a very important family in the parish that was successful in the “green card” lottery. They depart for America on February 4 (the same day I leave, but on a different flight). Three hours in all, not bad for Morning Prayer!

I was asked to say the prayers of intersession (there were no communal responses – similar to what we do in Rite I, but without a composed text), to say the prayer over the offering and at the appropriate time to introduce myself.

There were musical presentations by the Mother’s Union, the men’s group, the choirs and the various youth groups. Then there was a second offering that was presented to the family. The family sat up front as members of the congregation processed forward to say their goodbyes, offer thanks for the family’s service to the community (the father was the vice chairman of the parish council and the wife was the leader of the Mother’s Union) and to offer some token of monetary support for the family’s resettlement in America.

I discovered that there are a considerable number of people here that have registered for the “green card” lottery. I suppose that shouldn’t surprise me. America is highly respected here and is seen as the land of opportunity just as it was for many of our ancestors, though of course this was not the case for the first Africans to come to our shores. What surprised me was the level of excitement and support this family received. The congregation was joining in the joy and excitement of the departing family even though they were losing family members, friends and a good deal of leadership as a result. Part of the service also reinforced the continuing relationship between those departing and those remaining. In reality, as is often the case, these close ties will probably be broken within a generation or two.

They are relocating to Alabama. The road ahead in the land of promise will not be an easy one. The degrees earned by the parents will not likely be recognized and according to my friend John, most who immigrate must work in lower paid jobs despite their level of education. Arriving in February well into the school year, I wonder how the children will adjust to new schools.

There will be difficult cultural adjustments for this family. The African American experience will not be their own, though they will likely be labeled as such. They will have an accent more British than American. They will be subjected to racial discrimination that they have not experienced before. They will struggle to maintain their identity as Kenyans living in America, even as they most likely dream of citizenship some day.

Will they be able to then maintain a cultural identity as Kenyan Americans or will they be lumped into one large category? We never hear the term European Americans. Descendants from Europe often maintain some measure of their cultural identities. Understandably, most African Americans have no specific national roots because this was largely lost as a result of slavery.
We now see in our larger cities some measure of cultural identity among immigrants from African nations. We should resist the temptation to criticize them as being aloof or from becoming “truly American.” We should also celebrate their cultural identity. We are a stronger nation when we celebrate our diversity in the midst of our common identity as Americans.

Though it was a few days before their departure from Kenya, I was the first American to welcome them to America. Will you join me in welcoming them and all immigrants to our shores? Our welcome will be a blessing to them as they bring countless blessings to us.