Many African Americans see Africa as a place where they can discover themselves and their ancestry - even portraying it as their home in some cases. In Migrations of the Heart, Marita Golden describes her experiences in Nigeria. Facing extreme sexism and at times forced to bend to the will of her husband’s family, she ultimately ends up fleeing the country. Despite this, Golden grows dramatically as a person in Africa. Upon her first days in Nigeria she comments upon this, “no longer constrained to apologize for the accident of color, I’d felt free, for the first time in my life, to become whatever else there was inside me, and I knew there was much more than a black woman defined by white America” (Golden 86). Marita’s time in Africa allows
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More than anything else, I wanted to give him a place in the black world and not just America” (Golden 182). The use of “affirmed” and linking that with “the black world” demonstrates how Marita feels as though much of her growth comes from being in a community among others of her race. Furthermore, she contrasts Africa with the United States. This illustrates how her time in Africa contributes more to finding herself than America ever would be able to.
Finally, one sees Marita show a true independence when she no longer concerns herself with Femi’s tantrums, “I no longer counted the days since his voice last addressed me. I no longer cared” (Golden 196). At this moment, Marita has found herself with a self-confidence and understanding that did not exist upon her arrival in Nigeria. Africa has confirmed her identity and allowed it to flourish. Marita supports this progression when she responds to Femi upon his prompts for her to go back to her old ways, “I can’t. I don’t know that woman anymore. I couldn’t find her if I tried” (Golden …show more content…
Evidence for this argument lies in a claim she makes during one of their rifts, “my feelings and desires no longer existed for Femi” (Golden 196). While this argument poses merit, it does so solely on a superficial scale. Marita’s lack of love for Femi comes as a byproduct of her evolution into an independent woman. Femi sees Marita first as a woman that should follow the roles set forth for her by his culture. At the beginning of their marriage, their goals aligned - Marita indeed saw herself as a woman who would do what her lovers needed her to do. Yet, Marita’s time in Africa changes her views and ultimately fuels her falling out of love with
More than anything else, I wanted to give him a place in the black world and not just America” (Golden 182). The use of “affirmed” and linking that with “the black world” demonstrates how Marita feels as though much of her growth comes from being in a community among others of her race. Furthermore, she contrasts Africa with the United States. This illustrates how her time in Africa contributes more to finding herself than America ever would be able to.
Finally, one sees Marita show a true independence when she no longer concerns herself with Femi’s tantrums, “I no longer counted the days since his voice last addressed me. I no longer cared” (Golden 196). At this moment, Marita has found herself with a self-confidence and understanding that did not exist upon her arrival in Nigeria. Africa has confirmed her identity and allowed it to flourish. Marita supports this progression when she responds to Femi upon his prompts for her to go back to her old ways, “I can’t. I don’t know that woman anymore. I couldn’t find her if I tried” (Golden …show more content…
Evidence for this argument lies in a claim she makes during one of their rifts, “my feelings and desires no longer existed for Femi” (Golden 196). While this argument poses merit, it does so solely on a superficial scale. Marita’s lack of love for Femi comes as a byproduct of her evolution into an independent woman. Femi sees Marita first as a woman that should follow the roles set forth for her by his culture. At the beginning of their marriage, their goals aligned - Marita indeed saw herself as a woman who would do what her lovers needed her to do. Yet, Marita’s time in Africa changes her views and ultimately fuels her falling out of love with