Oakland to Ghana

“…we were blind with joy at the feeling of homecoming. In Ghana, there is growing awareness among local people that African Americans have traceable lineage to Africa, but I heard the term “obroni” whispered as we walked by. It cannot be denied that our bodies held both a race and a nationality…Our walks, speaking tones, and accents make us uniquely African American in the USA; ironically, these traits made us both African American and foreign in Ghana.”

— Karla Brundage

Roll Call

“We are poets crossing the Atlantic to compete in a Poetry Slam and cultural exchange in Ghana that culminates a yearlong Pan-African poetry writing workshop. Our ages are 21-65. Our sexualities, genders and racial identities vary. Our life experiences, socio-economic classes, and upbringings are diverse, but we are mostly Black Americans. 

I am the leader of this group that has committed to writing linked poetry with exchange partners in the West African countries of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. We will join with Ehalakasa, our associate group that is headquartered in the city of Accra in Ghana. We will meet Sir Black and our other Ghanaian partner poets, who range from ages 18-63. Mostly they are students at the University of Ghana, Lagon in Accra.”

— Karla Brundage

“But the most significant and difficult topic was the broken connection between African Americans and Africa, the Motherland. Perceptions–what are they? Those of us whose ancestors were enslaved in the crossing of the Middle Passage now belong to the Promised Land. Descendants of slaves are now blessed with blue passports adorned with golden eagles and acces to the freedom to travel. The lost and prodigal, once cast away, hope to return to open arms. Some perceive that the returnees want to reign as kings and queens.

What is this myth of the American Dream, and how will it play out in the minds of the Africans we meet: Concurrently, what is the African Dream held so dear in the minds of Black people of the diaspora, many of whom have been homeless too long? Do we shoulder the heavy burden of racism as our inheritance? Where is home?”

— Karla Brundage

Featured Poems