ILLITERACY

You know how some of us celebrate birthdays all month long? (**cough cough Plaxi-baby**) Imagine being born and not knowing when you were born. Your parents are brilliant, responsible citizens but they live in such remote parts of Africa, they were not able to go to school. Therefore, because they could neither read nor write, no one managed to record the date of your birth. Defying all odds, you somehow make it to the Capital and enroll in college. Defying even greater odds, you make it to America and complete a PHd. That is the story of my dear friend, Dr. Kofi. When we first met, I very white-savior-ishly, marveled at him being the first in his family to get this far. He laughed and said “In my family? You mean in my clan? I come from very very far Olivia.” We had this conversation at some fancy rooftop in Buckhead, pinkies out, big-pimping, while sipping colorful drinks, the ones that come with edible flowers.

Quickly snapping out of city mode, we were reminded of the shared responsibility we have as immigrants to tender to our lands… This brings me to my point: Neo-Village’s annual “BOOKS ON WHEELS” is back and this year, we’re donating to Dr. Kofi’s alma mater in Kumasi, Ghana. Join the fun! More info at neovillage.online

XOXO