The State of Reality

What advice would you give to our African brothers and sisters about life in the U.S.?

It is a question many of us living abroad hear often.

Sometimes, I sense that people are looking for a magic formula — a painless path to prosperity. A shortcut to success without struggle. If such a formula exists, I have not found it.

In 2009, I was captivated by Alicia Keys’ soaring hook in Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. The anthem felt electric — hopeful. Later, while digging deeper into the song, I discovered it borrows from Frank Sinatra's 1977, New York, New York.

Sinatra sang of reinvention:“If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.”

Hope overflowed.

Reinvention seemed guaranteed.

Who would not want to move to a place where you wake up “king of the hill, top of the heap”?

But Jay-Z’s verses complicate that dream. His lyrics peel back the glamour. He does not deny opportunity — he warns of cost. The concrete jungle is beautiful, yes. But the sidelines are lined with casualties. The lights are bright. The temptations brighter.

The utopia cracks.

The streets are lit — all looking pretty. But behind the glow is pressure. Racism. Violence. Speed. Competition. Performance. A 24/7 culture that rarely rests. You almost need an Ambien to sleep.

For foreigners, many come for school. Some graduate into success. Others graduate into distraction. Some into debt. Some into a life they barely recognize.

It is easy to get caught in the in-crowd.

Easy to confuse limelight with purpose.

Easy to lose values in the name of belonging.

America, as I discovered when my plane landed at JFK, is not paradise.

Yet the story is not entirely bleak.

Dreams do come alive here.

However, they can come alive anywhere in the world for those who understand what having an "empire state of mind" truly means.

You cannot speak of empire and think small.

You cannot desire empire and avoid battle.

You cannot pursue conquest and reject planning.

An “empire state of mind” is psychological.

It is the mindset of responsibility.

Of ownership.

Of long-term vision — regardless of your geographic location or social status.

Sinatra said, “It’s up to you.”

When I first arrived, I believed reinvention would be swift and painless. That success would meet me halfway. That illusion shattered on impact. America does not hand out crowns, especially to Black foreigners. It presents opportunities, but also charges heavily for them.

As a former international student, I learned that preparation matters. Financial readiness matters. Emotional readiness matters. Identity matters even more.

To my fellow Africans, America is neither heaven nor hell. It is a system. A fast one. A demanding one. A competitive one. And not build for our comfort. If you come ready to work, ready to sacrifice, ready to endure discomfort — your dream may unfold here. If not, the current can swallow you.

And yet, dreams are not confined to American soil. They can grow in Libreville. In Lagos. In Accra. In Nairobi. In Dakar.

Empire is not a place.

It is a mindset.

If you are prepared to fight off the almost stifling stress, if you are ready for the jungle — concrete though it may be — then yes, you may make it here.

But whether in New York or back home, one truth remains:

There is nothing you cannot do.

It is — and always has been — up to you.

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 Sample of New York New York with minor lyrical changes.

I’m leaving today

I want to be a part of it

I wanna wake up in a [country] that doesn’t sleep

And find I’m [queen] of the hill, top of the heap

I wanna wake up in a [country] that doesn’t sleep

And find I’m a number one, top of the list

I’ll make a brand new start…in Old [States]

If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere

It’s up to [me]…

#lifeinamerica #immigrantexperience #foreignstudents #immigrants #africanwomen #diaspora #immigratetoamerica #usa #africans

#lifeinamerica #studyinamerica #foreignstudents #immigrants #africanwomen #diaspora #africans