The reality of code-switching to survive and thrive.

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]And when I would try to relate to black people, black people, I would get mocked. I would get made fun of. I'll never forget this um I think his name, we used to call him kitchen for you upland high schoolers. His name was Kitchen. He asked me was like, "Y'all got girls in Africa. Y'all y'all like live in trees in Africa?" Not saying white people haven't asked me that, but he was completely ignorant about life in in Africa. But that's okay. I didn't take it personal. What I realized is that first of all, I got to learn to talk like y'all. I have to learn the accent back. I mean, being born here in the United States, obviously going to Nigeria, I came talking like a Nigerian and I can still talk like a Nigerian.

[00:00:38]What am I trying to say is because I've learned, we call it co- switching, that in order for me to have an opportunity not to be treated like I'm dumber than you are, I first have to know how to talk like you. Okay? It's survival strategy. All right?

[00:00:52]So that's the first