Communities and Culture

Both immigration and citizenship are significant, influential motifs of the plot in Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 2013 work of fiction that could easily take place in the present day. The Nigerian protagonists, Ifemelu and Obinze, struggle with adapting to life in new, foreign countries.

Becoming an American citizen is by no means a simple process; would-be applicants can easily become deterred by all of the paperwork and eligibility requirements. Worry not, on March 12, representatives from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will explain the ins and outs of the naturalization process at the Main Library, 6:30 p.m. The path to citizenship can be even more complicated for children and adolescents, and on April 5 the Main Library will host a panel discussion in partnership with the Louisiana Organization for Refugees & Immigrants (LORI) on Global Voices: Kids Lost in Transition. New American high school and college students will discuss the obstacles faced by young immigrants and refugees as they adapt to new schools and surroundings.

The U.S. Census occurs once every ten years, and while it may seem like an onerous, time-consuming endeavor from our federal government, it affects the daily lives of citizens for the next decade. The Census count plays a vital role in allocating seats among the House of Representatives, which is decided by population, as well as distributing government resources. At the Main Library’s two Census 101 programs on March 11 and 31, you can learn the importance of being counted.

While these subjects are nuanced, the aim of OBOC is to facilitate a cultural conversation so community members can work together to better understand them. For details and to see what’s happening at your local branch, head to readonebook.org.