Name: Eva Wanjiru Wambui
Age: 20
Hometown: Kiambu, Kenya
Current town: Kansas City, Missouri, but back in Kenya September 6th
College/Major: Maple Woods Community College, Photography Major
What does being Black mean to you?
“Black means having dark colored skin.”
If you don’t mind sharing, what was your earliest experience with racism?
“I have never experienced racism.”
What do you want non-Black POC and white allies to know right now?
“I would like to tell them that in God's eyes, color does not matter. We’re all equal.”
Are there any other identities you identify with that you’re okay with sharing (gender-identity, religion, sexual orientation, immigrant, etc.)?
“I am a Christian.”
What societal pressures do you feel from moving from Kenya to America?
“Kenya is a beautiful place. The people are nice and friendly. When I first moved here it was quite different. I went to high school and I felt really isolated. I thought it would be easier to make friends but it wasn’t.”
Why did you choose to come to America?
“I am an international student and that pretty much explains why I moved to America.”
What surprised you the most about coming to live in America?
“One thing that surprised me about America is that literally everyone owns a car and there is less public transport as compared to Kenya, where a majority of the people use public transport (Matatus).”
What do you miss about Kenya?
“What I miss about Kenya is my family and friends, and the social life; people cooking and selling outside, partying, and the beach.”
People tend to have their ideas of what Africa is like, so what do you want to tell Americans about life in Kenya?
“I would like to tell everyone to not believe what you see on the internet about Africa. There is a beautiful side that you don’t get to see until you visit. Kenyan life is fun, everyone is concerned about your well being, and we love partying and enjoying life."
What kind of racism or other prejudices exist in Kenya? “There is no racism in Kenya, but whenever a white person is seen somewhere, they’re highly praised.”
How can white people and non-Black POC support their Black peers?
“As I said earlier, in God’s eyes color does not matter. Jesus taught us to love one another, therefore we can support each other firstly by loving.”
How much does being African affect your everyday life?
“Being African doesn’t affect my everyday life. I am proud of being African, and I have embraced my culture, therefore it doesn’t matter whether people have different opinions about Africa.”
How do the politics of Kenya differ from the politics of the U.S.?
“The difference between politics in the USA and in Kenya is that in Kenya, the politicians are corrupt and greedy. They only care for themselves, not their citizens.”
What are you passionate about?
“I love music, traveling, and my family.”
Who do you look up to?
“My big sister inspires me. She has gone through a lot and achieved the best. She is also my role model.”
Here are 20 of Eva's favorite songs!
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