African students at QO become united

By Hannah Woolf, Managing Editor

When senior Sandra Meselebe set out to join Africa United, she wasn't driven by dreams of cultural festivities and family-style club dinners. She had another agenda.

"I wanted to be president because I'm power hungry," Meselebe says, "so I went after the club that was easiest to conquer."

Now, in her second year as club president, Meselebe's attitude has changed from domineering to protective. "You need patience and extremely good people skills," she explains. It is difficult, she says, because "the club members are a mixture of very mature and very immature." But Meselebe looks after the members as if they were family, and has worked very hard to promote and improve the club.

"You have to make personal sacrifices, like not eating lunch some days," she says.
As a result of her efforts, Meselebe has made a great difference in both the strength and popularity of Africa United. During the Christmas season, Africa United organized a toy drive. Meselebe dubs the project "fairly successful." The club also had an AIDS benefit and handed out ribbons.

"I think this year [the club] has become fairly well-known," Meselebe says. The club has 30 members this year, which is a significant jump from last year--particularly because now, every single member is active.

Yet with the tremendous growth of the club, one issue remains a question: Although Africa United has had African-American members in the past, the club currently consists almost exclusively of African, not African-American, students.

Why? Perhaps it is simply the name of the club that discourages African-American membership. The predominance of African members may also be a deterrent to African-American students because, according to Meselebe, a great deal of tension exists between Africans and African-Americans.

"We have such a different culture, it's amazing," Meselebe says. "I don't feel like we have the same mentality."

Despite the superficial similarities, African and African-American students often feel they have little in common. Meselebe highlights some of the differences between African and African-American girls. "If you're [an African girl who is] ten or 12 years old and you don't know how to cook, you are a laughingstock," Meselebe says. "It's an 'old school' mentality...you have to clean, you have to serve your parents."

But at the same time, the club is called Africa United, and its aim is to bring students together, not tear them apart. Even though Meselebe cannot ignore the vast cultural differences, she also points out the undeniable link between the two groups of students. "I wish African-Americans would be interested," she says. "They don't realize they're Africans, too."
Although Africa United has been less able to reach out into the African-American community at QO, the club has been a huge benefit to students who are newly-arrived African immigrants.

"A lot of our members are fresh out of Africa," Meselebe says. "They wouldn't know 'ghetto' if it hit them smack in the head."
Africa United's primary activity is the club dinner, where members prepare dishes from their home countries. It gives them a chance to sample food, compliment each other, and connect with each other. "One girl made this chicken that was absolutely divine," Meselebe says. "She seems like the quiet type--and she was really happy to receive the compliment. Now she's all cocky!"

Such activities have helped the many immigrants in African United adjust to life at QO. "They feel so much more comfortable," Meselebe says. "They know if they feel like they don't belong in their classes all day, they have one place that they can belong to."
Meselebe's final comment: "Don't be afraid of Africans. We're not going to kill you with our spears and cook you."