I warn black Americans'don't get too mixed. A little is fine, but not to the point where you're out of the family.

I happen to know at least a hundred Sudanese refugees in the United States, all of whom were taken in by white families and white churches, and they all tell me''Naima, you were blessed to be raised by Black Americans.'

I warn black Americans'don't get too mixed. A little is fine, but not to the point where you're out of the family.

I'm not a 'strong warrior queen' like people think. I spend most of my day cooking and doing things with my sons.

I learned English by watching soaps as a kid, and since I don't have any formal education and can't teach at the universities like other literary writers do.

I'm too good for assimilation.

I wrote about my life just as I remembered it. I named names and it's very detailed. Hundreds of Sudanese refugees and people from Africa say that my journey is very similar to theirs.