Ghana, Sierra Leone and USA / 2015 / 43mins / Documentary / English

What does it mean to be an African born in America? Am I: Too African to be American or Too American to be African explores the complex identity formations of young African women living in America and West Africa who identify bi-culturally. It specifically looks at how they wrestle with the concepts of race, complexion, gender, and heritage among other issues.

Nadia Sasso

Born in America to parents who emigrated from Sierra Leone, Nadia Sasso believes in the potential for collaboration to inspire innovation. She spearheaded the corporate social responsibility initiative at Royal Dynamite so that the company donates an educational care package to children around the world when a t-shirt is purchased from the company. In 2010 she co-founded Yehri Wi Cry (YWC), an organization that distributes birthing kits in Sierra Leone to increase the successful birth and delivery rates for women. Named among Katie Couric’s “Next Generation of Female Leaders,” Sasso received the “Young African Committed to Excellence Award” by Face2Face Africa magazine. She is also the 2013 recipient of the Posse Foundation’s Ainslie Alumni Achievement Award where she was honored for her commitment to social responsibility. Nadia holds a dual B.A. degree in English and Sociology from Bucknell University, an M.A. in American Studies with a certification in Documentary Film from Lehigh University and a Ph.D in Africana Studies from Cornell University. Learn More