Between two Worlds: The Ghanaian American Teen Experience is a digital research project that explores hoe Ghanaian American adolescents navigate the complex reality of being seen as “too African” in American schools and “too American” at home. This serves as a space to examine how identity, belonging, and cultural expectations shape the daily lives of young people who exist between cultures. This also investigates how language, accent, discipline, religion, and cultural values contribute to feelings of otherness. using the lenses of diversity, intersectionality, and cultural hybridity, the site analyzes how race, gender, class, and immigrant generation influence the dual-identity experience

Why does it matter?

Ghanaian American teens often balance two worlds with different expectations: one rooted in heritage and collectivism, and the other shaped by American norms and individualism. Understanding these tensions help us better support immigrant youth and recognize the richness they bring to American society. As a Ghanaian American Adolescent myself, I have lived the experience this project explores. I have navigated the mix of pride and pressure, the misunderstandings at school, and the cultural expectations at home. This project allows me to explore not only my own story, but the broader stories of others who share similar journeys, whether it is immigrants who migrated to the U.S. to become citizens or people who were born in the U.S. by migrated parents.

What you would Find Here

This website includes:

• A research-based insight
• Cultural Analyses.
• Explanation of key concepts like otherness and intersectionality.
• Reflections on Ghanaian and American values.
• Strategies teens use to navigate dual identity.