The African Diaspora In The United States: The Growing Potential For Influence in U.S-Africa Relations

Abstract

This paper explores how the African diaspora in the United States has the potential to be a driving force in how the United States interacts with Africa. As the African diaspora continues to grow, there is evidence that this particular community can play a role in diplomatic relations between the continent and the United States. However, the United States has not fully utilized the expertise of the diaspora community in policy decisions relating to Africa. In addition, the African diaspora has not fully found ways to be a uniting force and use their growing power to influence how the United States interacts with their countries of origin. This matters because as the continent of Africa is starting to make a positive and vital impact on the world stage through politics, trade, and entrepreneurship, among other things, it is crucial that other nations understand how to best continue to work with African countries. By examining case studies of the Somali, Nigerian and Ghanian diasporas, this paper explores specific examples of how these diasporas responded to U.S policies and engagement that affected their countries of origin. These diaspora were chosen for their large presence in the United States as three of the top diaspora communities. In addition, most African diasporas in the U.S come from West and East Africa, thus these groups give a good reflection of the majority of the U.S African diaspora landscape. From there, policy recommendations as well as calls to action for both U.S policymakers and the African Diaspora communities are made on how they can better engage with one another.