IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION AND NEGOTIATION AMONG SECOND-GENERATION IGBO YOUNG ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Second-generation Igbo (SGI) young adults are a rapidly growing population in the United States, yet the role of Igbo culture in the construction and negotiation of their identity remains little studied. The aim of this pilot study is to begin filling this research gap by examining SGI young adults’ identity construction and negotiation in the United States, to serve as a template for a larger project. Responses were gathered through a qualitative research approach, using data from face-to-face, in-depth interviews with two participants. They recount how children born in the United States to Igbo parents attempt to articulate their identities. Eight themes emerge from the analysis. Even though the findings demonstrate that the participants encounter identity struggles, they also found Igbo culture empowering because it stands out among their multiple identities. The participants offer suggestions for how to teach the Igbo language, a central component of Igbo culture, to Igbo children born in the diaspora.