Swarthmore Athletics celebrates Black History Month by recognizing a few of the countless African Americans who have contributed to the rich history of our programs and made their marks on and off the playing fields. Each week in February, we will tell the stories of these remarkable individuals, past and present.
Jokotade Agunloye Greenberg '01, Imo Akpan '02 and Osazenoriuwa Ebose '15 are three of the most decorated track and field athletes in Swarthmore College history. All three women were All-Americans, won multiple Centennial Conference championship events and still hold program records in their respective disciplines. Greenberg and Akpan are both members of the Garnet Athletics Hall of Fame and Ebose has a strong case for induction when she becomes eligible in 2025.
All three women also have strong ties to their Nigerian heritage. They recently offered their thoughts on Nigerian culture, the role of athletics in identity development and the dialogue surrounding immigration.
What does it mean to be Nigerian-American? How do you view your heritage?
Imo Akpan '02 (IA): We cherish our family, take pride in hard work and we keep our heritage alive through our songs, fashion, art, food and collective strength. We are very resilient.
Jokotade Agunloye Greenberg '01 (JG): I am full Nigerian; I am fully American. I am Nigerian-American; I am American-Nigerian. My ancestors were slaves in the American South; my ancestors were western Nigerian royalty. I was born in Nigeria so that culture is ingrained in me, but I was raised by an American and that is clear to all.
Osazenoriuwa Ebose '15 (OE): I love being Nigerian and am very proud to be Nigerian! I love my tribe (Edo) and the long and rich history it has, my name is a direct link to it. When I was younger I felt it was more a divider, separating me from "normal" American culture, but now it is a point of pride and something I would never change.
What role did track and field play in the development of your identity?
JG: I moved a lot when I was younger and ended up going to four different high schools in very different settings, but the one constant for me was sports. With sports, specifically running, the factors don't change. The track is always 400 meters and you always get rewarded for enduring your training.
OE: Coming to Swarthmore, I truly became surrounded by incredibly intelligent, open and beautiful minds that were encapsulated by black female bodies. These women are still my closest friends, and the women that I without a doubt can call on. Track was my fulcrum in that sense; all of my closest friends are or were on that team.
Were there any generational gaps between you and your parents?
OE: As a first-generation American child, there are always gaps between the culture that raised me inside and outside the walls of my home. Sometimes it was something so simple as explaining why Halloween wasn't the devil's holiday and the importance of sleepovers in the formation of friendships. Other times, the gap showed itself to be more sneaky in the disconnect akin to oil and water.
How can we have a productive, civil dialogue regarding immigration to America?
IA: Most immigrants come here to seek a better life for their family and that is not going to change. I think that once we start talking to each other and focus on the similarities we share, we will find out that the essence of who we are remains the same–no matter where we come from. I think that the collective kindness and generosity of the American spirit will prevail and we will continue to open our doors to people who come here to share our values and contribute to our great nation.
JG: I think more people need to understand what it is really like for people who hope to come to the U.S. Many Americans do not understand the long and arduous process it is for many people from developing nations to move from their home countries. I think if they did, they would have more empathy for those who skirt the system and recognize the need for an overhaul of our immigration policy so that it treats all people with respect.
