Maury

Studying Black Identity in South Africa Transformed My Worldview

My name is Chiagoziem “Sylvester” Agu. I’m 20, a sophomore of Albany State University, majoring in biology, a member of the Alpha Phi fraternity, with aspirations of pursuing a medical degree in cardiology. A few months ago, I had an extraordinary experience studying abroad in South Africa as a Frederick Douglas Global Fellow. I spent four weeks in Cape Town on a full scholarship, studying political Blackness, Black consciousness, and the complexities of colored identity. Every day, I was exposed to something different. Although the knowledge I was acquiring was both intimidating and scary, I also found it empowering. This is my story.