African and American, not African-American.

Joy Schmidt
Waxhaw, NC

I was born in West Africa and adopted by Caucasian parents. But since my parents are missionaries we also live for most of my childhood in Cameroon. When we moved to the U.S. permanently I was starting 9th grade, and one of the most frustrating things that I am met with is people expecting my knowledge, behavior, or accent to fit their notions of an African-American.