Summary

Kenechi Uzor’s “This Hell Not Mine” compares the difference between hell and knowing you are in hell—the former easier to live in. Moving to America from Nigeria felt like leaving hell for heaven, but the reality of America brought a different type of hell that held depression, drugs, suicide and cancer, and enough restrictions that feel like a well-intentioned parent is watching and waiting for you to make a mistake. He extends his criticism to the well-meaning white people who adopt African children knowing they also extend such hospitality to “stray dogs and cats,” (48) that they and fall for “tales of woe” from Africa. He recalls being unsure whether his literature professors praise his writing because it is good or because it is good for an African. He discusses his shame about Nigeria as it is often not a sense of...