He Found Brotherhood Despite Cultural Differences
How Ryan Mijumbi Navigates Masculinity as a Ugandan-American Man
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Mijumbi, a second-year clinical psychology student at Adelphi University. Our paths crossed through our mutual involvement in interfaith work. Through our conversation, I discovered that we had similar experiences growing up as first-generation men in the United States.
Born in the US, Ryan has navigated the balance between his Ugandan heritage and the diverse American landscape. My story, also as a child of immigrant parents from India, felt similar.
Despite our parents immigrating from different cultures, we both similarly grapple with the intricacies of melding multiple cultural identities. Simultaneously, it also has been a gift to explore and embrace multiple traditions, prompting moments of introspection around identity and belonging.
In Ryan’s story, he eloquently shared his journey of self-discovery through his involvement in a leadership organization which brought African-American men in college together. Through conversations with other black men, he noticed cultural differences. Ryan shared a poignant reflection on the privilege of knowing his ancestral lineage, a stark contrast to many of his black peers:
I went to a school where the majority of people were white. I only had a handful of people who shared my skin color. Even though we shared skin color, we didn’t share cultures. There was a disconnect. I can trace my lineage up to my grandfather in a specific country in Africa while other people said they couldn’t trace their lineage that far, even if to the transatlantic slave trade.
It took me until college to realize the cultural privilege that I have in understanding where I come from and what heritage I hail from. This includes being able to interact with Ugandan culture throughout my life, whether it is through my mom and dad speaking Luganda, through enjoying cultural foods, or even thinking about my parents’ journey to the United States.
As I thought about Ryan’s reflection on the diversity of cultural identities, I found myself intrigued. I asked Ryan how his connection to Ugandan culture and his relationships with other African American men shaped his understanding of masculinity. He responded:
I had such a reckoning with my identity as a black male. I never really thought of my identity. I thought, “I’m brown and I’m a male”, essentially facts of my being. However, being in this cohort of black men coming from different stripes, passions, fields, personalities – I truly came to understand my own male blackness. I also saw how I fit into the African American experience. Every day that I breathe is a testament to the work, sacrifices, and even, unfortunately, the deaths of African American individuals in America’s past. The fact that I benefit from their hard fought labor binds me to them.
I loved the way he framed this. It speaks to respect, particularly a form of respect for the contributions, wisdom, and sacrifices of previous generations. It recognizes the role that community played in shaping one’s identity, heritage, and world around them. It also shows gratitude towards those that have paved the way for future generations, carrying forward their legacy with dignity and appreciation.
To me, this is a value of healthy masculinity. It promotes the well-being of the larger community, allowing space for brotherhood, familial-like connections to previous generations, and a respect for others.
As I explore culturally diverse stories of healthy masculinity, I find Ryan’s journey to be uplifting. If this preview of Ryan’s story has piqued your interest, please check out the full interview below.
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The recognition of privilege here is inspiring, especially given that it is an African immigrant recognizing the cultural benefits he receives from the likes of MLK and Malcolm X.
It’s beautiful that he can see it with such clarity, especially when so much of us of fairer skin get offended at the notion that we might somehow benefit from those who have gone before.