This peice was inspired by the struggles faced by African-Americans throughout history. As a black girl growing up in the United States, I feel that my ethnicity and my nationality have a complicated relationship; as a result of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the 'African' part of "African-American" feels distant, as my connection to Africa was lost hundreds of years ago when my ancestors were stolen from their native lands, while simulanteously serving as the basis of the systematic oppression of Black Americans. The 'American' half of "African-American" feels inappropriate- America has never valued the lives of Black Americans, and we are reminded of that on a daily basis through both "harmless" microagressions and overt acts of racism.