0:00- Dahwula’s introduction
0:32- “Where are you from?”
2:28- Early adolescence in America, culture-based discrimination
3:21- Experience in ESOL classes
6:46- Lack of exposure to language and culture outside of home life
7:37- Bullying cultivating a seed of resentment towards Dahwula’s African background
10:48- The rift between the African Americans and Africans
13:51- Complex feelings about culture as an adolescent
15:12- “I didn’t care about the culture until other people started caring about the culture”
15:51- Absorbing American culture
17:58- The risk of culture as a trend
19:53- The cultural experience of food
20:14- Dahwula’s favorite Liberian food
21:40- Learning through observation as a child
26:49- “The internet taught me to question more”
34:28- Dahwula’s response to being put in boxes as an adolescent
40:54- Mutual understanding in communities of other immigrant children
42:25- “Where are you currently in your identity journey?” + Dahwula’s reflections on self- autonomy
44:53- The sacrifice that comes with finding a middle ground of self-autonomy
45:46- “What do you define as your culture?”
47:22- Permanent connection to Liberian culture
49:39- Utilizing art to advance culture and break boxes of expectations
52:06- The evolution and maturity of African culture
53:25- The evolution of Dahwula’s interest in fashion
55:25- Dahwula’s influences and inspirations
58:32- The outdated “American Dream”
59:00- Dahwula’s American Dream
1:00:37- Liberia as a vacation spot for Dahwula, not a permanent residence
1:04:12- 48% of the way self-actualized
1:06:55- “What do you see for the future of your culture?”
1:07:31- “The thing about culture is you don’t necessarily need to relate to understand something”
1:08:16- The importance of building cultural bridges
Found in Translation is a Pan-African documentary interview series exploring the cultural intersectionality of African descendants across the global diaspora. Guests reflect on the layers of their identity and the role of culture in the modern world.
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