The demographic diversity of culture in the United States may seem like a simple reality,

however, the forces that propel movement of people from around the world to the United States

is quite substantial. Through my research, I have found that for many immigrants, the United

States serves as a means to improve their lives socially and economically. While growing up in

the segregated South during the 1950’s, my grandfather embraced the military to avoid

unemployment and to travel the world. Interestingly, it is around the same time period that many

immigrants entered the United States from different countries. If one faced fear, war or poverty,

the result often sparked movement to a new country. Or perhaps, were people “pulled” to that

new country because of the beliefs and values held by its people? Considering my research on

Nigerian immigration compared to the experiences revealed during an interview of my

grandfather, native to the United States, there are many ideas on how “push pull” factors

motivate migration and change the lives of many.

During the 1950's, in both times of peace and periods of conflict, men were drafted to serve in

the United States military. Men between the ages of 18 and 25 were drafted to fill vacancies that

could not be filled through voluntary means. This movement to help preserve the security of the

United States, helped to shape the worldview of many people, including my grandfather. As a

result of the draft, my grandfather gained awareness of other problems in places in the world that

led him to come to the same conclusion of the thousands of people migrating from other

countries. People have and will continue to migrate to the US for safety reasons, for employment

and to escape poverty. My grandfather was not only able to escape the potential for

unemployment in the south but he was also able see why it was necessary to open the doors in
the US and welcome those from other countries who were escaping disasters or perhaps poverty.

He stated that the ideas of democracy and the opportunities open to anyone who works hard in

the United States was well worth fighting for. He emphasized that ​there is also a need to be

compassionate on those who have not been given the chance to see the world and travel outside

of their communities which according to my grandfather impacted many low income urban

communities in the United States.

In this analysis, several reasons why Nigerians migrated to the United States is explored in order

to compare their motivation for movement to that of my grandfather’s early life experience.

Ultimately, it may be hypothesized that although unpleasant, the military conflicts in the world

have had an impact on progress and a positive effect on both communities. According to my

grandfather, a Korean War veteran, his quality of life improved as a result of a world military

conflict and educational opportunities that broadened his world view. For Nigerians, the many

reasons for people to pick up their lives and move were motivated by the same values held by my

grandfather.

The late 1950s, 1960’s and 1970’s were times in which a surplus of Nigerians migrated to the

United States. During this time, there was civil instability in Nigeria, which led to a lot of

disunity and conflict in that country. However, the turmoil motivated a great amount of

movement within the Nigerian community.

Another force for movement during this time was the value placed on education in Nigeria. ​An

example of the common belief of the Nigeria people can be found in “Things Fall Apart” by

Chinua Achebe. In the lines, "He said the leaders of the land in the future would be men and
would be men and women who had learned to read and write. If Umuofia failed to send her

children to the school, strangers would come from other places to rule them" (Achebe, p.181).

The United States holds some of the best universities in the world (Best College Reviews ) which

drew many Nigerians to the states.

Due to the production of oil, Nigeria experienced a major economic boost, making it one of the

richest countries in Africa at the time. Many Nigerians students were able to take advantage of

the opportunity to study at the best universities in the world (​Best College Reviews​). Many

moved to the states for an advancement in their education, paid for by their wealthy families.

Most students were sponsored by their parents and relatives both in Nigeria and in the

United States, while others obtained financial assistance from universities and colleges in

the United States. In the late 1970s and 1980s Nigeria was among the top six countries in

the number of students sent to study in the United States. (Countries and their Cultures)

In the 80s when the economy in Nigeria began to fall, students and other Nigerians in America

opted to remain in the states and gain their citizenship.

The Biafra War was the war that prompted thousands of Nigerians to pick up and move their

lives. ​Six years after Nigeria was granted autonomy from Br​itain, from northern Nigeria, the

Muslim Hausas attacked the Christian Ingbos. According to the article “​Civil War in Nigeria​”,

as a result the Igbos migrated to eastern Nigeria. Against the will of the Nigerian government,

the Republic of Biafra was born. In 1967 the Biafran war began, however as Nigeria had a

stronger military, the territory of Biafra began to diminish. About ​3,000 to 5,000 people died
daily in Biafra from starvation with a total of around one million. Robert Propst stated that

according to Dr. Linford Gehman (Propst), an American urgent relief doctor working with the

Mennonite Central Committee and who spent time in Biafra during the war, “Hunger killed far

more people than military weapons, causing Gehman to feel acutely aware of his privilege.” The

war officially ended in 1970. This conflict in Nigeria prompted a serious amount of disunity and

civil strife between Nigerians.

Following the Biafran war, was the Nigerian oil boom. The oil boom led to great development in

the Nigerian economy, at the time making it the richest country in Africa.​ “​Between 1958 and

1974, production rose from just over 5000 to 2.3 million barrels per day and government revenue

increased from N200,000 to N3.7 billion.” (West African Politics) While it didn't last for more

than a decade, the lifestyle of the Nigerian people changed in the 70s and they had a new surplus

of money.

The Biafran war and the oil boom in Nigeria both contributed to to the movement of the Nigerian

People. The Biafran war caused the disunity and turmoil in the country which inspired people to

move away and the surplus money allowed Nigerians to seek opportunities in a country for

education and freedom, values desired by Nigerians. ​Although two very contrasting events,

education and civil war sparked movement of Nigerians to the United States to improve their

lives.

The slave trade between the 17th and 19th centuries, removed millions of native African people

from their homes to the Americas. The majority of these slaves were relocated to the Caribbean,

Brazil and the United States. An interesting fact found in my research is that many slaves came
from many different sections in Africa and that one region with a significant contribution of

slaves came from Western-Africa, including parts of Nigeria. “​Others originated in the Blight of

Biafra (including parts of present-day eastern Nigeria and Cameroon)” (Pruitt) Movement,

although forced, there had existed a connection between Nigeria and America early on.

Another idea, the beginning of the American civil rights movement in the 1950’s, years after

civil war and the emancipation proclamation effectively abolishing slavery in the United States,

the country was still corrupt with racial barriers and discrimination specifically in the south. The

implementation of Jim Crow laws were put into place, promoting the segregation of

African-Americans and White people. Basic rights were restricted for African-Americans, such

as the use of public facilities and the opportunity to vote. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “​Racial

segregation must be seen for what it is, and that is an evil system, a new form of slavery covered

up with certain niceties of complexity.”(King)

But why would African people from Nigeria willingly move to a country struggling with racial

discrimination? Based on my research, it does appear that the ideas and principles of the United

States that civil rights leaders fought so hard to guarantee for all did and continues to “pull”

immigrants to the United States seeking opportunity. My grandfather hoped to escape the

harshness of Jim Crow and joined the military. It was through the military that his world view

was expanded which helped him grow as a person and discover that he and other minorities were

supported by the United States government. The views of democracy and rights to liberty

theoretically were open to all. Very similar to a Nigerian immigrant, my grandfather sought to

escape civil strife and improve his quality of life by learning something new. According to my

grandfather, the work of the Civil Rights leaders were inspired through education. It wasn’t until
the 1970’s that Nigerians really began to move to the states, just on the tail end of the civil rights

era.​ On the contrary, the effects on those who were not given the chance to become educated or

travel the world were paralyzing and resulting in the plight that is characterized by many of the

urban areas in our country. Ultimately, it may be hypothesized that although sometime ugly,

such as in the case of the military conflicts in the world, movement around the world has a

positive impact on all cultures.