Born and raised in the environs of Boston, Massachusetts, Jannah Jones thinks of herself as well-versed in African-American culture, and imagined African culture would be similar. Jannah doubly majored in Business Administration and African-American History at Boston University, and graduated with her bachelor's degree in 2015. Determined to see the world before entering the workforce, the lovely and ambitious young black woman set her sights northward...
After moving to the City of Ottawa, Ontario, to study for her MBA at Carleton University, the young African-American woman got the shock of a lifetime. The African students Jannah Jones encountered at her new school and around the Canadian Capital were nothing like the brothers and sisters she grew up with in Boston. Indeed, with their myriad cultures, languages and religions, the African students were...almost alien to her.
"My dearest daughter, we live in a complex world, you must remember that sometimes culture can be an even bigger divide than race," said her father, Boston Metropolitan police officer Michael "Mike" Jones. The old man cautioned his daughter when Jannah told him about her frustrations with African students when he came to visit her at Carleton last Thanksgiving.
Tall and burly, with dark brown skin and curly dark hair graying at the temples, Mike Jones reminded people of old-school Hollywood actor Louis Gossett Jr. in his prime. On the afternoon in question, father and daughter sat near the Starbucks located in the University Center building, catching up over coffee and bagels. It had been six long and challenging months since they saw each other...
"The brothers from Africa get on my nerves sometimes," Jannah admitted, shaking her head while sipping her coffee and her father smiled and shrugged. As far as Old Man Jones was concerned, men and women the world over frustrated one another, and that was just part of the game. Of course, he didn't tell his fiery, outspoken and proudly feminist daughter that. Some things a person simply has to figure out for himself or herself, that's part of life...
"Try to be patient with the brothers, and guys in general, my dear, a strong woman tends to intimidate us, especially when she's so tall," Mike Jones said, and he smiled as Jannah rolled her eyes. Afterwards, father and daughter went for a walk around campus. Old Man Jones, a Boston native who'd never left the United States prior to visiting his daughter in Canada, found the Carleton University campus and the City of Ottawa quaint.
"Thanks, Dad, be safe," Jannah said to her father, and they shared a hug before Old Man Jones got into a cab and went to the Ottawa International Airport. Jannah sighed as she watched her father go. She was going to miss him. These days, Jannah was busy with a thousand activities. Her studies in the MBA program were going well, but there was also her sorority activities and other stuff. To unwind after an emotional day, Jannah went to her dorm to change into something sexy, then headed to Oliver's Pub.
"What took you so long?" Jannah Jones said haughtily, hand on her hip, as Khaled Abdirahman finally worked up the courage to walk up to her and introduce himself. She'd been checking out the tall, handsome, Afro-sporting and decidedly nerdy Somali brother since she walked into Oliver's Pub and threw major signals his way. What is it with men and their lack of attention to details?
