Homegoing

By Abby Russ

Abby Russ (she/her) is a Human Health + Economics student at Emory College of Arts & Sciences. She will graduate from Emory in 2026.

I stood at the very top of the Black Star Monument in Accra, Ghana—a vibrant hub of West Africa history—filled with pride and a profound sense of belonging. On the edge of the platform, the Ghanaian flag billowed in my hands as I felt the weight of generations settle into the moment.

As a first-generation Ghanaian-American, I’ve spent much of my adolescence piecing together my identity. I’ve balanced the influence of my predominantly white school environment with my parents’ stories, values, and the Ghanaian cuisine I grew up on. From packing Jollof rice for lunch to starting an African Student Association at my high school, intertwining my love for my culture with my academic and social life was always a priority of mine.

But here, with the Atlantic Ocean behind me sending strong breezes—whispers of both hardship and triumph—something crystallized within me. The flag in my hands wasn’t just a national symbol; it was a tangible link between my American upbringing and my deep-rooted Ghanaian heritage.

With the sun burning my shoulders and the Black Star Monument casting its long shadow before me, I understood that my cultural identity was never divided. It was, in fact, what has kept me whole since birth.

I am who I am today because of my culture—and because of the impact I hope to make one day for my country. My Ghanaian heritage began the day I was born in New Jersey, when I was given an Asante name—a name that has guided me all my life, leading me home in more ways than one. Everyday I wake up with my name “Abena Amankwah” fueling my passions and desires to make a change within my community through my professional, social, and academic endeavors. These feelings associated with my name are something I carry on my shoulders everywhere.

And at this very moment, I wave my Ghanaian flag with pride, honor, and belonging—and I will continue to wave it until I can make my country proud.