You are from Africa, right? So Did you have lions in your backyard? Do you speak African? Did you ride elephants to school?

This is an excerpt from the article by Ryan Platt about presentation and discussion at James Madison University(JMU) to hear tales of migration and courage, and to catch a glimpse into the African world.

Josh Fine was just one of many speakers who told of his experiences coming from an African culture to a very different U.S. culture. And in most cases, it's a difficulty.

"When I first got here, no one really understood where I was coming from or where my vision was coming from. It shocked me," he said.

The differences between cultures, according to Fine, could be frustrating at times.

"Nobody knew where I was from, and I got questions that my friends and I laughed about and dreaded back home," Fine said. " ‘Did you have lions in your backyard? Did you ride elephants to school?' I even had a girl ask me, ‘Do you speak African?' "

But Fine is not alone. Several African students spoke during the event in between speakers to give their input of what it's like being an African in America.

Kofi Boafo is one of those students. Boafo is a sophomore integrated science and technology major who, came to JMU to further his education. His goal is to eventually return to Africa and help his homeland.

"I wanted to study ISAT because of the energy program, because Africa has such problems," said Boafo, who plans on returning to Ghana after graduation to work on developing a strong energy source for Ghana.

But students are not the only part of the Africana picture at JMU.

Professor Godfrey Vincent from the history department is from Trinidad and Tobago and related stories of his journeys to the traveling tendencies of the African people.

"My journey to the U.S., to New York, to Baltimore, from Baltimore back to New York, then finally to Virginia is like the African people," Vincent said. "They've been traveling all over the world, they are travelers."

As travelers, Africans have made their marks on places across the globe, from Europe to Asia to the Americas, Vincent explained.

Vincent brought up the point that people can encounter an African who isn't dark skinned.

"Africa comprises white people, black people, people who look different from other people," Vincent said. "In Egypt and Ethiopia, there are all kinds of different looking people there."

The presentation aimed to challenge many of the stereotypes of Africans in the United States.

"A lot of people think that Africa is still the land of Tarzan and Jane - that is not Africa," Vincent said. "People tend to think of African people as living in huts - that is not Africa. Africa lives in a modern age with computers and Internet and skyscrapers."

Read the full article.