In the first paragraph, Jidenna reflects on his upbringing in Nigeria where he saw his mother simply as a person who cared for him, without attributing any societal labels or racial distinctions to her. He emphasizes that the idea of race did not exist within their family unit and that she was just "his mother."
The second paragraph delves deeper into Jidenna's perspective on how perceptions of race are often influenced by external environments rather than familial bonds. The quote highlights a stark contrast between his personal, intimate understanding of his mother as an individual who loved him unconditionally and the realization upon moving to America that society imposes racial categorizations on people based on their appearance or background. This shift in perspective underscores how the concept of race can be perceived differently depending on one's social context.
In the final paragraph, Jidenna is a Nigerian-born American musician and rapper whose work often explores themes related to cultural identity and the intersection of African and American experiences. The quote encapsulates his personal reflections on how perceptions of race are socially constructed and can vary significantly between different cultural settings.
