As the American landscape becomes even more ethnically diverse, represented by the country's first black president, new voices and opinions rise to the surface. In his autobiography "Hell in Heaven" (published by AuthorHouse), author Modou Gueye narrates his experience as an African immigrant in Harlem, comparing the United States and his native country of Senegal.

Gueye obtained a U.S. visa in 1990 to visit for just two weeks, but remained for 19 years. Gueye left behind a wife and large family. "I came to the United States and I stayed longer than I had asked to; I felt its greatness, but also its imperfections," writes Gueye. "My feelings are different now."

In "Hell in Heaven," Gueye describes the African "myth" of America that shattered upon his arrival in New York City and the American stereotype of Africa. Gueye writes:

Most of the media images here in America, and also in Europe, portray Africa as a continent of illnesses and epidemics; home of HIV; a land of wars, hungry people, and wild jungles. The beauty of the African people, their culture and civilization, gets no media attention, except the showing of wild animals and their habitats.

The book details the history of immigration in the United States and describes the cultural identity of Americans. Gueye urges African-Americans to gain a strong cultural identity by going "back to their roots," becoming more open to countries like Africa. Throughout the book, Gueye shares common African beliefs, traditions, folklore and colloquialisms.

"Hell in Heaven" is a probing look at the elements that shape American culture from the valuable vantage of an outsider.

Modou Gueye is a native of Senegal, West Africa, and father of six children who remain in Africa. Gueye has attained degrees in business administration, accounting and English. He learned English in only two years, and also speaks French and Ouolof fluently. Gueye recently moved back to New York City from Atlanta, Ga. He is currently working on a memoir for his children.

Courtesy: AuthorHouse

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 6 July, 2009 12:33:20 PM IST #