STUDENT REPORTS Health Perspectives Among Senegalese Immigrants in Cincinnati, Ohio jASon hArtz over the past 30 years immi- diseases. Knowledge acquisition by gration from west Africa has way of the media, word of mouth, increased exponentially. For or lived experience has the ability to those migrating from Senegal to the alter personal decisions in relation United States, New York City was to health in diverse ways. For some the primary destination. From there immigrants the answer may be exer- communities have developed in cise, for others it may be through the other cities around the U.S., such as adoption of food avoidance strate- Cincinnati. The greater Cincinnati gies. For many of those Senegalese area, including the area of Kentucky in Cincinnati which I interviewed, just across the Ohio River, has seen it is apparent that an adherence to the development of a small, but shippers, and manufacturers, the a more “traditional” or “authentic” vibrant community of West Africans. owner of a small African market and Senegalese diet is the answer, no As a result of the influx of African the adjacent Senegalese restaurant, matter how global that diet may in migrants in the region, businesses who formerly worked for a global fact be. catering to their needs have also food distributer, has succeeded in developed. For the past decade in developing a business which caters Cincinnati, a small Africa-centric to the desires of not only the West food landscape has become visible. African community, but also Asian For the months of June and and Caribbean immigrant commu- July, 2011, I conducted research in nities. This small restaurant has Cincinnati at a small African market managed to create a cuisine which and the neighboring Senegalese res- is largely West African, focusing primarily on Senegalese cuisine, but has also hybridized its menu to cater to multi-ethnic tastes. Additionally, they alter the amount and content of each dish depending on the assumed tastes of the customer. For instance, Jason Hartz is master’s student in an American customer will receive anthropology and a former FLAS more meat and less rice, while an fellow (Wolof, summer 2010 and African customer will receive more 2010-2011). rice and less meat. Dietary choice is largely dictated by access, which in turn taurant, both owned and operated may have very real or possibly by the same individual. For the two harmful effects on the health of the months that I was there, I located individual. Diabetes, heart disease, myself, for the most part, in the din- hypertension (high blood pressure), ing room, interviewing customers and obesity are very real concerns and watching the day-to-day activi- among immigrants traversing the ties which took place. My research American food landscape. How focused primarily on the develop- knowledge about food and dietary ment of the West African food choice is obtained and how immi- landscape and the shifting dietary grant populations use this knowl- requirements of the Senegalese pop- edge is important in learning how to ulation living there. By tapping into assist individuals in coping with and a global network of food producers, possibly preventing such chronic Center for AfriCAn StudieS Research Report 2011 33.