Bridesmaids
Renée Reynolds (MOH)
Yale obviously did something right when they put Nneka and Renée in Pierson College, since they moved off campus together as soon as possible. Once Renée allowed Nneka full access to her fridge so that Nneka could hide her stash of Jollof rice from her very hungry freshman year roommate, their friendship was sealed. For the remainder of their bright college years they each benefited from access to two wardrobes, an abundance of West African and West Indian cooking, and Great Nut ice cream. During that period they argued a total of 3 times (a generous estimate), probably about something food related. Do you sense a theme emerging?
Sharee Onyezia
Nneka’s younger (see, I didn’t say little! — well, I guess I did now) sister. Sharee made it VERY clear that she refused to walk in her sister’s shadow any longer after graduating from high school. Even though her original aspirations to attend Morehouse College did not pan out (who knew it was all male? she probably should have asked about that first) she has gone on to make her mark at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she is taking advantage of all of her older brother’s connections instead. Sharee plans to spend her 21st birthday in Washington, DC with Nneka where they will drink tea and eat brunch. Sleep by 10:30 pm.
Lindsey Greene-Upshaw
Lindsey will forever be famous for her stellar meatball-making (and storing) skills, black beans with green peppers, and her surprise visits to Chicago, where she’s always welcome once the Upshaws tire of that Texas humidity. Being in the class of 2004 at Yale, Lindsey was like a younger sister (slightly younger, don’t go crazy with that Linds) to Nneka. But, after Nneka was a bridesmaid at Lindsey’s wedding in June 2007, the tables have turned and Lindsey is now the one with the advice and experience. Except when it comes to choosing the wedding photographer since Eryan can’t do his own wedding.
Adwoa Ansah
Even though Adwoa is a proud graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, she might own more Yale gear than Nneka. They met in 2002 as they were both pursuing membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (see also: Gina, Lindsey). Nneka and Adwoa’s friendship and sisterhood endures despite the best efforts of Antoinette (Adwoa’s car) to sabotage it by getting stuck in a snow drift over a cliff (yes, a cliff), locking the doors with the keys still in it, and getting lost on the way to Maritza’s Dominican hair salon in the Bronx. They went on to live together in DC where Adwoa routinely tolerated having only 1/3rd of the total freezer space with poise and grace.
Gina Calder
Gina was one of the first people Nneka met as a high school senior visiting Yale. It was rainy, they made no plans, and Nneka doesn’t really remember where she slept in that Davenport suite — or if she slept at all. But, after seeing a Steppin’-Out show, hanging out with a crew of lively 0-deucers, and enjoying a shake at Yorkside, Nneka was Yale-bound. Nneka became even more familiar with old Davenport in 2002 when she, Gina, Adwoa, and Lindsey became sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Nneka still doesn’t know where — or if — she slept during that time either. (You still have my red Boys & Girls Club camp counselor shirt, by the way).