Americanah

 Reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah for the second time has refreshed in my mind some of the "lessons" that I believe she meant to impart on her readers. In particular, the idea of no two black experiences being the same sticks out to me.

Adichie highlights the uniqueness of black experiences within the US by contrasting Ifemelu and Dike's own experiences settling in. Within the context of the novel, Dike's disconnection from his heritage is entirely understandable: Aunty Uju's desire to "fit in" with Americans leads to her outright denying her cultural integrity and, by extension, Dike's. When Ifemelu speaks Igbo to Dike, Aunty Uju reasons to Ifemelu that "This is America. It's different" (Adichie, 134). From his very introduction as a character proper, Adichie shows that Dike's existence is defined by what he's not supposed to be, and later expresses how damaging that can be to someone. 

Ifemelu's life within the United States has its ups and downs, but, towards the end of the novel, it is obvious that they have changed her and her perception for the better. This is in part because she actually has a solid understanding of her identity as a Nigerian woman before even moving to the United States. Often throughout the novel, Ifemelu's identity and her independence is what she comes back to when she has found herself lost. It's also a defining part of her while in relationships, for better or for worse, that she is unwilling to change her core self. We are given Ifemelu's opinions and thoughts through her blog posts, and see that her core identity is strong enough for her to decide to return to Nigeria. Ifemelu's resolve keeps her going, which Adichie contrasts with Dike's struggles with identity, and with living itself. 

Dike's life in the United States is rough, especially when Aunty Uju and him move to Massachusetts. Ifemelu notes that since the move, "[Dike] was no longer transparent. Something had filmed itself around him, making him difficult to read... with a weariness too heavy for a child" (Adichie, 211). His grades are falling, he is the only black kid in his class, his mother only ever uses their Nigerian culture as a threat of "what's worse," and because of his skin tone, he sticks out. Later on, Dike relays to Ifemelu about how a camp counselor wouldn't give him sunscreen because of his skin, and admits that he wants to "be regular," (Adichie, 227) meaning that he wants to go along with the crowd, even when it means endangering and denying himself. He faces racism in his daily life and his own mother's attempts to water down his identity and heritage for others' benefit. 

This all culminates in Dike attempting suicide. Here, Adichie shows us the gravity of the pressures that young Black people can experience when attempting to assimilate into the United States. Not only that, but how denying one's culture and heritage and person-hood can bring one to despair. However, Dike's story doesn't end here, as when he visits Ifemelu in Lagos, it is obvious that he is in a better place. He even states that he's "never seen so many black people in the same place" (Adichie, 518). Here, Adichie is showing us the positive benefits of having a sense of community, and identity. Through Ifemelu's perspective throughout the plot and through showing Dike's downfall and eventual upturn, Adichie tells us that things are not all lost for black people who feel disconnected from their heritage. It is important to reconnect with a community and never lose hope for yourself.