5 Conclusion

Weaving a racial perspective together with theories of symbolic interactionism creates a framework that allows us to fully explore the nuanced commentaries Adichie makes in Americanah. We can understand the totality of the experiences that push Ifemelu away from her sense of self and ultimately make her experience in the United States so unfulfilling that she returns to Nigeria. For years, she struggles under the burden of being a “Stranger” in America whose identity is lumped in with millions of other Black Americans to whom she feels no kinship. Ifemelu simultaneously is dealing with the pressure of expectations placed on her because of her race, yet feels unable to acknowledge her race because of the hegemonic hold that colorblindness has on society. These feelings follow Ifemelu everywhere, hurting her sense of self, her quality of life, and her conception of what she can achieve. The major academics discussed in the literature review — Goffman, DuBois, and Alexander — as well as the data in the case show that sadly, Ifemelu’s experience is not unique. African immigrants struggle to find a place in the United States where they feel liberated from the burden to “play a role” or where they feel seen and accepted for who they are.

The conclusions drawn from Americanah can seem quite bleak, but there is hope, too. Indeed, the publication towards Americanah is an important step towards making sorely-needed racial progress in the United States. Just as Alexander reminds us, a problem cannot be solved until it is first identified and confronted — and Adichie identifies the problem of racism’s omnipresence in a powerful, affecting way. Teaching books like Americanah in schools and holding space to discuss the ideas Adichie brings up in her novel are an essential way to foster critical conversations about racism in America. I plan to continue doing my part to amplify voices like Adichie’s and to use the sociological tools at my disposal to better understand the myriad of ways in which racism has been woven into the fabric of our nation. I believe that this is the best way forward.