Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

What does it mean to be black in America? That’s the question Americanah's Ifemelu asks after moving from Nigeria to the US to attend college. When she arrives, she is confronted by an unbelievable culture shock. But it isn’t simply the American lifestyle she has to grapple with, it’s the way she is viewed in society. In order to understand her new home and her role in it, Ifemelu starts a blog that becomes incredibly popular. “The only reason you say that race was not an issue is because you wish it was not. We all wish it was not. But it’s a lie. I came from a country where race was not an issue; I did not think of myself as black and I only became black when I came to America.” You’ve probably read this book, but if you haven’t, make it a priority.

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