Conflict of Respect and Pretence .Ifemelu's inner battles post move.

"I did not think of myself as black and I only became black when I came to America"

- Chapter 31

The idea of self-perception and identity is the backbone of Adichi's book "Americanah" which revolves around the life of Ifemelu- a Nigerian who relocated to the United States. In the book, the perception of herself is weaved into her experience with love, race and the cultural differences she experiences post her relocation. 

Race is the core element that often meddles with Ifemelu's inner battle with her true identity. Her desire to blend into the American culture, to fit in and adhere to new societal dynamics. There are various occasions throughout the book where the line appears blurred in Ifemelu’s journey. 

One of the instances where her identity is hindering is in the fourteenth chapter where her value is questioned cy her classmate which triggers Ifemelu into making her accent more American hence leading her away from her true self in order to prove her worth. In addition, Ifemelu also lies about how much time she has been in the United States to appear “more Americanized”. This line drawn by Ifemelu acting as a parallel to being American and being more respected showcases her battle of adjusting in America where she is constantly forced to put up an act and alter her personality. 

This inner conflict of Ifemelu, later finds direction when she as reflex thanks a telemarketer who complimented her for sounding American. This event I believe paves the way for her to disassemble that parallel of respect and being “more” American. This event hence leads her to embrace her true identity in terms of her accent, hair and behavior. 

This journey of Ifemelu, boldening the line between her true identity and her falsified but societally more valued personality, showcases the drastic mental pressure and strain inflicted by the American upon people from other races. Racism; a concept not equivocally familiar to Ifemelu before stepping foot in America is shown being the focal point of her life in the west, influencing even her basic actions from the way she talks, looks and behaves.  Her path in embracing her originality and redefining the notion of gaining respect from “being more American” to being confident and proud of her identity, without looking from others validation is shown impeccably by Adichi, circling back to the importance of maintaining a sense of truth of oneself.