How Adichie illustrates a cultural divide existing not just between blacks and whites in America, but also between Americans (of all colors) and Africans.

       In Americanah, Adichie illustrates how Africans living in America must deal not only with the discrimination that black Americans face, but also with the alienation imposed on foreigners. They are lumped into the same group as American blacks and yet do not completely fit into that community and culture either. Adichie illustrates this in multiple ways during the novel. One way she shows this is through Ifemelu and Blaine's failed relationship. It is evident that despite them both being black, neither of them are able to fully understand the experiences and perspectives of the other. For example, there is an instance where Ifemelu lets a woman feel her hair and Blaine asks angrily why she would let her do that (page 314, paragraph 3). Blaine "expected her to feel what she did not know how to feel" (page 341, paragraphs 3-4) but Ifemelu does not understand why that should be offensive. She is treated the same as black Americans much of the time, but she doesn't share their history. This leads to Blaine often feeling like she doesn't take matters of race as seriously as he thinks she should. 

      Another way that Adichie shows the distinct struggles of American Africans is by showing the pressures they face to assimilate into American culture. One example of this is when Ifemelu decides to stop forcing an American accent. She expects that she will have to use her "Mr. Agbo Voice" to speak to an Amtrak woman who she suspects will "[respond] to her accent by speaking too slowly as though to an idiot" (page 177, paragraph 3). Ifemelu's surprise that this does not happen shows how she is used to being treated as stupid for being from Africa. This fact is why she felt the need to change her accent in the first place.

     Adichie further shows the unique situation of American Africans through Ifemelu's interactions with the ASA. This student group is perhaps the only place in America that Ifemelu truly feels like she fits in. Mwombeki's "welcome talk" (page 140, paragraph 3) to the newcomers gives the readers an insight into how strange American culture seems to non-Americans as well as how they are expected to pretend it isn't strange. Mwombeki lists rules such as "do not expect to have hot food for lunch...do not be shocked by the indiscriminate touching of American couples" (page 140, paragraph 4, page 141, paragraph 1).  He explains how they should try to befriend black Americans but they "might make friends more easily with other internationals" (page 142, paragraph 1). American Africans are in a unique place in society, being outsiders seemingly to everyone but one another. While they may find some community and connection with fellow black people or fellow international people, none of them can fully understand their experience. I think this plays a big part into why Ifemelu ultimately decides to leave America as well as why she is drawn to Obinze who knows what it's like to be an African in a foreign place.