Intersect to create complex identities. Adichie challenges readers to see black women in
America, specifically, as a diverse group composed of vastly different sorts of people
and experiences. Ifemelu is often uneasy with the restrictions placed on her, and she
frequently attempts to move beyond the categories in which she finds herself. One
might say that while the novel appears to be the story of Ifemelu’s migrations between
America and Nigeria, it is also the story of her movement between careers, social
classes, relationships, and ethnic communities.
Purpose
With the above in mind, write a thesis-driven research essay in which you compare how
Ifemelu and another character of your choosing feel the effects of race, class and
gender in the United States.
What do the differences between these two characters’ experiences suggest to readers
about life in the US? You should form a strong argument based on your research and
your analysis of the novel and should sustain that argument throughout the paper.
Remember: Essays should be focused on the novel—its events, characters, and
language—and discussion of topics like race and class should be in service of that
focus.