Chapter 11: Natural Hair in America
Group: Olivia Hare, Samantha Hacker, Lauren Aversa, Adonte Langston
PROPOSAL
We will adapt chapter 11 of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie into an interactive experience using Storyboard That. Throughout the novel, Adichie uses hair as a symbol of the oppression and culture that immigrants experience within America. Chapter 11 of the text illustrates Aunty Uju and Ifemelu’s experience with their natural hair while adapting to the professional standards and acceptable norms.
Aunty Uju passes her United States Medical Licensing Examination to become a licensed family physician within America. After receiving this acceptance she is concerned about her hair, stating: ““I have to take my braids out for my interviews and relax my hair. Kemi told me that I shouldn’t wear braids to the interview. If you have braids, they will think you are unprofessional” (Adichie, 146). Ifemelu is unhappy with this idea, but Auntie Uju insists that “you are in a country that is not your own. You do what you have to do if you want to succeed” (Adichie, 146).
Aunty Uju and Ifemelu’s experience with the pressure to alter their natural hair is a common phenomenon for immigrants beginning to adapt to the United States. An article published by Allure Magazine titled “Goodbye to “Good Hair”: How I Learned to Love My Natural Texture After Moving to America, discusses author Elaine Musiwa’s experience as a first-generation immigrant from Zimbabwe. Musiwa accounts her hair being labeled as “nappy” and “kinky” when moving to America. Musiwa had a strong pressure to perm her hair or apply box braids. Similarly, in February 2019, new guidelines were released by the New York City Commission on Human Rights enforcing that targeting people based on their hair or hairstyle, at work, school or in public spaces, is now considered racial discrimination.
The final project’s interactive story medium is a digital storyboard using “Storyboard That.” The storyboard will consist of multiple panels that will recreate Ifemleu and Aunty Uju’s discussion in Chapter 11 about Aunty Uju taking her braids out for her job interview because she was told that in America braids are seen as unprofessional and she wanted to present herself in a professional manner (Adichie 146). The digital storyboard helps visualize the interaction between Ifemelu and her aunt and present the overall message in a simple manner that is easy for viewers to understand.
Musiwa, E. (2018, July 25). How I Learned to Love My Natural Texture Despite America’s Beauty Standards. Retrieved April 23, 2019, from https://www.allure.com/story/goodbye-to-good-hair-beauty-standard
I think that this is a good idea for the final. One thing that might help with your project is maybe giving actual examples in todays society that show that uses hair air as a symbol of the oppression and culture that immigrants experience within America. When you find real world examples, I fell that it will really strengthen your statement.
YES! I am so glad you all are doing this part of the chapter. As an African American women I struggle with my identity in regards to my natural hair in society. I have conversations about this issue with my close friends all the time. I would suggest possibly making this look like a conversation in your story board.
This is a good idea! My suggestion is that you also include real life scenarios and issues in the storyline and not just the scene from the book.
I like this pitch idea. One suggestion I have is to add personal experiences into the storyboard since more people can relate to them and understand how the people impacted by this are feeling.
I feel this is such a great idea and this will be very beneficial to show through Story board THAT because we’ll see what the interaction would’ve looked like. I’m just curious as to how you will recreate the hair if they are limited to certain hair? I feel some personal experience would be great for this story. Does this still occur today?
Great pulls from the book! I definitely think visuals will show this topic well. my only suggestion is to be as detailed as possible when creating your content.
This is a great pitch, I think including experiences of people who you know who struggle with their hair is a great personal add in.