Provocation Assignment
In Chapter 11 of Americanah, Ifemelu is adjusting to her new life in America, and notices her Aunty Uju has changed to “fit in” in America. A section in the book that made me take a step back and think about how closed- minded Americans are is when Aunty Uju says:
“I have to take my braids out for my interviews and relax my hair… If you have braids, they will think you are unprofessional.” “So there are no doctors with braided hair in America?” Ifemelu asked. I have told you what they told me. You are in a country that is not your own. You do what you have to do if you want to succeed.” There it was again, the strange naivete with which Aunty Uju had covered herself like a blanket. Sometimes, while having a conversation, it would occur to Ifemelu that Aunty Uju had deliberately left behind something of herself, something essential, in a distant and forgotten place (Adichie 146).
Ifemelu has noticed that Aunty Uju has left behind some of her Nigerian roots to try to adapt to American culture, even by changing her hair. Aunty Uju believes that she must fit in with the American culture in order to find a job or success in America. Ifemelu seems annoyed by her aunt changing herself to fit in, but she is still new to America and she has not experienced as much pressure to fit in as her Aunty Uju does.
Americans are obsessed with their appearance, and they feel they have to change to be happy or find success. Many employers openly admit to accounting for an applicants appearance (as in the clothes they are wearing, their hairstyle, if they are wearing makeup, etc.) during the hiring process. Do you think that during the hiring process someones appearance plays just as large of a role as their actual qualifications or abilities?
Sources
“Chapter 11.” Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Anchor Books, A Division of Random House LLC, New York, 2013, pp. 141–158.