Themes and message

Americanization and identity

One of the themes explored by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in the excerpt from her novel Americanah is Americanization and identity. In Ifemelu’s eyes, the process of Americanization is inevitable for black immigrants who move to the US. Because of their skin color, they automatically take on the identity of “black”, even though they do not necessarily see themselves this way: 

Dear Non-American Black, when you make the choice to come to America, you become black. Stop arguing. Stop saying I’m Jamaican or I’m Ghanaian. America doesn’t care. So what if you weren't ‘black’ in your country? Yo...