The Construction of a Black Female Migrant Identity in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie̕s Americanah (2013)

Abstract

Despite the growing number of works that represent the black female migrant characters in the literary scene, many narratives often fail to capture the complexity and uniqueness of their identities and experiences. Therefore, this study examines the construction of a black female migrant identity in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah (2013). This novel offers an insightful vision on how black migrant women, who come into contact with the mainstream white American society and confront racism and alienation, perceive and negotiate their identities, as represented through the main character Ifemelu and other female characters. This dissertation sheds light on how Adichie portrays the complex and nuanced nature of black female migrant identities. Furthermore, it highlights the ways in which race, gender, culture and migration intersect to shape migrant women’s identities. Drawing upon intersectional feminist theories and black feminism, this research aims to critically assess the representation of black female migrants in Americanah, questioning whether it reflects the complexity of their experiences, and examining Adichie’s portrayal of black migrant female identities in the US. The study analyzes how the novel challenges simplistic imaginations of race, beauty, blackness and their intersection. The thesis shows that the blend of cultural identities seems natural and positive for Ifemelu, yet it places her in a state of being neither completely American nor entirely Nigerian. Instead, she becomes Americanah. This amalgamation deepens our understanding of black female migrant identities as a fluid and dynamic constructs shaped by racial and gender disparities.