THE VIEW OF BLACK WOMEN THROUGH AMERICAN SOCIETY’S EYES GUIDED BY THE BREAKDOWN OF AMERICANAH BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE

Abstract

Throughout society black women are constantly categorized, degraded, disrespected and ignored. Using the novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, my aim is to show the ways in which black women have been treated not only today but throughout history. Using Americanah as a lens of analysis, the life story of the main character, Ifemelu, demonstrates the trials and tribulations black women face on a daily basis. I will start by going into the background of black women’s beauty; starting with colonization and slavery and then leading into how our looks have become trendy on other women but political on black women. I will then dive into black women from different countries around the world and see how we relate to one another and how we do not.