Theme Of Racism In Americanah

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In americanah there was an overall theme of racism. With the author doing a deconstruction of racism throughout the book. Going from the big idea to smaller parts it is clear that the author wants the reader to understand that racism is on a smaller scale. On the basis of micro aggressions and not just only obvious actions that people have on a one on one basis. These ideas are builded up using blogs and personal events. The basic premise of racism is defined as “Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior” (Oxford) racism is prevalent in the modern world even in the countries that tries to combat racism on a huge scale. For example is america, …show more content…
The ones that people use the most in our society are they are gangsters, drug users, unclean, eat watermelon, lazy, and uneducated. People of mainly the other race use these stereotypes to put down and degrade blacks in america. It can even get to the point that a person that immigrated to america has to fit these stereotypes to remotely fit in. Ifemelu aunt in the book Aunty Uju had a scene in which she was in a supermarket and had to speak in a certain way in front of the white population, ““Dike, put it back,” Aunty Uju said, with the nasal, sliding accent she put on when she spoke to white Americans, in the presence of white Americans, in the hearing of white Americans. Pooh-reet-back. And with the accent emerged a new persona, apologetic and self-abasing.” (137) In this example in the supermarket there is a clear switch from normal speech to a speech that fits the stereotypes of blacks. With slurs and being obnoxious this form of speech can also be associated with people that are un-educated, not being able to process word …show more content…
More often than not blacks are treated way differently in public spaces by the main population. When walking down a street they are extensively looked at and if they are on the same path the other person will cross the street to the other side to not interact with the black person. At upper class places they are question on why they are there. This wouldn 't happen to a white person as it is the main norm for them to be upper classed. During conversations the other person might switch to a different form of speaking like slowing down, or using slang. One of the events where this issue arose was at Ifemelu’s first day at the university. When talking to a person that knew the place this happened. “Cristina Tomas said, ”I. Need. You. To. Fill. Out A. Couple. Of. Forms. Do. You. Understand. How. To Fill. These. Out?” and she realized that Cristina Tomas was speaking like that because of her, her foreign accent,” (163) as said in the quote she was treated like that because of her accent. Most people when meeting with an immigrant will often try to slow down their speech for them to understand. Even though they most of the time can speak it fluently and more so since they don 't use slang words. This is an example of how blacks along with other immigrants are treated in the

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