For November, I will be highlighting two professors’ book recommendations. In this first post, I will be highlighting Dr. Amanda Licastro’s recommendation.
Dr. Licastro wants to highlight Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Americanah is a about two young lovers who leave military-ruled Nigeria to seek new opportunities in the West. Ifemelu heads to the United States where she is forced to deal with what it means to be black for the first time. Obinze heads to Europe and plunges into the dangerous, undocumented life in London.
Dr. Licastro explains, “particularly relevant during this election cycle, this book was originally a series of blog posts written by an African immigrant who was having difficulty assimilating to American culture.” She adds that “ultimately, Americanah offers important insight into the experience of African-Americans through a humorous, relatable, and heartbreaking glimpse into one woman’s life.”