This novel deals directly with the relationship between whites and blacks; however, it also goes into depth about the correlation between Africans and African Americans. Ifemelu's relationship with Blaine showcases this contrast greatly. Blaine is an African American who tries to show the world that he's not. He partakes in stereotypically "white" activities to show the world that he is the "exception". He eats organically and healthily, he is an overwhelmingly academic person, and he works hard to not convey the "lazy" stereotype. Blaine conveys this "exception" personality, and, in return, pushes these black stereotypes onto Ifemelu. In Ifemelu's construct of American race, she sees black as the bottom of the totem pole. She's observed that the general population thinks that blacks are lazy, poor, helpless thieves who are too different to socialize with. Blaine doesn't necessarily want to see her as African; he sees her as black. He partakes in the stereotypes when says to Ifemelu, "You're being lazy, Ifem" when she doesn't take the academic approach he always conveys into her writing.
But the fact of the matter is, she's African. She hasn't grown up in America like Blaine, and although their skin color is the same, nothing else truly is. Blaine is an academic who tries too hard to keep up appearances and puts down Ifemelu. Overall, he tries too hard to conform to "white America." Ifemelu, however, is proud of where she came from. She believes the emotions she conveys in her blog posts are just as important as the academia, and she doesn't feel the need to conform to prove herself. Ifemelu states in a blog post: "They tell us race is an invention, that there is more genetic variation between two black people than there is between a black person and a white person." Blaine and Ifemelu's relationship conveys this perfectly, showing that although they have the same skin color, they grew up in different worlds and are therefore entirely different people.
I really like how you put this and definitely agree that Blaine and Ifemelu magnify each other's differences as characters. I also like the last quote you used, and think it does a good job of conveying something that I found to be one of the main messages of this book: Racial prejudice is only skin deep. Multiple times in the story, Ifemelu talks about how in Nigeria, she is not black. On page 586 in the last chapter of the book, she's talking to Curt on the phone when she says, "I feel like I got off the plane in Lagos and stopped being black." In a place where there is not preconceived stereotypes or prejudices in regards to skin color, race is not a factor. In America, however, things are different, and Blaine is the character used to exemplify these differences. He is black, and the way he "deals with it," so to speak, is to actively combat every stereotype thrown at him. When these stereotypes don't exist, no one has to "deal with being black." The contrast between Blaine and Ifemelu in America definitely makes for an interesting and eye-opening portrayal of these truths, especially after we see Ifemelu go home to Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed this contrast between Africans and African Americans in Ifemelu and Blaine’s relationship. Although Ifemelu is happy in her relationship with Blaine, it is as if her choice to embrace her African background creates tension between the two of them. Blaine lives to teach. And not only to teach his students, but to teach his friends, family, and even Ifemelu. Blaine isn't very supportive of Ifemelu’s blog and wants her to change the way in which she writes her blog posts. He comments on her wording and lack of “explanation” (386). He even tells her, "'That blog is a game that you don't really take seriously, it's like choosing an interesting elective evening class to complete your credits'" (427). Blaine doesn’t take the rawness of Ifemelu’s blog in the same way that many of her readers do. When reading her posts, he responds as if he is responding to a student in one of his classes.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Kacey said about Blaine trying to “conform”. And I think that in his conformity, he and Ifemelu become two very different people. Ifemelu wants to address racism and be proud of who she is. After some time in America when she realizes this, she wears her hair naturally and gets rid of her American accent. She is from Nigeria, and she learns to find pride in this. Blaine, on the other hand, writes a blog about the “’intersection of academia and popular culture’” (381). He just wants to be an American intellectual. When Blaine and Ifemelu meet again at the blog convention, Ifemelu views Blaine as “the American man she would never have” (381). Even though they have the same skin color, coming from different backgrounds gives them different views on race in America and how to react and respond to it.