The Concept of Class and Social Status in Americanah: A Critique of the Intersections of Class, Race, and Privilege in Both Nigerian and American Societies

In Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie critiques the intersections of class, race, and privilege, exploring how social status influences the characters’ lives in both Nigeria and the United States. Ifemelu’s experiences reveal the complexities of social mobility, particularly how class is linked to race, education, and access to resources.

In Nigeria, Ifemelu’s family’s relatively privileged status gives her certain advantages, but it also separates her from the working-class Nigerians she interacts with. However, in America, Ifemelu's race places her at a disadvantage, despite her educational background. This contrast highlights how social class can shift dramatically depending on geographic and racial contexts. Her journey through both countries shows that while the mechanics of class may differ, its impacts on people’s opportunities and identities are universal.

Adichie’s exploration of class and privilege in Americanah forces readers to consider the complex ways in which social status shapes people’s lives, often in ways that are hidden or normalized. Through Ifemelu’s experiences, the novel critiques systems of privilege that perpetuate inequality, both in the U.S. and in Nigeria.