Asserting One’s Identity: Triple Consciousness in Ifemelu’s Romantic Life in Americanah

The concept of Double Consciousness describes a state of internal conflict experienced by Black people that W.E.B. Du Bois first articulated in "The Souls of Black Folk" (1903). It reflects the ongoing struggle of African Americans that experience two different identities that are equally significant: one rooted in their African heritage and the historical fight against slavery, and the other shaped by the perception of the dominant white society. As the Civil Rights Movements evolved, Du Bois’s idea of Double Consciousness was expanded to account for the unique perspectives and experiences of Black women in America. The Triple Consciousness theory not only addresses the complex self-perception of Black male identity, but also encompasses the experiences of women of color, who must navigate their lives as both individuals and minorities in relation to race, gender, and class. In this research, I will take into consideration the award-winning novel "Americanah" (2013), by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in relation to the theory of Triple Consciousness. As a Nigerian immigrant in the United States, Adichie was able to perfectly grasp the difficulties experienced by a Black woman in a foreign country, having to confront and navigate a society that scrutinizes her on several fronts: first and foremost as a Black woman, then as an immigrant with a different cultural background, and finally in terms of class. I will examine the romantic relationships of the protagonist, Ifemelu, through the lens of the theory of Triple Consciousness. To begin with, the thesis will concentrate on Ifemelu’s interracial relationship with Curt, shedding light on the Black/White dichotomy and the protagonist’s awareness of race and privilege in the United States. The second chapter will focus on the protagonist’s relationship with Blaine, an African American man; in this relationship, unlike the previous one, the two lovers share the common sense of being Black in America, however, their differing cultural backgrounds and ethnicities will lead Ifemelu to experience feelings of dislocation and detachment from him. The final relationship to be examined is between Ifemelu and Obinze, a Nigerian man with whom she had a past relationship in her home country. Ifemelu’s connection with Obinze is rooted in a shared cultural background; however, class and gender expectations become more pronounced as their lives diverge.