Annotated Bibliography

Chude-Sokei, Louis. “The Newly Black Americans.” Transition, no. 113, 2014, pp. 52–71. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2979/transition.113.52. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

The article “The Newly Black Americans: by Luis Chude-Sokei addresses the new and evolving identities of Blacks in America. Chude-Sokei explains that new immigrants coming from Africa face new upcoming challenges in terms of racial dynamics, including prejudice and discrimination with black and non-black communities. It analyzes that the presence of new Black immigrants and breaks traditional narratives of black identity and challenges within the African American community.

Dawson, Emma. “The Thing Around Your Neck.” World Literature Today, vol. 83, no. 5, Sept. 2009, pp. 61–62. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.cwi.idm.oclc.org/10.1353/wlt.2009.0149

The story is an in depth look at one’s perspective in the process of new world adjustment. It talks about how one adapts to life in a strange place and an early look at the author and her tone of work. This shows us how one participant’s fictional life is worthy of notice.

Denkyi-Manieson, Agyeiwaa, Gladys. “Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: A Thematic Study.” Journal of Pan African Studies, Vol. 11 Issue 1, pp. 52-65. 2017. Accessed on 12 Nov 2023.

“Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: A Thematic Study” by Denkyi-Manieson and Gladys Agyeiwaa serves as a thematic study of multiple of Adichie’s short stories. This source was published in a journal synthesis of African community studies that works to discuss and assess historical and contemporary issues portrayed in African literature. This study examines themes of education, marginalization, marriage, childbirth, and infertility in Adichie’s portrayal of her character’s relationships with men, women, parents, children, and family. Shining a spotlight on the work of feminism portrayed in Adichie’s short stories, Denkyi-Manieson and Gladys Agyeiwaa underline the historical and socio-political injustices faced by women in Africa and the United States. Using careful examination, the authors argue that Adichie is placing a spotlight on the struggles of women through her use of feminism within her writing and characters. This source can be used as literary analysis of Adichie’s work through a feminist critical lens. Readers can use this source for a more defined understanding of the portrayal of feminist ideologies and struggles in Adichie’s work. This source also provides historical and political context surrounding the use of gender norms and stereotypes by Adichie.

Eromosele, Ehijele Femi. “Sex and Sexuality in the Works of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.” The Journal of Pan-African Studies, vol. 5, no. 9, Mar. 2013, p. 99. Accessed 12 Nov 2023. 

“Sex and Sexuality in the Works of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie” by Ehijele Femi Eromosele works to study the attitude of sex and sexuality within Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s work. This source was published in a journal synthesis of African community studies that works to discuss and assess historical and contemporary issues portrayed in African literature. The author highlights how Adichie’s work is a positive contrast from traditional Nigerian fiction. The author draws from Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, and The Thing Around Your Neck to dissect the narrative of sex positively within Adichie’s work. The author concludes that Adichie does not adhere to the restrictions of sexuality and sexual expression placed on members of the LGBTQIA+ community by certain cultures and religions. Adichie rather embraces the identities and portrays them as normal human characteristics. Eromosele’s insightful analysis underscores Adichie’s significant role in challenging societal norms. This source acts as a literary analysis of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s work with a queer theory critical lens applied. Eromosele’s analysis underlines Adichie’s use of narrative structure to challenge heteronormative constructs. Readers can gain a better understanding of how Adichie works to advocate for a positive space for sex and sexuality within her literature.

Goyal, Yogita. “Africa and the Black Atlantic.” Research in African Literatures, vol. 45, no. 3, 2014, pp. v–xxv. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2979/reseafrilite.45.3.v.

“Africa and the Black Atlantic” explores the history of black and African people on the Atlantic coast of the United States and how our history of slavery has affected society’s treatment of them and their daily life in modern times. Within the article it discusses a work by Adichie called Americanah which explores the experiences of African immigrants and the disconnect found between their culture and ours. In regards to this work, the article discusses its contribution to new found visibility of African literature as it explores the unique experiences of those who travel to the United States and the discrimination in class they might find upon arriving.

Green-Simms, Lindsey. “The Emergent Queer: Homosexuality and Nigerian Fiction in the 21st Century.” Research in African Literatures, vol. 47, no. 2, 2016, pp. 139–61. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2979/reseafrilite.47.2.09.

In “The Emergent Queer: Homosexuality and Nigerian Fiction in the 21st Century” Lindsey Green-Simms explores the treatment of homosexuality and queer characters in modern Nigerian literature, discussing the discourse around homophobia and the everyday experience of LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria. Throughout the article Green-Simms looks at works from many different Nigerian authors like Adichie and discusses how they add to the conversation on Homosexuality in Nigeria. With Adichie, she specifically looks at some of her works from her collection, The Thing Around Your Neck, and explains how Adichie subtly shares and portrays her ideas on the lives of queer people within these short stories.

Hewett, Heather. “Coming of Age: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the Voice of the Third Generation.” English in Africa, vol. 32, no. 1, May 2005, pp. 73–97. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cpid&custid=ns149246&db=a9h&AN=19862710&site=ehost-live.

“Coming of Age: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the Voice of the Third Generation” by Heather Hewett is an article in the English in Africa journal. It serves as a discussion of the “Third Generation” of Nigerian writers, of which Adichie is a part, and how they are subverting norms and making room for previously suppressed and/or underrepresented stories. The author hesitates to claim a singular literary tradition for Nigeria, as traditions are constantly changing and thus can lead to dangerous generalizations. But Hewett claims that Adichie and her fellow Third Generation writers are making room for more nuanced, detailed conversations about life in Africa. The article has a particular emphasis on voicelessness, mainly that of women writers and characters, which fits in perfectly with our discussion of The Thing Around Your Neck. This article helps readers better understand Adichie’s background and gives cultural context to the stories she writes and how they fit into the larger literary framework of Nigeria.

Ifeoluwa Mary, Amusan. “Adapting to Life in America: Cultural Loss in the Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.” Confetti, vol. 8, 2022. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.

“Adapting to Life in America: Cultural Loss in the Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie” is a reflective paper contributed to the eighth volume of Confetti from the University of Ottawa by Amusan Mary Ifeoluwa. This journal piece reflects on the works of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie using instances of cultural loss in Adichie’s stories through the analysis of the character’s immigration stories. Mary Ifeoluwa employs theoretical concepts of acculturation, transculturation, and assimilation to highlight the cultural negotiations and loss that Adichie’s characters face in order to adapt to a new country. The paper draws upon L. Hall’s concept of cultural loss, Fernando Ortiz’s critical understanding of acculturation, and Wolfgang Welsch’s notion of transculturation to analyze how characters grapple with the challenges of retaining their original culture while integrating into America. This critical analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex processes of cultural negotiation and identity formation faced by immigrants.

The text provides a multifaceted exploration of cultural dynamics, making it valuable for a diverse range of readers interested in literature, cultural studies, and the complexities of identity in the context of migration. Readers may use this text as an insightful literary analysis of the psychological and socio-economic implications of migration.

Minter, Jennifer. “A More Hopeful Future: The Thing Around Your Neck.” English Works, https://www.englishworks.com.au/summary-thing-around-neck/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.

“A More Hopeful Future: The Thing Around Your Neck” by Jennifer Minter examines the narrative devices used by Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi. Minter examines themes of politics, women’s rights, religion, immigrant experiences, and the consequences of political and social change. Minter dissects Adichie’s uses of narrative devices to elaborate on a deeper socio-political and cultural message within Adichie’s work. Minter also examines the depth of the characters within the novel, noting symbolism and the impact of historical events. Minter calls for a hopeful future, arguing that Adichie’s work can be interpreted as an advocation of compassion, tolerance, and an invitation to return to one’s cultural roots with pride. Dr. Jennifer Minter’s analysis of The Thing Around Your Neck provides a comprehensive literary analysis for Adichie’s narrative techniques. Providing historical, religious, cultural, and political context, readers can use Minter’s examination of Adichie’s work as a guide to understanding the importance of the novel on a deeper level. Minter’s examination of gender roles, politics, and cultural identity offers readers a more intricate understanding of the thematic layers within Adichie’s writing. Minter’s work overall can be described as an argumentative piece that employs the use of multiple critical lens to argue her point of a hopeful future.

Mohammad, Sabri, and Noor Abu Madi. “Raising a New Generation of ‘Feminists’: Gender and Social Norms in Chimamanda Adichie’s Imitations and The Arrangers of Marriage.” Language in India, vol. 21, no. 12, Dec. 2021, pp. 94–103. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=154333921&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

This article, “Raising a New Generation of ‘Feminists’: Gender and Social Norms in Chimamanda Adichie’s Imitations and The Arrangers of Marriage,” focuses on Adichie’s portrayal of females and how they are regarded by society. Mohammad and Noor discuss how Adichie writes on issues like female identity, gender problems, and social norms. Although this text does not pertain to Adichie’s “The Thing Around Your Neck,” it can successfully be used to show that throughout her writing Adichie maintains a pro-female view. While this article most prominently can be accepted by a feminist critical approach it also works when applied to a new historicism approach.

Okereke, Grace Eche. “The Birth Song as a Medium for Communicating Woman’s Maternal Destiny in the Traditional Community.” Research in African Literatures, vol. 25, no. 3, 1994, pp. 19–32. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3819843.

“The Birth Song as a Medium for Communicating Women’s Maternal Destiny in the Traditional Community” is an article that explores the importance of motherhood within traditional Igbo society and the impact it has on the life of women once they become mothers. Through detailed examinations of traditional songs sung by Igbo women upon the successful birth of a child, we can see the presence of expectations on women in this culture to solely grow up to become mothers. The discussion in this article shows us necessary information in understanding the underlying expectations of Adichie’s main character in “The Thing Around Your Neck” to help us better understand the dynamic between the main character and her boyfriend.

Palmer-Mehta, Valerie. “The Subversive Power of Survivor Rhetoric: An Innovative Archive of Survivor Discourse in New York Magazine.” Women’s Studies in Communication, vol. 41, no. 2, May 2018, pp. 159–82. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1080/07491409.2018.1471764 

“The Subversive Power of Survivor Rhetoric: An Innovative Archive of Survivor Discourse in New York Magazine” is a scholarly article by Valerie Palmer-Mehta that references the NYT cover story “‘I’m No Longer Afraid’: 35 Women Tell Stories about Being Assaulted by Bill Cosby and the Culture That Wouldn’t Listen”. This article discusses the culture around sexual abuse, and in particular the difficulties for survivors to speak up and face their attackers. Palmer-Mehta contends that the discussion of sexual violence needs to be centered on women’s lived experiences, and that creating a popular culture archive of these experiences helps “intervene in dominant discourses and builds alternative community history”. She also focuses on the need for survivors to reclaim their power by using their own voices to tell these stories in ways that protect them from the culture of disbelief and suppression that still surrounds sex abuse testimony. The article lends clarity to Adichie’s character’s abuse, and the inherent lack of agency in such a situations. It sheds light on a powerful aspect of reclamation, that to take her power back a woman needs to center her own voice in the conversation regarding her abuse.

Plate, Liedeke. “Remembering the Future; or, Whatever Happened to Re‐Vision?” Signs, vol. 33, no. 2, 2008, pp. 389–411. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1086/521054. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.

In “Remembering the Future; or, Whatever Happened to Re‐Vision?” Plate responds and builds upon Adrienne Rich’s concept of Re-vision. It establishes an understanding of re-vision as a critical term and the impact the call to re-vision Rich inspired. This inspired retelling and explorations of stories from postcolonial, feminist, gender, and queer perspectives. It builds the definition of re-vision and it’s affectual relationships with texts of the past being rewritten to express different perspectives. It tackles the rebuttal of parasitism of rewriting older stories. Plate represents the motives of Re-vision while exploring a myriad of writers and stories rewritten. Another contention of this articles is how it ties Re-vision to consumerism and how it’s become intersected in product and concept.This article gives an argument source of what re-vision is, was, how it influenced writing, and how it will look in the marketplace of writing and what the future of re-vision may look like. This may also be a method source of how the concept effects writing so it may be applied analyzing texts for the effects or re-vision on that specific text or authors writing style.

Podis, Leonard A. “Literary Lions: Chinua Achebe and Ongoing Dialogues in Modern African Literature.” Research in African Literatures, vol. 50, no. 4, 2020, pp. 142–64. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2979/reseafrilite.50.4.09

“Literary Lions: Chinua Achebe and Ongoing Dialogues in Modern African Literature”, a journal article by Leonard A. Podis, gives a broad look at contemporary African authors and the spaces in which Adichie’s work exists. Like many other scholars, Podis examines Adichie’s work as a comparison to Chinua Achebe’s writing and reinforces the oft-repeated concept of Adichie being Achebe’s “literary daughter”. However, Podis then goes further, recognizing and analyzing the many ways in which Adichie’s work deviates from Achebes as well as how she has made her own place in the “ongoing dialogues” of African literature in the 21st century. Adichie has, Podis proposes, explored ideas that Achebe never touched, such as expatriation–and that her work can only be fully appreciated as an independent work, rather than as a descendent of Achebe’s legacy.

Rather, Manzoor Ahmad, and Mahmood Ahmad Khan. “A Correlational Study on Emotional Intelligence and Self-Actualization of Creative Writers.” Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, vol. 11, no. 4, Dec. 2020, pp. 308–12. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cpid&custid=ns149246&db=a9h&AN=148893813&site=ehost-live.

Correlational Study on Emotional Intelligence and Self-Actualization of Creative Writers by Manzoor Admad Rather and Mahmood Admad Khan is a shorter article that expounds upon their study on the relationship between factors of emotional intelligence and self-actualization of Creative writer of Jammu & Kashmir. They list many personality characteristics such as self-sufficiency, independence, openness, stability, tolerance to ambiguity, and self-confidence as associated with the process of creativity. While various personal and situational factors that go with or predict the creative performances such as originality, redefinition, flexibility, fluency, elaboration, and evaluation. After going through many of the terms and their studies correlations between variables with the most notable being the significant positive relations between self-actualization and emotional intelligence in participants. This is a great argument source for finding statistics that tie personality traits and situational factors tying into creative or self–actualized writers.

Rich, Adrienne. “When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Re-Vision.” College English, vol. 34, no. 1, 1972, pp. 18–30. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/375215. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.

“When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Re-Vision” revolves around the concept of revision obviously. Re-vision as an act of looking back at texts and notions from a new direction to understand women’s identity and her refusal of the self-destructiveness of male-dominated society. Adrienne Rich writes about the play When we dead awaken along with other works and authors such as herself who have to work around much of the status quo while charting new territory in their identity and writing. The writing identity seems to be broken down in contentions of texts that men write that represent concepts of women, along with how men respond to women’s writing if they condone it or not. To portray those contentions the author uses stories of women referencing Jane Harrison, Sylvia Plath, Diane Wakoski, Virginia Woolf, Sappho, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, Elinor Wylie, Edna Millay, and so many more encapsulating the voice of female writers. Overall, this is an effective method and or argument source. It gives relevant arguments and contentions on women writers while it may also be a method in evaluating thus making it a working argument source, while it could be used as a method to establish links of demographic backgrounds to the work of authors, which is the main use of this source in the essay.

Ross, Michael L. “Ownership of Language: Diglossia in the Fiction of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.” Research in African Literatures, vol. 50, no. 1, 2019, pp. 111–26. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2979/reseafrilite.50.1.07 .

In “Ownership of Language: Diglossia in the Fiction of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie”, Michael Ross analyzes the use of multiple languages–both English and Igbo–in Adichie’s work and the connotations that this multilinguality has on African cultures’ places in literature. Ross suggests that, by writing primarily in English but strategically incorporating Igbo, Adichie has challenged the norm and found empowerment in the English language being a core part of her education–as something that enriches her writing, rather than detracts from it. Ross observes that Adichie is skilled in “playing languages off each other” for dramatic effect and rhetorical emphasis, but concedes that in some of Adichie’s later work, this interplay of language becomes less effective as a tool of empowerment, and instead seems to be more “ornamental”. In her later works, Ross describes the use of the Igbo language as being little more than “a colorful feather in the author’s artistic cap”. Ross’ stance is that effective use of diglossia in literature exists somewhere between an outright refusal of the English language–a perspective held by some African writers–and the “ornamental” use of Igbo–as seen in Adichie’s work.

Ryan, Connor. “Defining Diaspora in the Words of Women Writers: A Feminist Reading of Chimamanda Adichie’s ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’ and Dionne Brand’s ‘At the Full and Change of the Moon.’” Callaloo, vol. 37, no. 5, 2014, pp. 1230–44. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24265203. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

“Defining Diaspora in the Words of Women Writers” by Connor Ryan showcases the feminist perspectives of the two writers Chimamanda Adiche and Dionne Brand. It delves them into their themes of diaspora through the feminist perspectives. It highlights themes such as displacement, identity, intersectionality and cultural critique. It illuminates how women navigate cultural and societal challenges within multifaceted diasporic context.

Satkunananthan, Anita Harris. “Haunts and Specters in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Biafran (Re)Visitations.” 3L: Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, vol. 24, no. 4, Oct. 2018, pp. 185–98. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.cwi.idm.oclc.org/10.17576/3L-2018-2404-14.

Satkunananthan’s article, “Haunts and Specters in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Biafran (Re)Visitations” focuses on the impact that the Nigeria-Biafra war had on Adichie and the Igbo people as a whole. This work discusses how a collective trauma like war can affect multiple generations and how Adichie uses her history to fuel her writing. As this article references Derrida’s hauntology quite a bit it could be considered a deconstruction piece, but it also works well for new historicism. This is due to the fact that it displays how the author’s time period (immediately post-war) can have an effect on the stories in which they write.

Sharobeem, Heba M. “Space as the Representation of Cultural Conflict and Gender Relations in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘The Thing Around Your Neck.’” Rocky Mountain Review, vol. 69, no. 1, 2015, pp. 18–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24372861. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023. 

The journal “Space as the Representation of Cultural Conflict and Gender Relations in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘The Thing Around Your Neck'” explores how physical and metaphorical spaces in Adichie’s collection of short stories illuminate the complex interplay of cultural conflict and gender relations in Nigeria. It analyzes how the settings within the narratives reflect the power dynamics and social hierarchies that shape the lives of the characters, particularly women, and how these spaces serve as a backdrop for examining issues of identity, belonging, and resistance. The article underscores Adichie’s skill in using spatial representations as a lens to critique and challenge prevailing norms, shedding light on the nuanced experiences of individuals navigating the intersection of culture and gender in contemporary Nigerian society.

Taormina, Robert J., and Jennifer H. Gao. “Maslow and the Motivation Hierarchy: Measuring Satisfaction of the Needs.” The American Journal of Psychology, vol. 126, no. 2, 2013, pp. 155–77. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5406/amerjpsyc.126.2.0155. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.

Maslow and the Motivation Hierarchy: Measuring Satisfaction of the Needs by Robert J. Taormina and Jennifer H. Gao defines the five needs in the Motivational hierarchy as physiological, safety-security, belongingness, self-esteem, and self-actualization. It opens the article representing critiques of the Maslow’s motivation hierarchy and potential biases. In order to see the tone of the study it defines each of the needs by explicit definitions. It explains previous studies on the subject of Maslow’s hierarchy. The article spends the majority of the text explaining correlations and findings within the study which simple correlations being made of a lower need being met and in turn a higher need statistically being met too as a correlation. Confirming this hierarchy. It then goes in depth on other correlations such as family emotional supports influence on the satisfaction of the five hierarchical needs, or the correlation of abiding by traditional values equates to more satisfied needs. This is a method source usually would be associated with a psychological critique or lens.

Terry, Jennifer. “‘It Was a Departure of Sorts’: Glocal Homes in Recent Short Fiction by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Efemia Chela, Chibundu Onuzo and Lesley Nneka Arimah.” Cultural Studies, vol. 37, no. 2, Mar. 2023, pp. 224–42. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.cwi.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/09502386.2022.2104894.

This article shows the struggle to be an immigrant woman, human in transition and where sense of self leaves them in pursuit of the American dream. A cultural look at the African transition as it is severe from African to American culture and the sacrifices that are inherent although not openly spoken of in society. It also summarizes author authors of equal caliber and similar circumstance viewing Black voices for what they are.

Tunca, Daria. “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as Chinua Achebe’s (Unruly) Literary Daughter: The Past, Present, and Future of ‘Adichebean’ Criticism.” Research in African Literatures, vol. 49, no. 4, 2018, pp. 107–26. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2979/reseafrilite.49.4.08.

“Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as Chinua Achebe’s (Unruly) Literary Daughter: The Past, Present, and Future of ‘Adichebean’ Criticism”, an analytic essay by Daria Tunca, examines the relationship between Chimamanda Adichie’s work and the work of Chinua Achebe, another Nigerian writer. This essay argues that Adichie, previously described as Achebe’s “literary daughter” has become “rebellious” and begun to deviate from the path that Achebe forged for African writers. Tunca investigates the reasons behind why scholars often discuss Achebe and Adichie as being inextricable and concludes that since Achebe has been named the “father of African literature”, all subsequent African writers–including Adichie–must then be his “sons and daughters”. However, Tunca posits that this thoughtless conflation of the two writers has led to misinterpretations of Adichie’s work and even a disregard for the perspectives she has to offer that may differ from Achebe, including her thoughts on Igbo culture. Tunca concludes, citing a quote from Adichie, that possibly it is, in fact, this very difference in perspective from Achebe that emboldened Adichie to find her own voice through writing.

VanZanten, Susan. ‘‘The Headstrong Historian’: Writing with Things Fall Apart.” Research in     African Literatures, vol. 46, no. 2, 2015, pp. 85–103. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2979/reseafrilite.46.2.85. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

“The Headstrong Historian’: Writing with Things Fall Apart” by Susan VanZanten highlights Adiche’s stories with a broader context of African literature, specifically the postcolonial literary landscape. She mentions that “Things Fall Apart” has become a crucial part of African literature, portraying Igbo society and colonialism. It is a nuanced analysis on how Adichie’s work with Achebe’s legacy, exploring how her story contributes to ongoing conversations with African literature.

Zubair, Hassan Bin, et al. “White Oppression Oppresses the Black Identity: Exploring Cultural Incongruity and Issues of Nigerian Diaspora in American Landscape Presented in Chimamanda Ngozi Adhichi’s Selected Fiction.” Ilkogretim Online, vol. 20, no. 2, Mar. 2021, pp. 1112–18. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.cwi.idm.oclc.org/10.17051/ilkonline.2021.02.126.

“White Oppression Oppresses the Black Identity: Exploring Cultural Incongruity and Issues of Nigerian Diaspora in American Landscape Presented in Chimamanda Ngozi Adhichi’s Selected Fiction” works to show the cultural ambivalence in Adichie’s characters. The article notes that Adichie, who is known for her diasporic writing, is able to portray how immigrants in America struggle with cultural hegemony as they assimilate into American culture and society. The reader can use this text as a new historicism resource to show how Adichie showcases the Nigerian culture’s (as well as many other cultures) struggles to find success in America while also maintaining their own cultural beliefs.

“Beyond the Golden Door.” Kirkus Reviews, vol. 87, no. 17, Sept. 2019, p. N.PAG. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=138322467&site=ehost-live&scope=site. “Beyond the Golden Door.” Kirkus Reviews, vol. 87, no. 17, Sept. 2019, p. N.PAG. EBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=138322467&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

This review shows the hope of the living the American dream and the pressures of heritage to achieve the goals in the great world. It shows the reality of living poor and indentured being prevalent in society, showing the inherent costs of reality. Their labor of staying in the native country verses giving up the dream a world wide phenomenon amongst immigrants to face going worldly. The article focuses on the blind promise of the new world.

“Ice Case Studies.” Case Study, web.archive.org/web/20170214103207/www1.american.edu/ted/ice/biafra.htm. Accessed 7 May 2024.

“Ice Case Study” goes into great length to elaborate on the Nigerian Civil War. This particular source discusses different aspects of the war such as the background, the groups involved, and the tragic outcome of the war between Nigeria and Biafra. This is a straightforward text and can be read as such. This source helps to set the historical background when looking at “The Thing Around Your Neck” through a new historicism lens. As Adichie is a Nigerian author who was born a mere seven years after the end of this war, this historical event plays a large role in her writing.

“The Thing around Your Neck: The Thing around Your Neck Summary & Analysis.” LitCharts, www.litcharts.com/lit/the-thing-around-your-neck/the-thing-around-your-neck. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023. 

This source goes over “The Thing Around Your Neck”. It breaks down how the story delves into the lives of Nigerians, both in their homeland and in the United States, exploring themes of identity, displacement, cultural conflict, and gender relations. Each story offers a glimpse into the complexities of Nigerian society and the challenges faced by its people, particularly women, as they grapple with the intersection of tradition and modernity. It goes over Adichie’s vivid storytelling and rich character development providing a poignant and thought-provoking examination of the human experience, offering readers a nuanced perspective on the intricacies of cultural adaptation, migration, and the search for a sense of belonging in a globalized world.