# Americanah

- Author: [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie.md)
- Quotes: 9
- Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah

## Quotes

> I'm chasing you. I'm going to chase you until you give this a chance.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/im-chasing-you.md)

> When it comes to dressing well, American culture is so self-fulfilled that it has not only disregarded this courtesy of self-presentation, but has turned that disregard into a virtue. "We are too superior/busy/cool/not-uptight to bother about how we look to other people, and so we can wear pajamas to school and underwear to the mall."

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/when-it-comes.md)

> Race doesn't really exist for you because it has never been a barrier. Black folks don't have that choice.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/race-doesnt-really.md)

> They never said “I don’t know.” They said, instead, “I’m not sure,” which did not give any information but still suggested the possibility of knowledge.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/they-never-said.md)

> She rested her head against his and felt, for the first time, what she would often feel with him: a self-affection. He made her like herself.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/she-rested-her.md)

> With him, she was at ease: her skin felt as though it was her right size. She told him how she very much wanted God to exist but feared He did not, how she worried that she should know what she wanted to do with her life but did not even know what she wanted to study at university. It seemed so natural, to talk to him about odd things. She had never done that before. The trust, so sudden and yet so complete, and the intimacy, frightened her.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/with-him-she.md)

> If you’re telling a non-black person about something racist that happened to you, make sure you are not bitter. Don’t complain. Be forgiving. If possible, make it funny. Most of all, do not be angry. Black people are not supposed to be angry about racism. Otherwise you get no sympathy. This applies only for white liberals, by the way. Don’t even bother telling a white conservative about anything racist that happened to you. Because the conservative will tell you that YOU are the real racist and your mouth will hang open in confusion.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/if-youre-telling.md)

> She liked that [Obinze] wore their relationship so boldly, like a brightly colored shirt. Sometimes she worried that she was too happy. She would sink into moodiness, and snap at Obinze, or be distant. And her joy would become a restless thing, flapping its wings inside her, as though looking for an opening to fly away.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/she-liked-that.md)

> Why did people ask "What is it about?" as if a novel had to be about only one thing.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/why-did-people.md)