# Quote — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah

> 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.

- Author: [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie.md)
- Book: [Americanah](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Chimamanda_Ngozi_Adichie#Americanah_(2013)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/americanah/if-youre-telling

## More from this book

> 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)