Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Quote
It had to be that Americans were taught, from elementary school, to always say something in class, no matter what. [...] 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. And they ambled, these Americans, they walked without rhythm. They avoided giving direct instructions: they did not say Ask somebody upstairs; they said You might want to ask somebody upstairs. When you tripped and fell, when you choked, when misfortune befell you, they did not say Sorry. They said Are you OK? when it was obvious that you were not. And when you said Sorry to them when they choked or tripped or encountered misfortune, they replied, eyes wide with surprise, Oh, it's not your fault. And they overused the world excited, a professor excited about a new book, a student excited about a class, a politician on TV excited about a law; it was altogether too much excitement.
It had to be that Americans were taught, from elementary school, to always say something in class, no matter what. [...] 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. And they ambled, these Americans, they walked without rhythm. They avoided giving direct instructions: they did not say Ask somebody upstairs; they said You might want to ask somebody upstairs. When you tripped and fell, when you choked, when misfortune befell you, they did not say Sorry. They said Are you OK? when it was obvious that you were not. And when you said Sorry to them when they choked or tripped or encountered misfortune, they replied, eyes wide with surprise, Oh, it's not your fault. And they overused the world excited, a professor excited about a new book, a student excited about a class, a politician on TV excited about a law; it was altogether too much excitement.
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About Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Born into an Igbo family in Enugu, Nigeria, Adichie was educated at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, where she studied medicine for a year and half. She left Nigeria at the age of 19 to study in the United States at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and went on to study at a further three universities in the U.S.: Eastern Connecticut State University, Johns Hopkins University, and Yale University.
Many of Adichie's novels are set in Nsukka, where she grew up. She started writing during her university education. She first wrote Decisions (1997), a poetry collection, followed by a play, For Love of Biafra (1998). She achieved early success with her debut novel, Purple Hibiscus. Adichie has written many works and has cited Chinua Achebe and Buchi Emecheta as inspirations, and Adichie's writing style juxtaposes Western and African influences, with particular influence from Igbo culture. Most of her works explore the themes of religion, immigration, gender and culture.
Adichie uses fashion as a medium to break down stereotypes, and in 2018 was recognised with a Shorty Award for her "Wear Nigerian Campaign". She has a successful speaking career: her 2009 TED Talk "The Danger of a Single Story" is one of the most viewed TED Talks; her 2012 talk, "We Should All Be Feminists", was sampled by American singer Beyoncé, as well as being featured on a T-shirt by Dior in 2016. Adichie's awards and honours include academic and literary prizes, fellowships, grants, honorary degrees, and other high recognition, such as a MacArthur Fellowship in 2008 and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017.