Kenyans are too “You submissive! You Nigerians are too aggressive! You Tanzanians have no fashion You Senegalese are too brainwashed by the French!” (p.102) everyone turned “Afterwards, to Edward, even the Ugandan, who seemed to have forgotten he was the workshop leader” (p.107) Africa?” [Ujunwa, in “Which response to Edward’s critique of the Senegalese woman’s story as not of Africa”] “reflective (p.108) white South African said “The Edward would never look at a white woman like that because what he felt for Ujunwa was a fancy without respect”(p.109) [Ujunwa, in relation to women who are sexually harassed by Edward] why do we say “But nothing?...Why do we always say nothing?” (p112) wondered whether this “She ending, in a story, would be considered plausible”(p.114) Thing Akunna thought everybody in Akunna’s two Agency; identity; ‘The “You Around (initially lacks America had a car and a gun” fortune-cookie slips cultural difference Your Neck’ agency); her (p115) (p.121) unnamed American bought you a hotdog with The stain on the “…he boyfriend yellow mustard that nauseated carpet in Akunna’s you. Introduction to America, new apartment he said with a laugh.” (p.115) (p.117) enrolled you in The around “…he community college…They your neck’(p.119 gawped at your hair…You and p.125) smiled tightly when they asked those questions. Your Uncle told The bruises on you to expect it. A mixture of Akunna’s arms (p.119)
“You Kenyans are too submissive! You Nigerians are too aggressive! You Tanzanians have no fashion You Senegalese are too brainwashed by the French!” (p.102) “Afterwards, everyone turned to Edward, even the Ugandan, who seemed to have forgotten he was the workshop leader” (p.107) “Which Africa?” [Ujunwa, in response to Edward’s critique of the Senegalese woman’s story as not “reflective of Africa”] (p.108) “The white South African said Edward would never look at a white woman like that because what he felt for Ujunwa was a fancy without respect”(p.109) [Ujunwa, in relation to women who are sexually harassed by Edward] “But why do we say nothing?...Why do we always say nothing?” (p112) “She wondered whether this ending, in a story, would be considered plausible”(p.114) ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’ Akunna (initially lacks agency); her unnamed American boyfriend “You thought everybody in America had a car and a gun” (p115) “…he bought you a hotdog with yellow mustard that nauseated you. Introduction to America, he said with a laugh.” (p.115) “…he enrolled you in community college…They gawped at your hair…You smiled tightly when they asked those questions. Your Uncle told you to expect it. A mixture of Akunna’s two fortune-cookie slips (p.121) The stain on the carpet in Akunna’s new apartment (p.117) The around your neck’(p.119 and p.125) The bruises on Akunna’s arms (p.119) Agency; identity; cultural difference
the_thing_around_your_neck_themes_chart.docx