To begin with, lets specifically look at Americanah, and how the race or identity of the reader will affect the way that they could interpret the novel. The novel, focuses on the struggles of Ifemelu as she migrates to the US. Being a “black” woman in the US, she is definitely treated differently in some situations. If the reader reading this was a white male, he would not be able to relate or understand the deeper meaning behind the situations that Ifemelu faces. For example if she were rejected from a job offer, due to her wearing her natural hair, a white male could understand that it would affect her but would move on and try for another job, however if it were read by a black woman, whom has experienced the same situations they could further understand the situation and the struggles that Ifemelu faced, emotionally and mentally due to being rejected.

Now looking at the bigger scale, it is evident the the identity of the reader changes the way that they perceive a book. This is mostly because of the situations, experiences, and events that the characters go through and the deeper meaning behind the event or choice in every race, culture, age, gender. Some situations may seem small in one race but seem as a big choice and decision in another race. Events like, marriage, migration, pregnancy, birthdays, anniversary, christmas (as well as other religious events) are all events that may seem more important or more affecting in one race/culture to another.

I don’t completely disagree with the statement, because i can understand from where the statement is coming from. If black people were to have a protest because of racism in a country, it could make whites or other races uncomfortable because they would seem as the enemy in the situation. However, the fact that whites or other races are feeling uncomfortable should not stop blacks from being angry due to racism and discrimination against them. This is because the emotions felt form being discriminated against in any way are more affecting than the feeling of being uncomfortable.