Summary

In Chapter 36, Blaine and Ifemelu are at a surprise birthday party for a friend of Blaine’s. Although Ifemelu and Blaine have been together for over a year, Ifemelu still doesn’t feel like she belongs with Blaine’s friends. Blaine’s friends are academics and Ifemelu tells Blaine they aren’t intellectuals because they aren’t curious. Instead, they develop specialized knowledge and are stuck there. Blaine is defensive at first, but later his tone changes when he talks to Ifemelu about his friends as though he can tell she’s not comfortable with them.

During the party, Blaine’s ex-girlfriend Paula reads Ifemelu’s blog post titled “Friendly Tips for the American Non-Black: How to React to an American Black Talking About Blackness.” The post talks about how Americans who are not black shouldn’t try to make their lives...