New York, My Village, by Uwem Akpan (reviewed by Katy Mitchell-Jones)
Ekong Otis Udousoro is in Nigeria preparing for his visa interview to America for a fellowship trip. This trip to New York City will focus on learning the ins and outs of the industry at a small publishing house while editing an anthology on the Biafran War. Along the way, he will meet hardships out of his control.
Though only spanning the first couple chapters, the visa interview process and repeated visits to the immigration office mean long lines and high anxiety for Ekong. He has meticulously prepared all the necessary documents, including backups—just in case. The interview begins with odd questions about whether he plans to commit a crime, “Unlike your compatriots, you’re not going to America to fill up the prisons are you?” He is asked which tribe he is from and whether he can prove it actually exists. The interviewer ends up denying his request on the grounds that he was unable to prove he would not return to Nigeria; although, she never directly asked him questions regarding this. He is informed to reapply. The whole interaction lasted only four minutes, and leaves the reader feeling angry and confused on his behalf.
Ekong arrives in August of 2016, but feels no “relief” after the very rocky road in getting there. He gets to his Times Square apartment, which is described as a bit worse for wear with gaps in the windows, beat up dining chairs, and a small kitchen. He checks in with Molly, his NYC publisher supervisor, over the phone and then the man from whom he will sublease. Both Americans attempt to show how angry they are with the immigration officers, but it is he who ends up consoling them. While he seems to have some supportive white people around him, Ekong is placed in positions where he often comforts and reassures others.
He is weary of working alongside so many white people though his reception was welcoming. He talks more with his new colleagues and notices they, “had carefully digested what they read about Nigeria,” and expressed that they wanted to try Nigerian food, which pleases him. He, “knew they were genuinely interested in [his] background... [his] face looked happy and fresh and relaxed.” He also gets to know Molly a bit more. She has worked for many publishers and gives him the advice that relationships are everything. Though this seems like sound advice, it is apparent that there are more barriers for some people to initiate and build these relationships, as both parties must be receptive.
There are several observations he makes about his life in Nigeria versus New York. While grocery shopping, he comments the yams are much smaller than in Nigeria, and the next day when he gets dressed for mass, his traditional Nigerian clothing induces him to trip while going down the stairs. He must don western clothes to accommodate his surroundings, dampening his mood. While at St Patrick's Cathedral, he reflects it is too grand for him, too imposing, and too traditional. The people there seem to be, “moping at the altar,” and he does not want to return.
There are strong themes of both blatant and subtle racism, inequity, and bias. Many of the interactions Ekong has with people leaves him confused and angry. There are two men, one white and one of Asian descent, living in his building. Despite his greeting, they ignore him. He comments that the city is diverse: “New Yorkers and their tourists came in all manner of colors and races and sizes and clothing and languages. It was intense.” But, the diversity does not seem to be celebrated. He thinks back to his two neighbors and worries that he perhaps greeted them incorrectly, again, giving the other party the benefit of the doubt. After entering his building, he meets another African man who greets him, making him feel better. This man, Keith, tells Ekong that those two men were talking about him earlier and they seemed angry about his presence. Ekong is warned to keep his head down, but ultimately he resolves to confront them.
Ekong collides with the systems and procedures in place at the publishing company. At his first staff meeting, everyone seems consumed with a book that he believes has huge flaws. However, everyone else insists that an acquisition bid is important. He realizes this is probably the first time they have ever held book deliberations with a black person in the room—he feels cautious and uncomfortable. As for the book he supports, the marketing team does not support a bid. Instead, they encourage Emily, a white staffer, to write a memoir about her experience on the topic at hand, which again makes the reader feel indignant on Ekong’s behalf. He offers to edit Emily’s memoir if it comes to fruition, but the marketing team shoots him down again, saying it would be difficult for him, since he is not familiar with the American southern culture. He points out that they have been editing African writing, which causes an awkward silence.
Beyond theme, symbolism is a large literary component in this novel. The author describes the physical spaces—his apartment, his office, and the buildings as a whole—which mirror Ekong’s feelings. Specifically, after his first day, he looks back up at the skyscraper and compares it to, “a stranger smiling at me behind dark glasses.” The intimidation created by the building’s appearance is only amplified with the intimidation he feels within its walls. There are also issues with insects in his apartment that keep him itchy and irritated throughout his stay. Eventually, he becomes irritated to the point of paranoia, staying up through the night in an attempt to find relief.
The novel has its lighthearted moments, and Ekong does sometimes manage to have positive experiences. He visits the Bronx to see a childhood friend and immediately loves it for its diversity and atmosphere. When he arrives at his friend's home, he is in awe of how beautiful their unit is. His friend’s daughter forms an attachment to him, calling him her uncle, and asks him about Nigeria. Despite the marketing team, his overall experience with most of his coworkers was also positive; he appreciates Molly when she asks about his background and Emily makes an effort to hang out with him outside of work.
Ultimately, this story is about a man’s journey into a harsh and unfamiliar country, where he learns the jarring truths about prevailing racism in a seemingly progressive city. It is a powerful tool for anyone to reflect upon their own experiences and interactions with people from different places.
New York, My Village by Uwem Akpan, published in 2021 by W.W. Norton & Company. 416 pages
Katy Mitchell-Jones is originally from a small town in Washington state and graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with her BA and MA. She then headed to Boston to teach high school English but has since returned to her west coast roots. Her favorite authors are Margaret Atwood, David Sedaris, Tana French, and Glendy Vanderah. She has published three short stories with Chipper Press, for middle-grades. You can follow her on Goodreads here.