Donnaley Gonez, the Schomburg Center's Public Programs Pre-Professional, writes about the importance of the African immigrant narrative explored in Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, whose novel was the subject of our October 2016 "Between the Lines" program:

Imbolo Mbue’s critically acclaimed book, Behold the Dreamers, illuminates the conflicts many immigrants face, and the perceptions they have about the American Dream. In telling the story of a Cameroonian couple and their struggle to assimilate to an American lifestyle, the narrative offers an integral voice for African immigrants. Mbue offers a realistic look at immigrants who desperately want to escape the realities of poverty and provide a new life for their families in America.

Mbue, who recently took to the Schomburg Center stage for our “Between the Lines” conversation with veteran journalist Lola Ogunnaike, revealed she was inspired to write this story from her own personal experience. She admitted that she never really knew much about America, and assumed all Americans were rich like the characters she saw on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Cosby Show. It wasn’t until she was laid off from work during the 2007 U.S. recession when she realized that America was far from what she’d seen on television. She found herself questioning what life in America truly was.

Behold the Dreamers explores the relationship between the two main protagonists, Jendi and Neni, who are struggling to achieve the American Dream with great sacrifices. As Jendi awaits the approval of his immigration papers, beginning to question his life in America, he lands a job with Lehman Brothers. But when the company goes bankrupt, the relationship between Jendi and his wife, Neni, is strained as a result of financial difficulties. Still, Mbue illuminates the resilience of her characters, who are willing to endure the grueling barriers of modern day America, even if it means conforming to a whole new culture and identity.

With Behold the Dreamers, Mbue connects the story of the African immigrants with the struggles many of us face as we seek the American Dream. We can all find ourselves in the same positions as the protagonists in Mbue’s story. But it is how we overcome these hurdles that define us.

Behold the Dreamers may not be the definitive story for every immigrant, but it offers a voice for those who often are trivialized in modern day America. Seeing the embodiment of resilience in each of these characters, who also faced obstacles in love, makes me happy because for once I saw my story acknowledged. Behold the Dreamers is just not a dream for immigrants but for everyone.

To revisit highlights from the Schomburg Center's “Between the Lines: Imbolo Mbue and Lola Ogunnaike” program, click here.