The irony of the narrator’s white roommate
The narrator's roommate feels sorry for her even before they first meet. The narrator's roommate knows that Africa is a primordial place where people live in forests. Ironically, the white roommate is shocked when Adichie arrives and speaks fluent English. The white roommate also thinks that Adichie does not know how to use a stove, but she is shocked to discover that the African girl is more clever than her classmates.
Fade’s family
Throughout Adichie's childhood, she believed that Fade was a miserable child from a low-income family in the village. Adichie's mother told her about Fade's misfortunate circumstances and the inability of his family to be self-sufficient in the future. Ironically, Adichie discovers a different narrative when she visits Fade's home in the village. Adichie learns that Fade's family is entrepreneurial, and when they succeed in getting a market for their baskets, their status will change. Therefore, the single story about Fade's family is misleading.
The paradox of the American politics
The debate about immigration in the United States of America during election campaigns is one of the biggest paradoxes in the novel. The narrator notes that during campaigns, the Mexicans become the subject of discussion. The media presents Mexicans as miserable people who have illegally flooded American healthcare facilities and other forms of infrastructure. Ironically, Most Mexicans are decent people who are in America legally. The Mexicans back at home are decent people who have dignity in whatever they do to earn a living. The narrator visits Mexico and discovers that the American politicians and media present a single story about Mexicans intended to rob them of their dignity.
