“
I don’t straighten my hair because I hate it; I straighten it because everyone else hates it for me.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
I’m Chiamaka fucking Adebayo—I don’t need some prick telling me who I am and who I should be.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
And I won’t roll over and let someone else take my crown. Not in a million years.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
People love to reward conventionally attractive people.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
I’m no longer Chi, but Chiamaka, daughter of a Nigerian mother who loves the hair on my head more than I ever could.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
No matter what I do, no matter how much I iron down the hair that springs from my scalp, or work as hard as I can, I’m always going to be other to them. Not good enough for this place I’ve tried to call home all my life.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
I'm not going to let what he said hurt me. I won't give him that power over me. I'm Chiamaka fucking Adebayo I don't need some prick telling me who I am and who I should be.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
I knew about Chiamaka, believe it or not. Scotty cheated on me with some other guys at parties he went to. His
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
Belle Robinson, you have a problem. I’d ask your boyfriend and his bestie, Chiamaka, what they were doing this summer. Hint, it involves no clothes and a lot of heavy petting. Looks like Chi might have someone to take to the Snowflake Ball after
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
The people at the top in high school get into the best colleges, get the best jobs, go on to run the country, and win Nobel prizes. The rest end up with dead end jobs, heart failure, and then have to start an affair with their assistant to create some excitement in their otherwise dull lives.
And it's all because they weren't willing to put in the work to make it in high school.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)
“
She sighs loudly. “Let’s go in.” She pushes the key into the hole—loudly—and opens it—loudly—and then steps in—loudly. I’m no crook, but I know how not to get killed, or found out, and Chiamaka clearly doesn’t.
”
”
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Ace of Spades)