Kamao grew up in Ghana, son of a prominent government official and living in a traditional close-knit Ghanian community. But for years he has dreamed of making his way the United States for an education and opportunity. He eventually enrolls at a university and has days to prepare as a foreign student before classes start. Unfortunately, he gets a dose of reality when he gets into an altercation with his roommate that leaves him with a criminal record and out of funds. Thanks to help from fellow immigrants, he secures a part-time job and a place to live while he attends school. Then he meets a girl from class, Lindsey McAdams. Lindsey also happens to be the daughter of an anti-immigration Senator. Despite Kamao’s hesitance, he can’t deny his attraction to Lindsey. As their relationship develops, Kamao gets more insight into American life – both above and below the surface. And when Kamao is implicated in a murder, nothing he has learned thus far can help him. Blindspot in America by Elom K. Akoto explores the differences in privilege in the U.S. vs across the ocean, and how far one might go to keep the American Dream.
Book
Kamao’s new roommate steals every dollar he came to America with. After a physical altercation that lands him in front of a judge, he has no evidence to prove his accusation. After getting out of jail, Kamao’s friend Ayefumi helps him get a job at a local gas station through their friend Lazo. Lazo’s cousin, Dania, lives in Central America with her son and works to someday come to America as well. Through some shifty connections and loopholes, Dania secures passage and finds work as a maid at a hotel. Unfortunately she becomes a victim of sexual assault by a prominent political connection to the hotel. Unable to let him get away with it, she enlists the help of her cousin to install personal surveillance in the room, hoping to catch him in the act. Even as an immigrant, she knows her options are limited and risky. And when an unexpected person betrays her, her pursuit is seemingly halted in Blindspot in America.
Meanwhile, Kamao’s relationship with Lindsey continues to grow. But the elephant in the room is Lindsey’s father, Senator McAdams. Lindsey is described as smart, kind, and considerate. Her father, however, is deemed as racist and untrustworthy in the public eye. They know that they will have to reveal their relationship sooner or later. When they do, it’s as disastrous as one might expect. The couple try to take it in stride, not allowing outside forces to effect their relationship. Eventually, Lindsey becomes frustrated with her father’s attitude and decides to take matters into her own hands. But when her attempts to betray her father turn out horribly, she has no choice but to seek his help in fixing it. Unfortunately, Kamao finds himself at the center of the scandal, with little support on his side and far from anyone who might be able to help him.
Review
Akoto showcases his potential for writing powerful stories in Blindspot in America. The story is well-paced and offers commentary on the economic and societal privileges that a certain sector of America enjoys. By reading the prologue, readers know that Kamao will encounter an intense legal obstacle, but won’t know how or why until the third act. The author foreshadows key events and sets up unexpected plot points that come to fruition at the end.
While I want to give credit to the author for writing a novel in English as an ESL learner, the writing style makes it obvious. The narrative felt like the author was dumping information from start to finish. The dialogue seemed forced and unnatural. I couldn’t connect to the characters, who seemed one-dimensional. Unfortunately, while various characters encounter hard times, it seems as if the women were treated unfairly and unable to redeem themselves (which I suppose reflects real life, to an extent). Overall, Blindspot in America highlights what immigrants escape from and continue to face in order to build a life in America.
