Iweala, Uzodinma: *1982

Speak No Evil, 2018 - Summary

  • Niru, a promising student and track star, comes out as gay to his best friend Meredith, which sets off a chain of events that upends his life. His deeply religious Nigerian parents, appalled by his sexuality, send him to Nigeria for conversion therapy and "spiritual revival." Upon returning to the U.S., Niru struggles to reconcile his various identities - being Black, gay, the son of immigrants, and from a middle-class background.

    He forms a romantic relationship with Damien but finds it difficult to balance his home life, where he must hide his sexuality, with his relationship. Tensions escalate when Niru's father discovers his dating app messages, leading to a physical fight. The novel takes a tragic turn when Niru is shot and killed by police after a night out with Meredith.

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