When Things Fall Apart:
Why Listening Across the Political Divide is essential.
For the last 18 months, I've been working as a Service Coordinator in a federally funded senior affordable housing complex. The residents come from various backgrounds and nationalities, including a kind gentleman from Ethiopia who often shares stories about his culture. He's spoken to me about Amharic, his language, and answered my questions about the Ethiopian Christian calendar. Recently, he gifted me a copy of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, which I read on a plane ride soon after.
Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, is a cornerstone of African literature, offering readers an intricate look at the Igbo society in Nigeria before and during the arrival of British colonial forces and Christian missionaries. The novel centers on Okonkwo, a strong-willed and respected leader in the village of Umuofia. Okonkwo’s life is shaped by a desire to overcome his father’s reputation for weakness, driving him to embody traditional ideals of strength and masculinity. However, this rigidity leads both to personal triumph and tragic downfall. As British influence begins to permeate Umuofia, Okonkwo’s world unravels, laying bare the destructive effects of colonial rule on indigenous communities.
Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart as a response to colonial literature, which often depicted African societies as primitive or uncivilized. Achebe challenges this narrative by portraying Igbo society with depth and complexity, revealing its rich customs, values, and social structures. His goal was to humanize his people, showing that their society—like any other—is layered and multifaceted. Against the backdrop of cultural and colonial conflict, Achebe explores themes of identity, cultural clash, and the challenges that arise from change.
One of the novel’s most profound scenes involves an interaction between Mr. Brown, a missionary who approaches his work with respect and understanding, and Akunna, an Igbo leader. Achebe writes, "Whenever Mr. Brown went to that village he spent long hours with Akunna in his obi talking through an interpreter about religion. Neither of them succeeded in converting the other but they learned more about their different beliefs." This scene illustrates an approach to difference that values mutual respect and understanding, even without agreement. It contrasted starkly with Reverend Smith, Mr. Brown’s successor, whose authoritarian approach sowed conflict, disrupted peace, and deepened divisions.
Mr. Brown’s approach, contrasted with Reverend Smith’s, serves as a powerful model for modern political discourse. In today’s polarized climate, where rigid partisanship often overrides dialogue, this contrast feels relevant. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, some Democrats and progressives reacted angrily to those who supported President Trump, labeling them harshly with broad generalizations. While it’s true that some are inspired by Trump’s divisive actions and attitudes, I've spoken with others who see him as a strong leader for the country—an opinion that genuinely surprised me. During one conversation with a Trump voter, I set aside my assumptions to simply listen and understand their perspective. We didn’t change each other’s minds, but we did walk away with a better understanding of where the other was coming from. Like Mr. Brown and Akunna, we didn’t need to agree to gain insight and respect.
Another passage that resonates deeply is where Achebe describes Mr. Brown's reflections after his conversations with Akunna. Achebe writes that Mr. Brown “learned a good deal about the religion of the clan and…came to the conclusion that a frontal attack on it would not succeed. And so he built a school and a little hospital…” Rather than confronting Igbo beliefs head-on, Mr. Brown chose a gentler approach, focusing on practical contributions to the community. This illustrates Mr. Brown's realization that understanding and cooperation are more effective than confrontation.
As I've observed on social media, many Democrats and progressives are understandably upset about a problematic candidate getting elected, feeling anger that many voters explicitly or implicitly approved—or at least tolerated—this candidate’s rhetoric and ideas. Yet, this is where the lesson from Achebe’s Mr. Brown is relevant. A "full-frontal attack" on these voters—especially young men—will not change their minds and will only further entrench them in their beliefs. In recent years, data suggests that young men without a college education face bleak economic prospects. It's no wonder they are attracted to a candidate who promises them hope. The lesson here is simple: if Democrats and progressives want to change minds, they must address the very real challenges faced by young men, not simply disrupt and disparage their culture—much like Achebe’s Mr. Brown did.
Reading Things Fall Apart left me with the conviction that true progress often lies in our ability to engage in open, respectful dialogue, even with those we disagree with. This doesn’t mean abandoning our values; rather, it acknowledges the humanity in others, even when our views clash. Listening across divides, as Mr. Brown did, opens up opportunities for growth and learning on both sides. Just as Achebe's characters remind us, humility and understanding are often more effective than trying to overpower others with our ideals. In my role as a Service Coordinator working with people from diverse backgrounds, languages, and cultures, I aspire to approach each interaction with the openness and respect that Mr. Brown embodies, rather than the rigidity of Reverend Smith. And, if I may say, I believe our nation’s path forward depends on all of us striving to adopt Mr. Brown’s spirit of understanding and empathy.