Riley’s predicament- Heads of the Colored People

In Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires, the formal textual element visible that is the most impactful is the use of references. At the very beginning of the story, the author mentions Drake and Fetty Wap as a way to show that the main character, Riley, was not “self-hating” or against black people as it could be argued because of his wig and colored contacts. The allusion used to relate his blackness back to the world paints a clear picture of not just Riley’s black pride but also his idea of what blackness is. This is just one of the dozens of allusions that Nafissa Thompson-Spires uses in Heads of the Colored People to “prove” Riley’s blackness and that he is proud of his blackness. 

Without these references, it could be easier to overlook the idea that the author is trying to instill throughout the story which is that even though Riley is interested in anime, blonde hair, and blue eyes, he is not going against his race nor is he ashamed of it. Rather, he uses his confidence in and acceptance of his blackness to experience “white culture” that is typically frowned upon in black communities. I think that by using references,  Nafissa Thompson-Spires gives a deeper meaning to certain parts of the story. Fetty Wap and Drake are two major pop-culture and African American icons. By using them as an example of why Riley is not self-hating, it instills not just context (time period) for the story but also what Riley thinks is important in terms of blackness and pride in his blackness. The allusions used by Nafissa Thompson-Spires help the reader understand Riley’s situation as well as deepens the meaning of his blackness.