5 years ago 5 years ago This video was produced by TED Talks.HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO:Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice – and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Adichie, C. (2009). The Danger of a Single Story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg Gallery image Categorised in: Video by | Oct 26, 2019 | Craft |
We always appreciate TED talks for inspiration, and we love this one from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Quick summary: it’s about the danger of a single story. Adichie explains that if we only hear about a people, place or situation from one point of view, we risk accepting one experience as the whole truth. “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete,” Adichie says in the video. “They make one story become the only story.” Instead, she explains, we must seek diverse perspectives — and in turn, writers must tell our own stories. Telling the stories that only we can tell, about our experiences, hopes and fears, helps break down the power of cliches and stereotypes. You can watch the full TED talk here: From her own childhood writing featuring only blue-eyed children frolicking in snow — because though she had never seen snow, all her books included it — to her American college roommate’s confusion that an African could speak English, Adichie explores the power of stories: “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.” Prefer to read this talk instead? Here’s the transcript for Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED talk. This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.
“  While the previous authors in this section created multiplicity within single texts through the use of metaphor, Adichie can be viewed as extending this work by addressing multiplicity on the level of stories, people, places, etc. In Adichie’s TED Talk, she says that “single stories” create and reinforce stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they aren’t true, but rather that they’re incomplete. To recognize one another’s full humanity, multiple stories are necessary. We aren’t defined by the worst thing we’ve ever done, nor are we defined by the best. We cannot be reduced to one experience or characteristic. Instead, we are complex people, comprised of many stories that play a role in shaping our identity. Before ViewingWe encourage you to generate some thoughts in response to the questions below before listening to Adichie’s speech. These questions will help you activate relevant background knowledge and set a purpose for listening. 1.What is a stereotype and how does it get perpetuated? (See “Stereotype” Activity). 2. In which ways do you think stories are powerful? What impact can they have? 3.Make a prediction: How do you think that single stories might limit people’s humanity and dignity? Link to the Talk:The link below provides access to Adichie’s speech. Just as you would annotate a written text as you read, you should also take notes as you listen to her speech. Try to observe any challenges and advantages of engaging an auditory text and observe similarities and differences in your approach to note taking. This awareness might offer you reading strategies for engaging multiple types of texts. https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story After ViewingAfter listening to Adichie’s speech, take some time to reflect on the questions and quotes below. 1.Summarize the main message that you took from Adichie’s speech. 2.Our students have often reported that the main message of Adichie’s speech is “to not judge a book by its cover.” However, this does not accurately capture the author’s main point. How does your interpretation of Adichie’s main message differ from this cliche? 3.Towards the end of Adichie’s talk, she says, “When we reject the single story, when we realize that there is never a single story about any place, we regain a kind of paradise.” How did you interpret this statement? How do you think that rejection of a single story could help us regain paradise? 4. Based on what you learned from listening to Adichie’s speech, how do you think that single stories might limit people’s humanity and dignity? Can you think of any single stories that you have? 5.Adichie says that “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue but that they are incomplete.” Even if a stereotype or a single story is “true” or accurate, why is it still damaging? |
The danger of a single story chimamanda ngozi adichie
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