A521.2.3.RB – The Danger of a Single Story

The Danger of a Single Story

Springboard stories are stories that are the most straightforward stories to tell since they are stories in that past that are true and without embellishments (Denning, 2011).  Denning further stated that the purpose of calling those type of stories was that the stories spring the listeners into the future with great enthusiasm.  The springboard story’s impact is by catalyzing the listeners’ understanding to envision the story in one context that involved a significant amount of information into a similar setting.  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s storytelling style from her TedTalk speech “The Danger of a Single Story” in 2009 was a springboard story.

Adichie (2009) used the four categories of expression that makes her stories clear, concise, and complete statement to express her inner experiences.  The four categories are as follows:

Observations.  The statements used in the observation category is strictly focused on what the speaker had read, heard, and had experienced personally.  Adichie’s expression of what she had observed and read was evident in her statement when she said that she felt very sorry for their houseboy, named Fide and his family.  Her interpretation was since Fide was working for their family, she assumed that Fide and his family have no talent and cannot afford to be created such as creating a patterned basket that is made of dyed raffia.  If she had not physically visited Fide’s village, all she had in mind was a single story from his mother’s comments of the importance of finishing their food in their plate because people like Fide and his family have nothing.  If Adichie had not experienced the encounter with Fide’s family, she would have never known that family with a lower economic stature that her family can also be creative and has other means to make their creativeness or a dream come true.

Thoughts.  According to McKay, Davis, and Fanning (2009), thoughts are our inferences and conclusions that are drawn from what we have observed, read and heard.  Adichie (2009), shared how she loved reading British and American books when she was younger.  The stories she read had stirred her imagination and had exposed her to a new world.  However, when she discovered that individuals like her do exist in other literature, she admitted that the discovery had saved her from having a single story.

            Years later, at the age of 19, she left Nigeria to get her education in one of the universities in the United States.  It was when she had reminisced about the time that there are other characters in the books other than white characters.  She experienced being stereotyped by her roommate who was astounded as to how well she speaks English and that English is Nigeria’s official language.  Other than being stereotyped, well-meaningly pitied, and patronized, she realized that her roommate only held a single story of a catastrophic Africa.  Adichie further stated that in her roommate’s single story, she thought that there could never be an existence of complicated feelings other than pity, no possibility of Africans can be of same to her, and any possibility of a connection as an equal human being.

            Feelings.  According to McKay, et al. (2009), the most challenging in communication is expounding on your feelings.  They further stated that we might not want to share our feelings, but the way we feel makes us unique and extraordinary, and those shared feelings can be the building blocks of belonging.  McKay et al. (2009) cautioned us that feelings are not observed nor valued opinions or observations.

            Adichie realized that after years of being an African in the United States, she was beginning to understand her roommate’s first reaction to her when they first met.  She had placed herself in her roommates' shoes where if she, like her roommate had only been in Africa or Nigeria her entire life, all she would have known was that Africa is a place of a beautiful country with people who are incomprehensible fighting senseless wars, unable to speak for themselves and dying of poverty.  Adichie thinks that this type of single story only originated from Western literature.  Nowadays, whenever Adichie reads this type of single stories, she just shrugged and laughed at it.  

            Needs.  McKay et al. (2009) stated that it is only us who is the only person who is aware of what we need.  We are the highest authority and expert about ourselves.  Needs are not contemptuous nor judgemental. Needs are simple statements that would help us please ourselves.  Adichie (2009), realized that there is a need to give back to her country.  She made a decision to conduct workshops and teach writing every summer in Lagos.  It was rewarding for her knowing that eagerness to write do exist among her countrymen.  She believed that stories are empowering and are one of the tools to humanize our existence.

            According to Adichie (2009) with a single story, it would result in stereotypes.  Adichie further reiterated that the problem of stereotypes is not because they are not true but that stereotype stories leave us hanging because those stories are incomplete.  I do understand and connect with Adichie.  Adichie’s statement is relatable to me since I have been a victim of a single story and was also guilty of stereotyping.

            My first few months of working in Tokyo, Japan, I felt outcasted from my Japanese and Korean counterparts and employees.  Back in 1978, Filipinas were only seen as individuals who clean houses and works in geisha houses.  Citizens from the Philippines were never identified as educated.  It was a tough time being outcasted, but I have learned that if I promote acceptance, empowerment, and understanding to everyone’s diverse needs, culture, and creativity that somewhere along the line, those individuals will eventually be open to the possibility of human equality. 

            I have learned from this week’s module is that it is beneficial to have an open mind where we can free ourselves from completely controlling our own thoughts.  It is very liberating to allow ourselves experience and challenge our thoughts and beliefs.  There is nothing wrong with admitting that we do not know everything and that it is okay to be vulnerable of the unknown with which can be at times exhilarating and terrifying.  We can strengthen our confidence when we learn new things and build on old ideas if we practice open-mindedness and it reinforces our belief in ourselves.  It might be challenging to some in pursuing open-mindedness, but it is worth embracing new and honest ideas especially if we eventually experience the benefits of having an open mind.

References

Adichie, C. N. (2009). The danger of a single story [Video File]. Retrieved from:

https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story/transcript?referrer=playlist-how_to_tell_a_story#t-92743

Denning, S. (2011). The leader’s guide to storytelling: Mastering the art and discipline of

            business narrative (Revised and updated edition). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley &

            Sons/Jossey-Bass.

McKay, M., Davis, M., & Fanning, P. (2009). Messages: The communication skills book (3rd

            edition). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Authentic Happiness (n.d.). Open-Mindedness. Retrieved from:

https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletters/authentichappinesscoaching/open-mindedness