The Danger of a Single Story; what will be your classroom setting…
Recently I had the opportunity to listen to a Ted Talk "The Danger of A Single Story" from Chimamanda Adichie. An insightful piece about a young woman growing up in Eastern Nigeria. As a child, Chimamanda grew up reading British and American children's books. Stories about a culture and characters with whom she could not identify. As stated, children are impressionable and vulnerable and such stories can convince a child that all books had to be similar in nature, that it was the "norm." Chimananda did not find people like herself in any of the stories she read. The stories were good to expand her knowledge but did nothing for her identity and finding connections. The author goes on to warn about the danger of a single story through examples such as a poor boy in her village. Poverty became her single story of this individual. She did not see him and his family for the many talents they possessed.
We have seen in the media and through Chimananda's story how Africa is often categorized into one box and not recognized for the various countries throughout. In addition, how repetition of a single story about a culture becomes the reality for its people. For Chimananda this meant that all Africans are poor and savage like and we should only feel pity. Other examples are the way Native and African Americans are portrayed in Western Literature. There is no room for connections and similarities to Western Society, only negative differences. The author goes on to express that power makes these stories definitive. If we had started the story from the perspective of a "Native American and not with the arrival of the British, we would have heard a different story". Our perception would differ.
As an educator, how dangerous would it be to create a classroom that was not inclusive? A classroom where we only highlight the single story of a particular culture and portray anyone considered outside that "norm" in a negative light. Chimananda highlighted that children are impressionable. We need to embrace cultural differences and introduce opportunities for children to make connections. Create an atmosphere where every child feels included and more importantly has a variety of resources to identify with. An atmosphere where children work collaboratively and can learn from various cultures only creates a rich opportunity in education. We have come a long way and there has been a shift in becoming more inclusive of differences and cultures, especially within Canadian societies. However, we can do more. Why not start in the classroom? As Chimanada states, let's balance our stories. Provide the positive with the negative. Repair dignity and give children the opportunity to find their cultural voice. For educators, this means embracing differences, being inclusive and building relationships. In addition, educating ourselves to eliminate single stories and "the risk for critical misunderstandings".
Talya@NU
Watch it - Click the link below:
Ted Talk. (2009). The Danger of a Single Story. Retrieved October 28, 2021:
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