A story from both sides is essential for promoting empathy, understanding, fairness, and justice, it also allows people to see the world in a more nuanced and complex way, and to challenge assumptions and biases.
In her TED YouTube channel talk, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie a Nigerian author and storyteller highlights the consequences of only hearing and believing in one perspective, arguing that the problem with a single story is that it is incomplete, and it creates stereotypes and misunderstandings.
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Photo: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Facebook)
She shared her experience growing up in Nigeria and reading books from Western authors, which gave her a limited understanding of the world. She then relocates to experience as a student in the United States, where people had a single story of Africa as a place of poverty, war, and disease.
“Single story is not only untrue but dangerous, as it creates a distorted image of an entire continent. The danger of a single story is limiting and can lead to stereotypes and misunderstandings,” she said.
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The Renowned Nigerian author, who has long been an advocate for the power of storytelling, went ahead to narrate on how her American roommate was surprised to learn that she spoke English so well, as the single story of Africa she had been exposed to portrayed Africans as not being able to speak English.
Adichie also points out that stories are powerful and have the ability to shape our perceptions of ourselves and others.
“When we only hear one story, it becomes the only truth we know, and it can influence the way we view people and cultures. This can result in harmful stereotypes and prejudices that can have real-world consequences,” she added.
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The author urged people to seek out multiple stories, to challenge their own biases, and to be open to new perspectives, encouraging individuals to be aware of the stories they consume and to actively seek out diverse voices and experiences.
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