My name is Chimamanda. I am from Nigeria. I am a storyteller. I want to tell you about the danger of the single story.
I start to read when I am a small child. I read many British and American books. In those books, the children have blue eyes. They play in the snow. They eat apples. They talk about the weather.
I also start to write when I am seven years old. I write the same kind of stories I read. My characters are white. They drink ginger beer. They live far from Nigeria. I have never seen snow or ginger beer, but I still write about them.
I think books must always be about foreign people. I think books cannot be about me.
One day, I read African books. I read stories by Chinua Achebe. The characters look like me. They eat food I know. They live in places like my home. I understand then: people like me can be in books.
What I Learned
I learn that the “single story” is dangerous. A single story means we see only one side of a person or place.
When I am eight years old, my family hires a boy to help at home. His name is Fide. My mother tells me his family is poor. I feel sorry for them. One day, we visit his village. I see a beautiful basket his brother makes. I am surprised. I only know one story: that they are poor. I do not know they can also make beautiful things.
Later, I move to the United States for university. My roommate is surprised that I speak English. She is surprised I listen to Mariah Carey. She thinks Africa is only war, hunger, and animals. She feels sorry for me before she even knows me. This is her single story of Africa.
I also make the same mistake. When I visit Mexico, I expect poor people and problems. But I see people laughing, working, and living normal lives. I feel shame. I also believed a single story.
I understand that single stories come from power. Powerful people tell the story they want. If we hear only one story, it becomes the only truth we know.
The single story makes stereotypes. Stereotypes are not always lies, but they are incomplete. They show only part of the truth.
Many Stories Matter
We all have many stories. My own life has happy stories and sad stories. I had a loving childhood, but I also saw problems in Nigeria. Both kinds of stories are true.
The problem is when people tell only the bad stories. Then we lose balance. We forget the good.
We must hear many stories about each person, each country, and each culture. Many stories show our equal humanity. They help us understand each other.
Stories can break people, but they can also heal people. When we reject the single story, we find truth, respect, and even paradise.
Source: jamesclear.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Story – Something told about people or events.
Example: She tells me a story about her home.
Danger – Something that can cause harm.
Example: Fire is a danger.
Character – A person in a book or film.
Example: The main character is a young girl.
Poor – Not having money.
Example: The boy is poor but happy.
Surprised – Feeling when something is not expected.
Example: I am surprised to see snow in April.
Basket – A container made from thin pieces.
Example: She puts apples in a basket.
Country – An area with its own government.
Example: Nigeria is my country.
Culture – The way of life of a group of people.
Example: Music is part of my culture.
Stereotype – An idea about all people in a group.
Example: The stereotype is not true for everyone.
Respect – A good feeling for someone’s value.
Example: We must show respect to others.
Truth – Something real and correct.
Example: Always tell the truth.
Equal – Being the same in value or rights.
Example: All people are equal.
Power – Ability to control people or things.
Example: The king has power.
Heal – To make healthy again.
Example: The doctor helps to heal the wound.