The Danger of a Single Story

“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”

-Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Far too often, we may know only one perspective about a person, a group or a culture that is different from our own. These stories may be positive or negative, but when we reduce complex humans or cultures down to one dimension, much is lost. This TED Talk by novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie highlights the danger of telling a single story, and believing that it is complete. This can lead to misunderstanding and can prevent us from fully grasping the complexity and nuance of a situation.

Adichie’s powerful talk opens her listeners’ eyes and hearts to the power that stories have over our lives, and the roles that stories play in shaping our perceptions and interactions with the world around us.

Watch her full TED Talk here:

https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en

Reflection Questions:

Has a single story ever been told about you? How did you know? How did it make you feel? 

Have you ever told a single story? What did you do? How did you come to realize it was a single story?

How will you bring this concept of a single story into your life?

What will you say if you hear someone telling a single story about a person, a group, or a culture?

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash