Danger of a Single Story Reaction

Anson, Samantha Marie J.

GREATWK NO3

DANGER OF THE SINGLE STORY

1. How did she define the single story?

•             She used personal examples for the people to be able to relate to like her background as a native Nigerian and African. She also explained how kids are vulnerable in the face of a story. Just like how when she was a kid, she loved to read books, but all she had read were books that has foreign characters in them, she was convinced that all books have foreign characters in them. In the video, the speaker defined a single story as stereotypes, and that the problem with ‘stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but incomplete’. One-sided viewpoints, biases and unheard stories.

1. What danger is there in a single story?

The single story is dangerous in a sense that it deprives the reader of a full knowledge of a particular subject. Danger of a single story which also means danger of stereotyping. Single stories display one view as the ultimate truth which then leads to stereotyping. This speech identifies the flaws in stereotyping – even if it is done with empathy, and it shows how knowing or identifying other aspects of a people or thing are equally important in telling a fair and impartial story of people or things.

1. What problems does it pose for a person’s freedom?

            I agree that grabbing just one side of a story can be damaging to the individual and society. It can also rob someone of knowledge and appreciation of self. The person who is a victim of this single story would feel the need to defend themselves even though there is no reason for them to do so. Chimamanda said “single story robs people of dignity emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar”.  For instance, Africa is often portrayed as a really dark and poor continent and nothing progressive is ever highlighted about the continent and many Americans and other people all over have this misconception about Africa being a country and not a continent.