The Danger of a Single Story

The Danger of a Single Story

The course of one’s life is not governed solely by the choices they make but by other factors some of which are beyond the control of humanity. However, many stories have been used to portray the fact that humanity can alter or even change the course of their lives by engaging in certain actions or making certain choices. This misnomer is perfectly explained in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk “The Danger of a Single Story’. Herein, she explained how entire communities are judged or defined based on one narrative (TED TALKS). Similarly, one of the Arabian Nights tales called ‘The Seven Sea Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor’ has also played an important part in my life because of the inherent irony. Unlike the story, man cannot succeed solely by wandering in adventurous life expeditions. Hard work and intelligent planning are important aspects of the process and goal.

The Arabia Nights tale of ‘The Seven Sea Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor’ involves a poor sailor who is accompanied by his brother and several close friends on sea voyages around the world. While searching for adventure and wealth, Sinbad and his crew encounters a large variety of challenges which include shrewd witches and giant rocs. Eventually, the sailor completes his seven sea voyages and finds wealth. Interestingly, this tale is meant to exemplify how the hard working and determined man becomes successful in the long run. The tale aligns perfectly with Chimamanda Ngozi’s TED Talk in the sense that the entire society is defined by a few people whose success stories are the yard stick of life missions and fate (TED TALKS). The tale exemplifies the role of trustworthy friends and family in the life and journey of a hard working person. However, the events portrayed in the story are far from the truth as nowadays even family cannot be trusted to offer assistance out of good will.

This Arabian Nights tale is uniquely in my life as it forms a dramatic irony. While the objective of the Arabian Nights tale of Sinbad might have been to instill virtues such as hard work, integrity, and trust in the audience, its applicability in modern life is wanting. However, the entire society is supposed to subscribe to the sequence of life events that are narrated in the tale. Chimamanada Ngozi Adichie’s TED TALK “The Danger of a Single Story” explains the dangers behind subscribing to the themes existent in singular narratives and using them to define life or communities (TED TALKS). Similarly, the society including my family and friends continues to expect my hard work and dedication to the work I engage in to yield almost instantaneous success. Some unfortunate reality the society seems to ignore at the behest of tales such as ‘The Seven Sea Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor’.

The dangers of a single story were well dissected by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her TED TALK titled ‘The Danger of Single Story’. She spoke about the dangers of judging and even defining individuals or communities based on a single story (TED TALKS). Making reference to my personal life, one of the Arabian Nights tales makes perfect sense considering Chimamanda’s sentiment. Sinbad is defined by the relationship he has with his family and friends who assist in his quest to end the voyages a wealthy man. Unfortunately, two of my friends disappointed me back in high school while one of my cousins tried to enjoin herself in my father’s will for the money. Such examples of family and friends completely contradict the narrative that Sinbad’s tale is supposed to cultivate. Instead of being the support structure I could use to succeed, they constantly provide hurdles and even invade the very resources I depended on in becoming who I am today. Therefore, success cannot be defined only by hard work and the presence or help of friends and family.

Human life in the modern era is defined by a myriad of challenges that people succeed in overcoming or fail in the process. These challenges come at different times as depicted in Sinbad the sailor’s tale. Throughout his voyages, Sinbad and his crew encounter various evil and dangerous challenges such as giant rocs, shrewd witches, and even dangerous seas. However, he succeeds in overcoming them, which is far from what happens in real life. Again, as hinted at in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED TALK ‘The Danger of a Single Story’, society is expected to align itself to a singular set of principles and strategies in overcoming life’s curve balls based on the success story of a mythical sailor (TED TALKS). The same has continued to apply in my life which has been subjected to its fair share of tribulation. Some of my family members have died from serious illness while I lost three friends in a car accident in one night. My health was a huge concern to my parents when I was a young child because I was weakly. Even as I struggle, my dream job remains elusive. Therefore, the pictures painted by tales such as Sinbad do not apply in real life.

According to Chimamanda Ngozi, one problem of using a single yard stick to measure society is the development of stereotypes. She states that the current practice of judging or defining entire societies based on a single narrative or example leads to stereotyping (TED TALKS). Her sentiments have come to fruition in my life as most people consider me a great risk taker. Considering that Sinbad was a sailor who just stocked a ship and gathered a small crew alongside his brother, his appetite for risk could be compared to what the society exemplifies in me. However, I am not a risk taker as I tend to measure the likelihood of gains and loss in all invest in, be it emotional, physical, or financial. Therefore, as discussed by Chimamanda in her TED TALK ‘The Danger of a Single Story’, society has used tales such as Sinbad and other similar ones to label me the risk taker, which is far from the truth.

CONCLUSION

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED TALK ‘The Danger of a Single Story’ was her avenue to requesting the society from labeling or judging entire societies based on single narratives. She warned that the practice usually resulted in the development of stereotypes. Similarly, the tale of Sinbad has been the yardstick with which society continues to label and judge me. Sinbad, who was a great risk taker, succeeded in overcoming great adversity aided by his friends and brother to become wealthy. However, society has continued to borrow from such tales to define my life journey and even judge me. Interestingly, as just as Chimamanda warned, they are usually wrong.