1. In your own words, what is a single story? What is it a metaphor for?

My understanding of a single story is quite literally being unaware of the full story. A single story is being told one perspective of anything, and whether it is true or not, you are ignorant to the full picture. For example, as in Adichie’s talk, when you are told one story, one version of a person’s culture, and have no other references, that is what you believe is the full reality. An example being Adichie’s roommate thinking she didn’t know how to use a stove. Many times, if you’ve only heard a single-story, you are still ignorant of what the people of the story are really like.

1. What type of stories did you have to read growing up? What were the characters/plots/tropes like? Were they guilty of portraying a single-story such as Adichie describes?

As I grew up, I read many types of literature because I love to read, something my parents inculcated in me from very young. I read literature in Spanish, and English. I began to enjoy the history genre, although at first I was interested in fiction. I was surprised in first grade when I was taught about Native Americans and Cristopher Columbus. On my own, I had read through the encyclopedia at home regarding this encounter. I read about the mistreatment towards the indigenous people. I don’t even remember too well what I read, but the illustrations remain clearer. In school, though, Columbus was seen as a hero. So I began to understand that every story will be told from the perspective of the author, and I found some stories to be as Adichie describes, “single-stories,” many times told to favor the author and their people.

1. Do you think modern technology somehow contributes to these single-stories? If so, how?

I think modern technology has opened up more opportunities to share our stories. Modern technology can help debunk false single- stories, or add to true ones. Just the other day I saw a video about the people of a different culture than mine. I enjoyed it because I have not been able to travel to their homeland, or have any interaction with them personally. However, I appreciated that the video did not portray them in a patronizing way. It was just showing their story, their daily life, and I could see what aspects of our lifestyles were similar, or not. If more people share their story on these modern platforms, then we will contribute to eliminating single-stories.

1. Are these two pieces speaking about overlapping issues of identity, or separate issues?

I would say that the issues in the videos overlap. Mohamed was told he was pronouncing his own name wrong! My parents gave me a name that would be easy to pronounce and write in English, although they didn’t speak the language, so that hopefully I had equal opportunities. Why does this overlap to single-stories? The reason is that when you have limited or no knowledge of other people, it is easy to make mistakes that in your mind are right, because you have only heard a single-story, that is your only resource of information that you go back to. That includes the news, books, and even music sometimes. Adichie had mistakenly seen Mexican people as they were portrayed on her news, but she understood later that you can not judge from that single-story.

Bonus: What is the significance, or stories, surrounding your own name?

As I mentioned before, my name was supposed to help me assimilate. I was born about a year after my parents settled down here, and I understand that beginnings are very hard. My dad thought spelling my name as Stephanie, would be easier to understand in school, etc. Still, I am always called Estefani at home, and when my dad texts me he writes my name as some weird combination of Estefani and Stephanie. Of course, Estefani is just Stephanie in Spanish, but when I think about how I got my first name I remember how my parents thought about it so much, because some people’s words or actions are influenced by their single-stories, and it isn’t always fun to be on the receiving end.

Throughout the years growing up in a Puerto Rican household with parents who were raised by  my proud grandparents who were natives of an island that was conquered, colonialized and striped from their culture was so confusing. First,  I was taught at home that my roots and rich culture was from a small little Island in the lesser Antilles with rich food, music and history yet, at school I was constantly taught that Puerto Rico was a colony with no culture or flag. while many confused individuals did not know that Puerto Ricans were American Citizens. I was so confused and always wanted to read books that I can relate to on so many levels. What upset me most throughout my youth is that my family from Puerto Rico constantly called me “Gringo” similar to Mohamed I constantly needed to culturally define my identity and remind my family in the Island that I was not a Gringo and I always found it strange that they would pronounce my name differently.

In the presentation by Chimananda Nazi Adichie where she spoke about Single Story and how damaging that can be for young people educationally, culturally, and for survival. It is a metaphor for bias and one-sided where you only vision that in America all people are white. Well throughout history that is the way Americans, historians and writers have portrayed characters in educationally driven books. Learning at school I grew to dislike the stories in  McGraw Hill. Most of the stories I read like Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, Maniac Magee had characters that I could not or most likely would never be able to relate to.  I even took advantage of the point question the reasoning behind having to  read Romeo and Juliet, or Sophocles when in reality I wanted to read stories like 145th Street, or Monster. Why did I have to read stories that I couldn’t relate to instead of reading books that I can relate to.  Especially learning about Christopher Columbus and the fact that he was portrayed as a hero when in reality he was a  villain. The speaker shouts out in volume how important it is for people throughout the world to learn both sides and see that there is beauty in all cultures and that we had more in common culturally than differences.

“Single Story” are dangerous stereotypes which can lead to ignorance and poor judgements of character. Like in Mohamed Learning my name, the fact that people are so feeble minded and culturally misinformed on what a middle eastern person should look like is the reason why we need to be exposed to different literature and cultures throughout the world. It is imperative that we read stories of the great things that occur in other cultures;  instead young minds are being taught to feel sorry for other people, and view them differently. The speaker goes on to explain how on many occasions she has been guilty of Single Story. She goes on to explain how she viewed the people of Mexico so differently and the young boy who helped with chores at her house without out knowing both sides. My mom always explained to me that one must always see things from both perspectives and then pass judgement and as readers we are vulnerable to the writers when characterizing people from different cultures and countries.

It is evident that both stories are overlapping issues on cultural and racial inequalities throughout the world.  All of the issues discussed in both videos are serious and dangerous and puts us in a vulnerable state.  The underlying issue is that people tend to quickly stereotype, or judge people based on what they have learned or the perception of them.  For example; What should a Latino to look like?, What should a Middle Easterner look like? The issue is that many have this Single Story which makes Whites in particular,  draw assumptions without realizing that they are being culturally offensive.

To conclude,  I want to say that reading When I was Puerto Rican, In the Castle of My Skin, Monster, and 145th Street I learned to relate and learn life lessons without being vulnerable.  I’m glad for those teachers who chose books that we can relate to and learn valuable lessons from.

 

 

A single story is a story people have heard or know and are biased towards because it is the only side of information they know of.  People are convinced to only listen to one side of stories and base those stories on others. One story is metaphorically talking about stereotypical views. 

The stories I grew up reading I remember books like Franklin and Mr.Falker. Franklin had a series of books that showed mostly lifestyle representation of majority white family living and how kids should be as an American. Similarly with Mr.Falker which shows how the American kid should see their teacher and mostly shows through majority white kids of the time. These writers were portraying single stories of white majority American children who have everything and different living compared to the average minority. 

I do think modern technology has contributed to the expansive portrayal of single-stories however, the same technology if used properly can also give us more access to read and understand different perspectives of people, places and objects. The multimedia platforms allow communication through distances which allows information to be shared. This is great however, the low to average iq people only take in information they want to hear whether it is the truth or not. This is where one must be unbiased and understand as many views of topics which requires one self to take interpretations with a grain of salt and requires a general deep thought process. Which some average to high iq people can do. 

These two pieces of work strongly overlap issues of identity. Adichie talked about how she went through identity issues because of how others perceived her based on stereotypical views. She was a victim of one story people listen to and fell into the dilemma of following their ideals or confronting the truth that will be hard to believe for others as they fell into the trap of one story view. While Hassan at young age was forced to change the pronunciation of his name to fit the American way of saying his name. He went through a one story view of people who think they know better when those people have not seen his story or understood to properly pronounce Hassan’s name.

A single-story means a story that grabs a lot of people’s attention that is only told in a way that represents one single thing, place, country, or an individual and made to only see one perspective. A metaphor is a way to compare something, for example, “the snow is a white blanket”, even though it’s being compared it is not alike it helps make it a clearer picture in the reader’s mind.

The types of stores I had to read were all fairy tales and picture books such as Cinderella. I often read this because I loved the plot story when I was a kid. Cinderella is the main character facing her evil stepmom and sister, she’s forced to do all the house chores and lives in poor condition while her family is living wealthy. Cinderella later falls in love with a prince when she got the chance to go to the ball. The trope for this storybook is that it involves magic and spells which do not exist. I think that they were guilty of portraying a single-story such as Adichie describes because it only shows perception and how the characters are mainly white in most Disney fairytale movies, snow-white, rapunzel, and beauty and the beast which the story only revolves around falling in love with princes.

Yes, modern technology does as the internet, websites, media all contribute to these single-stories in a way because technology today shares more perspective of stories and more information about the single-stories that can help give some background context. I believe that these two pieces speak about the overlapping issues of identity because it’s about the identity crisis and about how they feel uncomfortable in their skin and being taught the “American” way to understand what is right and wrong.

I think a single story is only half true. The metaphor behind this is that a single story labeled it a person, ethnicity, race, or country by not showing the whole picture, denying the possibility of showing the beauty, opportunity, and extraordinary of the real or full story.

When I grew up I did not have literature from my country El Salvador. I remember that I have a book called “El Silabario” where obviously I learned the ABC in Spanish. My childhood was a little different because when I was the older sister and I needed to help my mom with cooking, washing (by hand), and of course going to school. Unfortunately, many parents did not send their children to school because older children need to help their parents to work to have a decent life or at least the basics. My parents, for example, learned to read and write when they were adults. However, my father always encourages my siblings and me to study. I have access to some books, but we live in a village so there wasn’t much access to many options.

In my opinion, modern technology contributes to unique stories. I’m from El Salvador, and most of the time when you heard other people referring to Salvadorans they called “salvatruchas” labeling all Salvadorans as members of gangs. One of the largest gangs in Central America and other countries in general. However, that is not true, it is just a single story, just one side, and most of the time just bad things or the dark side of a story. Adichie mentioned in her talk that “a single story creates a stereotype,” which means the story is incomplete because we are only looking at one side of the story. The example she used about her trip to Mexico is a clear illustration of how others planted a misconception in her head about others. Mohamed’s story also when people questioned where he is coming from just because of the color of his eyes. 

Bonus: People sometimes think I’m from Russia because of my name. Most people called me “Zendaya” and I had no idea how I was until I saw a movie with my children and they told me. When I was little, I didn’t like my name. I felt it was a very strong name for a baby, but now I love my name, I feel that it is special. My name is still not popular even among Hispanics. 

For me, a single story is one in which there is no other alternative. What is told to us is the only fact that is “needed” to know. I think as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie had said there are more than one side of every story but there is a narrative that needs to be driven. When I think of single stories, I think of propaganda. Propaganda is an extremely useful tool to drive a narrative in a direction that is needed. Often times in materials that promote propaganda, you only get one side of the story and that side is probably going to shine a negative light.

I have never been much of a reader, most of the books and stories I had read growing up were what was assigned to me in my classes. I do however, remember reading stories with young white male protagonists, living in a quiet suburban area who has to venture out and fulfill a destiny they think they have. Now alternatively I remember books about black and Hispanic children, and those stories all seemed to have a similar theme. And that was self acceptance. To this day it is bizarre to me that authors feel the need to help people of color find self love and to be comfortable in their skin. Do not get me wrong I understand why it happens. I think it goes back to the single story narrative that gets pushed on people of color. As unfair as it is, people of color get demonized in the media. So these stories that are written for acceptance are there to show the other sides of how you do not have to be ashamed or embarrassed.

Modern technology 100% contributes to single stories. I believe this because of how easy it is to just spout whatever it is you want on the internet with little to no repercussions. Facebook for example is a cesspool of people trying to convince one another that their story is the only story that is acceptable. Constantly posting articles or comments that only align with their line of thinking, and anything else is wrong. The more people that use platforms such as Facebook and see those same articles posted time and time again, I think the easier it is for people to fall in line and see that story as undeniable truth.

I believe both articles are speaking about overlapping issues of identity. I think both articles are speaking on perceived stereotypes that are often found with each race and ethnicity. Mohamed Hassan’s spoken word poem was very impactful with relaying this message I feel. He understands the negative connotations with having a very “Muslim” name.

I can relate to this to a certain degree. My last name is Cuomo which as we all know is the governors surname. When I meet people for the first time and they see my last name, immediately their eyes light up and they’ll look at me and ask the same question every time. “Are you related to the governor?”. They are always so giddy too. Until I tell them there is no relation and my last name had come from my grandfather who was adopted into that last name. That is always followed by a look of disappointment.