The Danger Of A Single Story
The Danger Of A Single Story
"Everything is changing" said Mr Ibe. "My Late father used to ride on this motorcycle to the market on a market day; he was a trader on palm kernel." he continued. He would always say that the white man was quite foolish, otherwise how could they be buying palm kernel instead of red oil.
At this time, Mr Kent was smiling both on the motorcycle and the story Ibe narrated about his late father and his understanding of white people or Europeans who did business with him in Port Harcourt.
"So your father built this bungalow?" inquired Kent. "Yes, he did with the proceeds from trading palm kernel with the white man," Mr Ibe replied.
"This house was built about fifty years ago just with some bricks and branches of a raffia palm", explained Ibe. It has stood the test of time. The zinc roofing for the bungalow has turned brown from rusting. Now, the house is used more as a monument rather than a shelter.
"I never knew there were mansions and edifice like this in Africa. All my thoughts is that Africa is a place for ignorant and backward people who has no control over their future," Mr Kent revealed while looking at two 5 story building Ibe and his younger brother, Chima, erected by the side of the old bungalow built by their father. "This is actually what we hear and see in the news; starving children, dirty environment, wars and rumours of war." he continued.
Going through the short story above, you can see the beliefs and conclusions from a late African father of Mr Ibe concerning European traders who made him rich through the trading of palm kernel.
He viewed them as people without sense because palm oil was a treasure in those days in Africa. In fact palm oil was like gold of today in the olden days. He believed that it was stupid of a white man to come and buy the seed of the palm nut which was not worth anything instead of the more popular and useful palm oil.
Little did he know that palm nut is even more beneficial when you process it. This is because you get more quality oil and also produce some fiber that can be used to produce other things like poultry feed and biscuits.
On the other hand, Mr Kent was perplexed to see an African village that looked much more like his City in all ramification including mansions which, based on the news and story he has been reading, were impossible.
This is the danger of a single story.
It is so dangerous that it is ruining the world we live in. The stereotypes deepen the divide and discourages exploration. The mainstream media helps to propagate this for the sole benefit of making profit.
People often have a proclivity for negative story so you may not blame them. After all they are capitalists who just want to make money irrespective of the impact of what they do on the living.
In the news, every African is backward, every Nigerian is a scammer, and the list goes on endlessly. However, when they tell this story, they forget to tell you that the Great Mandela is African; they forget to tell you that the Late Chinua Achebe, the writer of "things fall apart", a story that has been translated into over 55 languages world wide was a Nigerian. The great Wole Soyinka, the nobel peace price winner in literature is a Nigerian. Should I also talk about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a prolific writer whose novel, Americanah and half of a yellow sun has continued to redefine how best a story can be told.
The agony of a single story does not stop here. the real danger is risk suppressing the voice of good people in every population stereotyped with the character of a few bad eggs amongst them.
Stereotypes is everywhere and in every society. This can be shown from the short story that introduced this article. Mr Ibe's father viewed the European business partners as foolish people just because he lacked the mental capacity to know that palm kernel is of greater benefit than palm oil. This shows that stereotyping is not restricted to any race, tribe or religion.
It is a world wide canckerworm that continues to ravage the field of human endeavour. Using this mindset to view every European at that time even though it was an absolutely incorrect notion is the real danger of a single story. When we propagate one single story, it has a tendency to disseminate so fast because it carries just one story and it is easier for people to memorize.
There is no single story any where. The reason is so simple. Every story is a story of one person and going by the diversity of humanity, characterizing a people with a single story is not only foolish but inconsiderate of many thousands of untold story in the group of a people
Conclusion
Do not stereotype. Do not characterize or speak bad of any people or group of people with one single story. It is not only incorrect and foolish but also inimical to the pursuit of societal reform.
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Great post! Nigerians have a terrible image on the internet and bits all thanks to the constant stream of negative news given by the media. The achievements Nigerians have overseas and homebound is often overshadowed by the negativity.
Well like they say, good news don't sell papers, bad news does. Humans are more likely to tune in if the news brings about negativity it seems.
Well said. The danger of a single story is emormous. As educated folks, we should not extend the viscious cycle.
Okay, I get your point and a great metaphor, very nice to read!
Of course, they're talented and influential people in Africa. I think the environment, culture and climate has a lot to do in the way people live and behave. So when we compare people from Africa to the US or Europe, of course, there will differents but, that's the beauty of this world. If every person was the same there is no point of travelling and learning from other culture and habits.
Colourfully put. What more can I say? The very first thing that defines our world is still her diversity. Telling the story of a people with one character invalidates the reality of human differences.
thank you
Nice post brother, I completely agree with you. Apparently there is evidence about africa that they were already going back and forward between west africa and south america to trade metals and corn for example, this all before colombus and they even found evidence in caves of south america that they were already there before christ! Of course you never here about these things. It is in some peoples best interest that we think they are dumb and lazy..
Good job on your post mate ;) #M2W
Thank you for stopping by.
so true. That is why I look at people what they are doing or plan to do, what they are talking about or how they plan to deal with other people or they are planning to do rather than where they came from and what the media told me about them or others Manipulation groups that is in their interest of thinking and doing the wrong for their profit
Im interested and now following keep up the good work!
Good read, we cannot overemphasize the danger of a single story , I made a short about it a while ago.
I believe we have to tell our own stories. a balance of stories.
Cheers!