DeJa Robinson

English 101
Professor Buck
10/15/18
“Many stories matter”: An Analysis of the Danger of a Single Story
Chimamanda Adichie is a skilled speaker who, addresses how a story that is created from

someone about any person, place or group can form stereotypes and opinions, that later put down

humanity rather than celebrate the similarities we all share. “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,” she states. In the TED talk “The Danger of a Single Story”,

Adichie explains why it is important to not just believe a single story, she uses ethos, pathos, and

logos to bring her points across carefully to her audience.

Chimamanda Adichie is a Nigerian author and writer. She felt as though she was blind to

her own culture because when she would read books when she was young it would only have white

characters with blue eyes. She was unaware that there were African stories that had characters that

looked just like her. But when she discovered them she was happy and would be inspired to later

write her own books. She then began to appreciate African literature and started writing more on

her culture.

Adichie uses ethos to capture and keep the audience focus. She tells a story about

something that’s be happening for some time now, for instances the recent debate about the

immigration situation in America. She also tells different stories about herself, beginning with her

childhood so the audience can also relate in a way. She states, “I wrote exactly the kinds of stories

I was reading: all the characters played in the snow, talked about the weather, and how lovely it
was when the sun had come out.” Many people read books like this at a young age or have written

a story along these lines.

She arranges all her ideas and experiences to add power to her message. Adichie used her

own experiences and failure in stereotyping others to further connect with the audience. When she

went to Mexico she thought it’d be like what the media portrayed. Which were Mexicans trying to

sneak across the border or being arrested. However, she seen something totally different, she saw

them going to work, laughing, smoking and rolling up tortillas in the marketplace. Adichie

criticized herself to show the audience that she did it too and felt horrible about it. She points out

that we need to start with the positive stories to get a better understanding of their life and story.

When she mentions, the national debate, and notable books she uses these examples, so others can

understand her points.

She approaches the audience emotion but only hopes to caution the audience from being

defenseless to the ways of media. It is easy for people to be stuck in one mindset after hearing a

single story. So Adichie uses humor to point out that the crazy point of stereotyping by telling the

story about when she came to America for college and her roommate who is American felt bad for

her before she even met Adichie. Simply because she was from Africa, and that is how Americans

feel about people from Africa because of how the media portray that country. Adichie wasn’t

irritated by this because she once didn’t know about her own culture. She had to inform them on

things for her to understand. She also tells the story of her being approached about a character in

her book. “A student told me that it was such a shame that Nigerian men were physical abusers

liken the father character in my novel. I told him that I had just read a novel called American

Psycho and that it was such a shame that young Americans were serial murders.” She responded
with a sarcastically responds. When she uses humor and irony that makes the audience more

comfortable and keeps them engaged until the end.

“Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign,

but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of people,

but stories can also repair that broken dignity,” Adichie states. Every story ever told isn’t bad,

some is to help lift certain people. But some story could tear you down. Most stories you can’t

believe, anyone can make up anything. She ended her lecture stating, “That when we reject the

single story, when we realize that there is never a single story about any place, we regain a kind of

paradise.” Meaning that there is always more than one story about a place, person, or anything in

that matter. Everyone is different and interpret things differently.

Adichie provides lessons, stories, and certain topics to show people that it is important to

avoid stereotyping, and even how to tell a story. This speech is very inspiring, it reveals a powerful

message, and it is for sure convincing the audience. She captivates the audience with each situation

and story to make sure her point is made. Adichie warns her audience that they don’t have to stay

away from single stories but be aware of the negative affects they can have on how you think. The

speech was made for identifying the flaws of stereotyping and knowing other aspects of the subject

equally before telling a false story or just half of it.

This was an informative speech to help people more cautious when it comes to

stereotyping. Adichie wanted to also inform people that if they don’t know all the information or

facts about something, don’t create a single story or stereotype.