Name:Jayashabari Shankar

Period: 4

“The Danger of a Single Story”

1. On what topics might you have a single story?

I may have a single story on certain third world countries, and some controversial issues.

2. What stories do you tell about yourself? Which ones make you who you are?
I tell stories about my culture/race, but all of my experiences make me who I am.

3. According to Adichie, what is the danger of a single story?

With a single story, we begin believing in generalizations and stereotypes. Now this may be true, but
simultaneously, the opposite perspective could be true. A single story focuses on just one idea and ignores
other perspectives.

4. What is the connection between power and stories? How does this text deal with human rights?

Generally, the people who are the most powerful often have their stories and ideas heard. This leads to most
people believing a single story, which can lead to stereotypes and wrong generalizations. The text deals with
human rights because we as a society are so focused on generalizations of different cultures. Once we look
past that, we will be able to understand different people better and the unique struggles they are going
through.

5. How can we learn more perspectives and hear more stories?

We need to expand our knowledge by reading from different people and perspectives. Instead of focusing on
one person’s stories about a place, we should look at others’ tellings of the the same story.

General Notes
-show people as one thing
-nkali stories told depend of power… what comes first
matters(secondly)
-do not make general assumptions
-you need many stories
-do not just insist on negatives
-stereotypes are real, but do not insist on the negative ones
-stories can empower and humanize, they can repair
broken dignity
-we regain a kind of paradise when we don’t focus on just a
single story