ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2009
- Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
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Well, well, well, well, look who is here from their classes in this corona time.
Ah yes, a JJBA fan.
U.S history?
@@plumrexsupreme1038 biology for me
World History
I dont wanna watch no damn 20 minute video
POV: Your English teacher made a new assignment called "The Danger of a Single Story" with this video linked
bruh thats me rn
this is also me right now jsjkdj-
That is also me right now
She gave us a 20 minute video with 25 minutes left in class and we gotta finish b4 that
William Claudio . dat comment juss hit me cuz dats exactly wat I’m goin thru rn 😂😂
anyone on here in 2024?
I'm here
I have a dream
Sure 😊
I keep going for this everytime my mind strike there
this is a required reading that was given for a class today in 2024. the fact that this was spoken 14 years ago and is just as powerful as it was before is insane
Purdue?
Procrastinating on the assignment reading these comments 💀
Substitute Africa for China and you'll probably have epiphany moment lol, if you also grew up with the "mainstream" western media
Fourteen years ago really wasn't that long ago, but I get what you're saying.
@@caniscuriosum3386 lmao it is I was 8 years old then like in grade 2
"The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete"
I loved that part. No negativity, only understanding.
I absolutely* most definitely and emphatically agree with you on this, 100%!!!~
Ahmed Mudassar well said
that line stuck out to me as well !
and our world is full of stereotypes - racial, religious, sexual and sexualities, gender, age etc. sometimes we find it easier to stereotype than to learn, to experience, to get to know, to understand. when we stereotype we take the easy way out and it deprives us of knowing the wonder that is humaniity in all it's different forms and that is truly sad
Who’s here because of English homework? And this Ted Talk is actually interesting
Mee😂
me
Me 😂
Roddy Rod hahahah meeeee
Me
14 years ago and I am still listening...who else is in this boat with me?
Omg me too. 😅
This is FOURTEEN years old, and it STILL resonates so deeply! There are wars happening because those who have power are bending the narrative and only showing one side of the story. God bless you, Chimamanda.
Honestly, it's a timeless speech
@@lamilekanhamzahyeah honestly its over rated
@@singingalbert3623 reading isn't your skill suit.😊
Yea I came here last year because of my English teacher, this year I came because of my English prof. Truly an amazing speech and an important idea to be aware of
@@Prof.SeverusSnape”this is a timeless piece”
“I agree, this is trash”
“What?”
“What?”
"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." -Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 13:10
You are intelligent man bro..you just inspired me
@@siomonfuller5567 wait what
@@siomonfuller5567 whaatt... Thats just a quote of what the lady was saying...
this was my main takeaway as well!
I always found it weird that you can spin this to have her be the one making stereotypes about stereotypes using her one perspective 🤔
"that is how you create a single story, show a people as one thing. As only one thing, over and over again and that is what they become" 9:27
"power is the ability to not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person" 10:13
"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" 13:12
"The consequence of the single story is this: it robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition four equal humanity difficult, it emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar" 13:55
"when we reject the single story. when we realize that there is never a single story of any place, we regain a kind of paradise" 18:22
some highlights for yalls essays/assignments.
BLESS
I needed this 😂😂
omg!! thanks this helped me out!!!! xoxo
alo-san thanks for doing my homework for me 👍
THANK YOU!!! I just realized I needed some quotes and these were just the lines that I needed
12 years later and this talk is as educating as it's captivating ❤️
I come back every other year or so and listen again. It's such an incredible message.
@@Koruvax me too
EPS PEOPLE PLEASE COMMENT
13years strong 💪💪💪
Absolutely!!
"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." This is the quote I most resonated with and my main takeaway. This is an excellent way of looking at things.
imma just take this for my essay...
ily
ong this came in clutch ☠ bro has no idea what he's done for us @@ihyDJ2x
@@ihyDJ2xyeah that's what you can do only instead of reflecting on what she said
@@PartridgeAves I did reflect, and I didn't sit here and cry in yt comments so yk
yes
Who came here because you're college professor assign you homework
Ayy
marcos sanchez waddupppp
My high school teacher assigned this for homework. I'm in I.B.
Highschool 🖐🏻😔
My high school English teacher assigned this but I'm glad because I enjoyed it! :D
Who else is just discovering this speach in 2023 👏👏 chimamanda is a living legend because the single story has become even more true in our present day.
Precisely🎯
Me 😅
me 2024
I think it’s breaking down but its existence is becoming obvious
I'm so glad that I clicked on this video. I come from China and in the US, I was often asked "what do you think of the CCP/democracy"? "Do you have freedom?" by people who barely know me. These questions appeared very offensive to me but I didn't know how to convey this feeling of discomfort to people. Whenever I say, there's so much more a person than her/his political idealogies, and Chinese people have complex thoughts and lives, westerners think I'm defending CCP or I'm against democracy or something. Now, this speech illuminated me. It doesn't matter whether how I think of a certain subject matter, the reason why I felt offended is because when they see a Chinese person, they think of totalitarianism, censorship, and you name it, just like when they see a Mexican person, they think of immigration. This single story "robbed me of dignity" (14:00 ). Now I'm back in China. It's spring now, and there are bamboo shoots on the mountains in the region where I live. This weekend, my family is driving to the mountains to pick bamboo shoots and we're gonna make a bamboo shoots feast. This is just a very trivial story that randomly came up to my mind, but it is as important as any other story, unfortunately no one from the west has ever heard of them.
There country isn't a "democracy" and the also don't care they only do this to feel superior
Her story telling skills is top-notch.
Her narration is captivating.
Her story makes me want to become a storyteller myself.
if only i could speak as intelligent as she delivers, i could only wish! shes simply amazing!!
@@Odykoko this isnt just about being brilliant because everyone is brilliant in their rights.
It's about learning the skill of story telling, and just like any other skill out there, this can be learned too.
You just need the right teacher or right resources to learn it.
Like you said its possible to hit a wall in the learning process, but fact is that, any wall can be surmounted
Of course we all have different learning pace, but with consistency and hard work time and right mindset, you can be a better storyteller
@@Odykoko Actually, what gives mastery in a skill or vocation is consistency, hardwork and practice. Definitely not merely IQ.
I agree that high IQ "may" give you an edge at the beginning compared to other folks with lower IQ.
But consistency and hardwork is more powerful on the long-run in order to achieve mastery.
A person with high IQ but little or no consistency will hardly achieve mastery. Chimamanda in this case has been. tremendously consistent and hardworking in public speaking, writing and delivery, thats why she is this excellent.
I believe that any other person can achieve the same mastery with commensurate level of diligence and hardwork and consistency
The conversation here between Toluwase & Ryan just emphasizes the reason why Nigerians - especially those in the diaspora - do relatively better than other Africans. Our relentless belief in achieving the seemingly unachievable is second to none.
Dear @Natalie Guzman, believe me talent is important but nothing beats hard work & consistency, if you put in constant effort, I promise you'd be a better speaker than Adichie in no time, just believe in yourself okay.
For the record Adichie didn't grow up speaking publicly, she was actually a science student in secondary school here in Nigeria, that means she had little to no background in literature, I know this because I was one, she even started off as a medical student in the University before leaving for the US.
You can be anything you want to be okay. Believe it!
@@emmanuelibu3620 Exactly! Exactly!!
"You can be anything you want to be okay. Believe it!"
Thats the word. Thats the mindset. Thats the key.
Thank you for the input Emmanuel
Why is noone talking about how good of a speaker she is?
I imagine because we are not surprised a popular, university educated, author can do public speaking. Why did you feel this was worth pointing out?
@@LeonWilias It was a compliment. It is rare to see someone give a presentation without long pauses, filler words and "um"s. I really just wanted to point out that she was a great speaker, I might have phrased it the wrong way, but I couldn't find any other comments about it.
@@jonahlindhe756 apologies for being accusatory, but when I hear that comment about POC it reminds me of Chris rocks "he speaks so well" routine, which I would warn has rather strong language
@@LeonWiliasok!
Right? My anxiety could never
As a digital nomad who has spent time with Americans, Mexicans, Indonesians, Indians, and Thai people, I've come to realize the importance of travel in understanding the true reality.
It's through these diverse experiences that we break free from the confines of the "matrix" and gain a genuine appreciation for the richness of human existence.
So let's keep moving, keep exploring, and keep embracing the world in all its diversity!
I'm from Russia. Ten years ago, when I first watched this talk, I found it important, meaningful, deep and wonderfully told. But I could never imagine that once in my country it would suddenly become so utterly relevant.
The single story can kill. And can be told in order to make kill.
I understand That is what is happening with the people in your country, no one is telling other stories rather than war. It is so sad. It requires courage to do so.
💔💔
POV: you just read the same joke 20 times in the comments
That is eeexactly what happened bro!
and I still laugh at it
Yes help I was just finding out more about this author and everyone is talking about how this is for their English studies
You’re desperate for likes aren’t you
@@-Unidentified_Comment- oh wow, people need validation on the internet because the world outside them is crumbling around them. What. A. Comback
/s
Its people like her who change the world for the better
+Sidney Robinson and it is people like her that need out full and massive support. How? listening opening our minds, eyes and hearts. She is the seed, we are the earth, no earth, no plant to grow, no change to grow.
+Sidney Robinson I agree. She protected us all from the single sturrrys
@insane hermit idk what's with you making this about race lol don't get so triggered, this video is years old and there didn't seem to be anything racist against whites, just against stereotypes.
Sidney Robinson
Indeed
Apam Merlo
Do you really mean that?
One of the greatest Ted talk ever delivered. How Chimamanda breaks down words and communicate her thoughts to her audience is out of this world.
She's really important for our society.
We have to be careful about a single story, Many are victim towards the same but encourage a balance story, great, great motivation.
Can we just take a moment and admire her intelligence and regal beauty wow.
no
nah everyone here is making jokes about how this is assigned for school no time for that
She’s really pretty, I love her voice.
Can we just take a moment to admire the fact that we were given this for homework?
@@3p1ks well depends on what part you wanna admire about the fact that we were given this for homework
"I just read a novel called American Psycho" Vicious lady. I'm in love.
Kikikuki about to Google it!
I'm in college in Colorado, and so far TWO of my respective college professors have assigned us to watch this video. Such an important message. Thank you.
EDIT: As of today, Oct 18, THREE professors have now assigned this video. Its message is timeless.
Wow that's wonderful
I’ve had to write and reflect about this TED talk all throughout high school and college.
Do you go to msu denver?
Interestingly enough the same thing happened to me! Two professors assigned this video in the same semester within a week of each other.
I'm weak asab same
This is why representation matters and why it's a good thing. I loved it when she said that she loved and appreciated the stories she grew up with, but there was still an unintended consequence where only reading about foreigners made her think (when she was a child) that people like her couldn't exist in stories. While people can love stories regardless of how much they have in common with the main character, there is something about reading a book or watching a movie with someone who has the same struggles as you that is so touching, that makes you feel seen and heard and understood on a level (and in an area of your life) that most people don't.
For example, I've been a book worm and a film lover my whole life. I also have cerebral palsy, and while I don't expect or feel the need to have representation in every single book I read or movie I watch, I still love and deeply appreciate representation when it's done. A couple of months ago, I read A Curse So Dark and Lonely where the protagonist had cerebral palsy, and whenever she described how it felt for her to walk and move, I was blown away by how accurate it was and I was touched because I had never read a book where the experience of having CP was described before. There's a spectrum and it's different for everyone, but I could still relate to her and I loved reading it being described so well! I felt understood. As if someone truly knew what it was like. I loved having a character who I could relate to on that level, who had the same struggles and experiences that I had. I would've liked her character regardless since she was a badass, but it was really touching to read about someone who had those same experiences and who understood it.
I'm a writer, and some of my characters have cerebral palsy because that's what I know and it's easy to write about. I also want to bring awareness to it, because the more people are aware of something, the less ignorance there will be about it. (And I got bullied a lot because of people being ignorant and not understanding my physical differences, and many people with CP get ostracized or dehumanized because of people's ignorance on CP.)
However, not every character I create has CP or will have it, nor does every story have to have a character with CP in order for me to enjoy it. Still, the experience of someone with CP is a naturally easy thing for me to write about based on my life and I also want to spread awareness of it. Awareness is important. When people who are different are in stories (whether they have a disability or they are apart of a racial group that is not seen in stories or media a whole lot) they should be written as fully dimensional human beings because that's what they are. That's what we all are.
♥️
THANK YOU. I get so damn frustrated when I encounter while folks who can't be bothered to learn and understand why representation matters, so I appreciate comments like yours.
exactly
You're very articulate.
I usually never read comments, especially long ones. But as soon as I started reading your comment, I just wanted to continue reading about what you had to say. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this video with everyone!
She speaks so eloquently, and yet is not at all pretentious. Love her!
@The Great Cornholio my sentiments exactly!
three@@tec-jones5445
Black women don't do this with pretention
Black speaks English! Clap!
@@nadie1mayascuz such bullshit. I was looking up real feminist literature and YT diverted me here. "Fearless" woman!... Ayan Hirsi Ali.
Tokens abound. TED used to be...
Didn’t come here because of school, just to hear this brilliant woman give very valuable insight.
EXACTLY LIKE WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE how are people only commenting about their school essays they have to do rather than the amazing woman who is talking
@@halezsocial408 it’s because we were assigned this and most of the time when. A teacher assigns something you do it and don’t care about what it’s about
I came here because of school. and im very glad that I got to watch this amazing speach
Brazil loves this woman!!!
boooooo
"When we reject the single story, when we realized there is never a single story about any place..we regain a kind of paradise"..Awesome!👏👏
Oh, my God! Everything is so beautiful about Chimamanda: her story, her views, her looks, her moves, etc. She is the epitome of a beautiful human
If you watch this in 2019 you are going to be great
U too dear
Amen
Amen
Long live a glorious thriving Africa united in the future! WE can defeat Eurocentrism, we can defeat this kind of history, this incomplete story, greetings from Argentina!
Thanks dear
My idea about Africa has changed after I listened to her speech. Indeed, there is a danger of a single story. Very inspiring and informative.
+Manong Caloy i think her point was not only africa but also any race and just to not listen to one story of a situation but to also try to see both sides as well
me too. this was truly amazing.
Yes really informative. When I moved from Nigeria to Canada. I got a job in no time, I was told I performed best at my interview. When I started working, my colleagues were shocked at my English and communication skills. They kept asking me where I learnt how to speak English. I told them everything I learnt were from my Nigerian education and that was the first time I would move out of my country. My husband answered the same ridiculous questions, as people were asking him if there were houses in Nigeria. They had formed a stereotype of Nigerians just from the "SOS sponsor-a-child advert videos they see on TV" I saw those videos too, those places were villages of countries in Africa. And you could sponsor a child as was the gesture offered due to pity from the white people. But they didn't know that those were rural areas and that doesn't mean there are no cities. In Canada, I have seen homeless people on the streets looking really dirty and unkempt. And I was shocked as well.
Manong Caloy hombre sexi
Yeah same here, she is also a very good communicator.
I love the way she speaks!
13 yrs on & her speech is still relevant. Thank you Chimamanda for giving us all a mirror to show others & also to use it to look within ourselves - how perceptions & judgements are formed. It is powerful..
🎯 Key Takeaways:
00:12 📚 *Chimamanda Adichie discusses "the danger of the single story," emphasizing how early exposure to foreign stories can shape our perceptions.*
02:16 🌍 *Adichie's perception of literature changed when she discovered African books, realizing people like her could exist in literature.*
03:21 🤝 *Adichie's experience with her houseboy Fide highlights the impact of a single story, where she initially saw his family only as poor.*
05:26 🌎 *Adichie's identity as an African was shaped by stereotypes and misconceptions held by others, highlighting the power of narratives.*
07:56 🧐 *Adichie shares her own experience of contributing to the single story by making assumptions about Mexicans based on media coverage.*
10:05 💬 *Adichie discusses the concept of "nkali" and how stories are influenced by power structures, often defining the narrative of others.*
13:38 🌍 *Adichie emphasizes the importance of diverse stories about Africa, not solely focused on catastrophes, to truly understand a place or person.*
16:08 📖 *Adichie highlights the significance of storytelling and how it can empower, humanize, and repair the dignity of people.*
I love this! It parallels the saying, "Until the Lion tells the story the hunter will always be glorified".
please could you explain what this saying means?
I never heard that saying, but I love it!!
To me it means that you need more than one story (the other side of the story) in order to gain understanding, rather than take sides. :)
@@emilyniemen5251 History is written by the victors. Until you hear the `loser's´ story, you haven't heard the whole story.
The saying is better than the video lol
Online school gang 2020.
Lets go boyyy
Ye sled gang
AYYYY
Gang gang gang!
420 me no like comment
I am from Assam India and have watched this profounding speech when it was released and It's 2023 August today yet I still come back to this though provoking,illuminating and eye opening speech.
This speech is perfect in so many ways that it'll always remain relevant as long as the human society exist no matter the decades.
I love it that even though she's lived in the west for most of her life and yet she never loses her African accent. That's AFRICAN AUTHENTICITY 💯💯💯
i love that sm
I mean she went to America when she was in college so I’d say it would be hard to lose an accent by then
Why try to lose your accent in your native language? Some gormless Brit once gasped in amazement that I, a US expatriate in France, hadn't lost my American accent! What was I supposed to do, take on a French accent in English? Or take on a British accent in France? I only try to lose my Anglo accent in French!@@thecluckster3908
lol. i know, im sure u are familiar with some fellow Nigerians that go on vacation for 2 weeks and come back with a new accent, im like cut the bs and talk normally please. lol
I'm seeing this in 2021 and it is still equally relevant as it was.
Me too, am in love with a Nigerian man and find myself falling in love with everything Nigeria. My Naija man is a victim of the single story where my friends and family are concerned. When i tell them about his music and wonderful lyrics i just get puzzled looks. Well today 2 Naija artists, Burna Boy and WhizKid won Grammy Awards. Add another story to the library.
Ehud, my comment was to you
infact more important than ever... blm in 2020
Am just seeing it today
So am I and I agree.
I could listen to her speak for days. I love that voice, as well as what she has to say.
Waleed Khan true
Waleed Khan she is fluent the best I have seen to date. I am floored #wow
can anyone help me my sir said that I've to watch this vedio and answer the question but I didn't understand the video.
ÂĦMƏÐ ÂĦMƏÐ I also had to watch this for my first year of college, when I originally posted this comment. If you're still confused, a gross simplification of her message is that she's talking about the nature of stereotypes, and how they formulate when we only hear one type of "story" about a certain group of people.
She has a keen intelligence and she has the ability to refrain from blanket statements. There is great strength in such calmness.
2022, am still here. She is so articulate. I could listen to her the whole year. Thank you for representing Africa Chimamanda.
13years later And this woman keeps going strong 💪..give her flowers 💐 She deserve it
This was in 2009?!?!?! It still fits with what's going on now nearly 10 years later. Such an amazing speech and woman. So glad my professor made me watch it!
10 years now 😊
Yes indeed! Such a sad truth
and will fit in 10 years from now as well
The ignorant live blissfully on.
Honestly and can you believe there racist in this same comment section insulting Mexicans Africans and other groups. Its unbelievable how retards never change.
When she speaks.. I feel proud to see an educated woman who is just like me representing AFRICANS WELL. This woman gives me the confidence that I need.
She’s hands down one of my favorite authors. She’s Toni Morrison level, she’s a gem 🙌🏾
I couldn't have said this better. She's amazing!❤️
But are you an "Authentic African" ;P
@@TheMissionLog Amazing! There are great story tellers in all different levels of humanity. However, you find the best story tellers in the margins. The only problem is that they don't have a platform like this, but that doesn't matter because their stories transmit value and knowledge in their communal living.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:12 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie shares her experience of growing up with a limited perspective due to reading predominantly British and American literature, leading to a narrow understanding of her own culture.
02:16 Adichie highlights the importance of representation in literature and how discovering African writers expanded her understanding of the diversity of stories that can exist.
05:26 Adichie emphasizes the danger of a single story, citing personal experiences of being stereotyped and patronized based on Western media's limited portrayal of Africa.
10:05 Adichie delves into the power dynamics of storytelling, illustrating how narratives shaped by those in power can perpetuate stereotypes and skew perceptions.
13:38 Adichie advocates for a balanced portrayal of different stories from diverse perspectives, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging both the struggles and the successes within various communities.
17:36 Adichie highlights the transformative potential of stories, illustrating how they can empower, humanize, and help regain a sense of dignity, ultimately advocating for the rejection of the single story.
Made with HARPA AI
thank you !! really helps with my essay
tysm❤❤❤❤
Como colombiano y latinoamericano en general, no tengo palabras para expresar las millones de formas en que ésta Ted Talk me cambió para siempre.
This lady has just allowed me to view Africa in a different light. I am a shame to admit that I am guilty of what she described... i have always viewed Africa as the media has described it. I have never truly tried to understand the people and for that i will now apologize.
Joyce, it’s a beautiful thing once you begin to see things the way they’re intended to be seen: through YOUR own lens.
I love learning new things about cultures and ethnicities around the world, it gives me a better understanding of how to navigate society but also call out the crappy media who continue to paint with such broad brush strokes.
@Joe and who may have told you this?
At least you have recognized your own faults and are doing better - I too have some work to do.
Joyce me being half African I personally forgive you and thank you for being kind enough to know the real story 😁
im the 5th reply
"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 a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity....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." - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Seth Waters Great quote, that one is.
Seth Waters Very powerful quote...I could listen to her speak forever...she is so articulate in her wording and making others understand what she is implying....
cynthia41161 I agree! Though, I would say it's not implying. it is outright saying it: have a single story of any person, persons, or place, is harmful to everyone.
Absolutely! What I mean when I say implying is a strong suggestion that there are implications to a single story...thanks for your reply Seth Waters...
I'm a junior in high school and was assigned this video. I'm glad they're teaching us the truth younger and younger.
I believe when i first saw it, it was from my Lit teacher in 8th grade. Still impacts me a lot all these years later
Watched it in high school and now they're having me watch it again in college.. 😂 love it though
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie perfectly describes the danger to stories told with a single narrative. The message is still relevant and perhaps even more so today. This is a world where social media algorithms can accurately predict and display media that align with your beliefs in order to keep you connected for ad revenue. And while you are only seeing what you imagine to be true, you also share your same online space with others who think alike, creating echo chambers of a certain viewpoint. Groups that become radicalized in this way are even sometimes able to wield their capacity to shape a narrative of their own victimhood or supremacy. It's more important than ever to try where we can to spread not just a single narrative, but ones that help to create a bigger picture.
"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." I adore this woman!
i need a explanation of this sentence
When you stop looking at things,people , situations, one sided and you expand your mind to see from a different perspective,the story changes... To something more favouable,most times.
Me too! Not only that she is a storytelling genius, she is also a lucid voice of a future world. :)
@Zeko💤 around 18:00
Foda-se
Nigeria must be very proud to have her as a daughter and representative of the country. She is beautiful, smart and intellectual. I wish there were more women like her. I am very impressed!
There are many Nigerian women like this.
About the same way your country might be proud of you. She is a reg black woman. "Imagine
Queen I-Wisdom Earth this! And also I find kinda annoying the first good quality is ‘being beautiful’
@Someone from Israel what are u talking about?
@Someone from Israel Lmfao thank generous white people? You do realize that most of the world relys on africa for resources right? They were thriving well before white people came
I am from India, Kerala , in tenth standard we have this speech as a lesson in English. The moral was that single stories create stereotypes that are incomplete and make one story become the only story.
I'm an African/Nigerian too. This went deep and showed how a single story can do so much with words. Like most people say words have power and this is one of the best examples I've seen in a long time. I hope you pass this on to generations to the next.
This is why I want to travel. I want to discover countries and their people for myself, not the single stories I hear in Western media. I may not engage with all of them, but at least, more than a single one.
Me too Abby, that's exactly what I thought.
And not only this, but I would like to travel because I want to have stories to tell. I feel a lack of stories in my life.
Yeah, listening and learning from experienced travellers are always very interesting.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It
But we aren't all privileged enough to travel. So our preconceived notions can't really be challenged since all we have is a single story of the truth. One sole interpretation of reality that is bound to a an inadequate and distorted one. We can however, attempt to crush our preconceptions by questioning what be take to be truths. Before we can move on to change people mentalities on big issues, we need to make them challenge the mundane.
Rohan Puri Very well said! And too true. Until I have enough money and independence to travel, I can still educate myself and always challenge narrow world views.
so true Kalil!
"The danger of a single story is that it robs people of their dignity."
And their identity
Kemmonye Idah Seitio - no, it galvanises others to tell their own stories. Perhaps credit is due to the original story-teller for that.
I'm with you hommie👌
@Someone from Israel That is not the truth at all. There were plenty of successful empires in Africa before europeans came, the oldest University Timbuktu was in Africa and were performing surgeries well before white people came. There are plenty of african countries thriving today, what you are spouting is worn out stereotypes and false narratives
@Someone from Israel Where do you place Ethiopia with your assertions?! They were never colonized by the white man but have some of the best doctors, one of the first to fly planes across Atlantic, one of the first to have electric passenger trains etc. Check your facts mate!
In Kerala who studied this story for exam in class 10 ❤
Me!❤️
I have watched this TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie so many times, and it is still fresh, relevant, and profound to me! Thank you Chimamanda!
Her complexion is just GORGEOUS! All glowing and perfect..
Kimberly.
This is the kind of speech that, within 19 minutes and 16 seconds, can not only make you see and think differently of Africa, South America and the rest of the world, but about a way to look for those stories that we aren't being told ... or told repeatedly so they become the only way we can look at reality.
Inspired. ...great mind, great revelation there
They have very little example to learn from in general.
Here's a fact :
We, class 10 students of kerala syllabus, have to study about this spech in our english textbook
As a pan African, this is food to the soul. Forever African, proudly African ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🇰🇪🌎
Chimamanda is not just beautiful on the outside but a beautiful human being. She is insightful, compassionate and truly understands how stereo types are formed.
Nancy Navarro-Leca what is the standard of beauty?
"She asked if she could listen to what she called my 'tribal' music, and was consequently very disappointed when I produced my tape of Mariah Carey" LOL
+robyn I was hoping someone would comment that quote haha so good
WTF?
I LOVED THAT BIT
love di choreo did you not hear that part of her story?
I'm a fan of Mariah too! lol
Shared this with my history classes to help them understand why we all must try our best to learn by listening to many people's stories. They applauded at the end. It was a good day.
Like many of the comments, I was given an assignment about this for my English class senior year of high school but it’s by far the most impact and memorable “assignment” I’ve been given. I say “assignment” cuz once u start listening u forget to answer the questions and about the homework altogether. I’m in college now and I still come back to this from time to time, i love it ❤️
if possible, can i use your assignment as reference?
@@eguwop516yo bro by now you should have finished your assignment can I have it?
@@osmansalih8148 yo if you've finished it can i have it?
@@idot3159yo have you finished? can i have yours?
I absolutely love how there isn't a hint of racism in her. This is the kind of person who needs to lead the world to betterment.
black ppl cant be racist, and reverse racism doesnt exist
angelique lol... You're either a troll or an SJW. Go look up the meaning of racism instead of trying to redefine it to suit your purposes.
black people can be racism to white person, well, and many do
+RosalieMaryRose can be racism?
Blacks can be racist towards other pocs; if it's towards non poc it is called prejudice. The main difference between prejudice and racism, is that with racism, the stereotypes and assumptions of a group keeps them oppressed; since whites are not oppressed like pocs, it leans more towards prejudice.
This is probably the best TED Talk I've seen.
John Phillips I know right! Was thinking exactly the same thing.
Yes without a doubt there's so much to reflect on.
This is the best ted talk you’ve ever seen
th-cam.com/video/KTJn_DBTnrY/w-d-xo.html
You should watch the procrastination one
You’re so right, it is really good
13 years later and this video is still so profound 👐
This talk + her book 'The thing around your neck' is what im currently studying as an IB student and let me tell you.. the extent to which i have analysed this book makes me fall in love with this woman even more. Fierce, powerful and insightful - Adichie is a goddess.
I am now eternally indebted to my English teacher for introducing me to this wonderful mind.
Her beautiful eyes 👀. Her heritage shines through her face, her soul. Proud ❤️
Uds have a Beautifull eyes
I have no idea what she said the entire time, although I did hear her beautiful voice. She is just a flat out beautiful, and gorgeous woman. And you can tell she is is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.
Proud of what?
Jkingknox her country tf
@@jadebruce4091 just asking question and the i get cursed out man this world changing
As a fan of Ms. Adichie's writing, I knew this would be inspiring. But, as an independent author of color, I was moved to tears for single stories have been told about me and my ancestors for generations.
author of colour? are there also transparent people? you could say one colour because everything brown but not simply colour
@@Georgeos777 “author of color” as in not white.
@@Egypt1177 "white" includes many colours, brown is only one
@@Georgeos777 I disagree. Brown is definitely not white.
@@Lahongrais i never said this so you cant disagree, besides that no one is literal white skinned..
Quite often, I like to play this video when I either want to relax or fall asleep. Adichie's voice is so soothing to me and the points that she makes are very deep and true.
10 years later.
Her words are so strong.
Perspective changing.
The power of words is timeless.
She came to my high school and is such an honest, true talent. Such an amazing speaker and so brutally honest.
That must of been amazing getting to talk to a peer and watching them take a passion or a talent and watch it flurish. I'd be proud to used or know someone like that.
Which school?
@insane hermit What a bizarre comment.
insane hermit sorry, my parents are African but I was born in North America. If you tell me to go home then I’ll just stay here, because this is my home.
@insane hermit she never said that, she said they are many stories about Africa, not only your story. Maybe you should travel to Africa to understand her.
I love this story so much. Captivating. Truth. Eloquence. And I can't help but notice that there is a single story about "America" in this speech too. America or Americans are not only from the United States. There is also South America and Latin America - they are technically American too. Yet the single story of the word "America" here and widely used by everyone (including US people!) is that they are from the United States. Yes, language has shorthand "all the time" but there's an impact that happens when we collectively do that, as Chimamanda has so beautifully explained the dangers of that.
So what is the different story?
We know everything you are talking about but this stereotype is cussed by the Americans themselves especially the people of USA not outsiders.
It's so interesting because when we try to tell a different story, allt hese political uprisings happen. For example: Critical Race theory
Worldwide, “America” is synonymous with “the United States.” Languages use shorthand all the time.
The different story is that the name "America" was given to the American landmass in 1507, the entire landmass. And it inhabitants were called "Americans" since. A century later, the British arrived, and named the part of America they took over "British America". The inhabitants of that area who moved there from Britain, were called by the British "British American" and because for them there was no need to say "British" as they would only talk about British Americans, they would call those British simply "Americans", even though they were invaders to the land and had zero actual American blood. The original people from the Americas don't look White (but this is the reason why American in its common usage means White by default and prefixes are added to other groups like "Asian American".)
Then, the independence happened, and the country that was born from a part of what used to be British America was named "United States of America", dropping "British" from the name, and using "America" in reference to the landmass were these states were located. There were debates about what the demonym should be and some of these documents can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (some which say "we can't use American because it belongs to everyone in the landmass"), but in the end, laziness won, they never agreed on a proper demonym, and they made what had simply been a nickname, an "official" demonym.
The landmass continued to be called America in English until after WWII when the United States itself decided that it'd become two continents (instead of the convention in Spanish which never changed in which the landmass is a continent and North and South America are subcontinents and not separate continents), and created this concept of "the Americas". Here I could say a lot about how the name America was used an abused in whichever way was convenient until after the wars ended.
In the end, the only reason the USA has got the name of the landmass in its name is because they began as a settlement of White people in a different continent, just like Australia and South Africa (Afrikaners). People who were already there wouldn't be inclined to use the name of the continent in the name of the country, which is why you don't encounter countries named this way in Europe or Asia, because they weren't invaded in the same way.
And now, U.S. Americans claim to be the only Americans and continuously try to omit the fact that most people in the landmass use the word America to mean the entire landmass (there's a reason why America is a word of Latin origin, and not of Anglo origin).
Even worse is that they call the ones to the South of them simply "Latino", which doesn't make any sense, but that's another story. Among those called Latino by them, is where you should expect to find the most genes from the American landmass, the actual people from the Americas.
Absolutely beautiful. I recently realised my own interpretation of Africa and India has been so unbelievably warped and distorted by what the western media outlets have shown me - even as a brown Tamil person, born and raised in the west. I know as a matter of fact I’m going to come back to this video and watch it multiple times. Absolute gem of wisdom, thank you Chimamanda! 🙏🏽💖✨
Thank you Chimamanda for your words. I am from Mexico, and as you say mexican people are more than narcos (drugs), corruption, crimes, violence, etc. I recognize the problems that we are facing but Mexican people are hard-working, gentle, and honest people who are proud of their traditions, food, culture, and sympathy with others.
Poderia me vender algumas drogas? 👀🔥
Thank you Mexico for giving the world tacos and burritos
@@figurante2404 intankavel esse bostil
I love my Mexican sisters and brothers. Big warm hug from San Francisco
jajja pero también somos bien flojos y borrachos!! Y pues no hay que olvidar todos los conflictos qué tenemos con los indígenas de varios estados!
This is by far one of the best assignments I’ve ever had.. I enjoyed every min of this message and understood it’s importance for being taught. I hope everyone would truly glean from the words spoken. I am joyed to spend my school dollars on diverse teaching and studying. It’s thought provoking which better shapes our minds and attitudes. Thus, this is beyond a classroom assignment if you truly reflect on it.
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@@chippios ashgdashdgaghasdgasdgjasghasdghasdag
@@lgjoojaahyffakaffejavlahaha gsuajdnajsvdhabjhdusm,samhdqt8wukkhasuivghcc
@@That0nepinecone
Nensjamnukdnainsinaonbyiabhxonwuonwi.
Bro I’m in freshman year and I fell asleep 5 minutes into her talking
I don't know how many times I've listened to this speech, it will go down as one of her best speeches. I love chimamanda. So proud of her.
Her words can always inspire me. This is almost from 10 years ago but I could still feel the power in it.
Most civil comments ever seen on a youtube video
Hahaha. I felt the same way scrolling and reading. You know how you begin to read and like...let the drama begin! ding ding! These comments ive me hope in us!
*give
I'm so freaking happy finally civil people on the internet you!
MCBPZ I agree with you. The comments are amazing.
Every one of Adichie's talks seems to be a breeding ground for understanding and tolerance and I don't think it's hard to see why
Almost cried. What a strong, beautiful and smart woman. She's a ray of hope and I aspire to be like her.
Sarah Miller h
Sarah Miller h
Wish AFRICANS STOP LOOKING FOR MONEY.
That's nice dear, but aspire to be like you. No one can be a better you than you.
@@radiance65 nothing wrong with someone inspiring the other,, I think she means in terms of achieving her goals and doing what she love.
Years later in time, 2023, the message still resonates it's meaning and purpose across the landscape of Nigeria
since everyone's already said how inspiring and how just plain factual she is, ima just leave it out there that she is also extremely attractive
Inside and out. 🙂
Ahora dilo es español pendejoo
Ñññññññ
And accomplished.
A beautiful, clear minded, articulated woman.
this was funny and soothing in ways, brother. No hate OfCourse she is good looking
I really enjoyed this. I wish Chimamanda Adichie would also tell Africans about the single story we hear aboutlavish lifestyles in Europe and USA. They make African people risk their lives for example on the Mediterranean sea with the hope of going to a heavenly place only to find there are actually more hardships waiting fo them in Europe and USA than in Africa.
+Helen Wanjiru That's such a good point
+Helen Wanjiru Yes!
Read her book "Americanah"! I'm sure you will find interesting as it takes up that.
I agree with you sister. My dream is that one day Africa as a whole will be prosperous and the needy will flee to there to seek aid and shelter. When will our nations realize unity is the way to success and end all forms of corruption? 🤔🤔😩
The Mind Man
i remember watching this ted talk in my english class a couple of months ago and when she mentioned Guadalajara and her opinion about mexico i started crying because i was feeling really homesick and her words were beautiful but specially i felt her story. i’ve been in the US for almost a year and stereotypes are hurtful sometimes but it’s because they’re incomplete. i love so much this ted talk
💞💞💞
Animo, lucha, no te rindas. Pronto seremos mayoria y espero no repetir los errores que se vienen repitiendo con nuestra gente.
@Hutchinson Gellert This is a comment section, it is meant for people to speak up about their opinions. Dont read through them if you dislike different perspectives on a subject, you are really not blessing anyone with your presence.
This talk will stay with me for the rest of my life! It's has impacted me greatly! As a 2nd semester, Social Work Graduate student, this talk was an assignment from last semester. I have referred to this talk in at least 3 papers since then and many times in conversation! Great job, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie!
I am fully behind that one man who stood up to clap at the end.
Teachers during Corona when they see this: Hippity hoopity, you're now the school's property.
it's hoppity hippity hoppity this is my property
@@anayamahmood9632 lol.
Salami Lid
not me watching this in english class
Omg lol 😂
this is the best ted talk ive ever seen
The best speech I've ever heard about the harms of prejudice, about the power of distorting a story. My respect to Chimamanda Adichie!!!
its 2020 and am still here. She's incredible!
I'm watching this 11years later
Me too
Me too
Me too
This is timeless
Me too. But I am glad that I found this now because 11 years ago, I don’t think I would have understand how powerful her message is.
This is one of the first videos that I ever watch when I began to learn about Narrative Therapy. This is powerful for understanding the danger of a single story. Narrative Therapy Practices state that people are multi-storied. There are multiple stories happening simultaneously.
Very, very beautiful and well-said. As an aspiring writer (English is not my first language and I still have a lot to learn so please excuse my mistakes), I find this video to be very helpful (and educating) for my future stories and characters.
Thank you Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for this powerful speech.
she is such a good speaker. very articulate, calm, organized - i watch her talks to learn a lot of things, and how to talk is a big one.
OMG, i am just blown away by her beauty and intelligence ...i love her!! :)