BLOG POST 1

Adichie discusses many topics including stereotypes, power, ignorance, and biases. She believes having one story about a people causes an assumption about all those who fall under the group, even if it may not be true for everyone. The quote in the image is one of the more prevalent statements she made during her talk.

Many Americans have a single story about America. There is a failure to acknowledge the country’s past and present mistakes. Errors are excused by claiming America is still the best place for freedom, allowing citizens to become content with current situations. By education and media covering up or ignoring events in the past where America has done morally questionable actions allows the continuation of the single-story Americans are taught about the inherent goodness of their country.

This is an example of how single-stories are supported by media images whether covert or overt, whether intentional or unintentional. By continuing this single-story idea about colored men being rapists or brutes presenting a danger to white women can heavily influence implicit biases. With images in our everyday life proving single-stories, it makes it extremely difficult to challenge what the stories tell us.