The danger of a single story

A friend recently forwarded me the link to a very inspiring speech by one of my favourite authors: Chimamanda Adichie, whose novel, Half of A Yellow Sun, I reviewed over a year ago.

What really rang true was what she said about stereotypes:

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.

It is so easy to fall into this pitfall, because it is so easy to read, understand, and believe in, one story. Not succuumbing to stereotypes means going through the trouble of reading multiple stories, in order to capture diversity.

As I embark on a new voyage next year, I must remind myself constantly of this danger.

I also must do everything I can, to make sure that the things I introduce to June, all books I give her, tell multiple stories.