http://www.ted.com 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.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the “Sixth Sense” wearable tech, and “Lost” producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10
Duration : 0:19:17
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January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
What a beautiful …
What a beautiful speaker. A thousand props to her.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
very very good!!! i …
very very good!!! i love the message she has delivered. We should out a stop to the single story.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
I envy you!
I envy you!
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
fuck u bitch
u bitch
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
i’m in love with …
i’m in love with her accent.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
She’s an amazing …
She’s an amazing speaker and her eyes are so pretty! I also love how she says “literature.” (Totally superficial, but probably because I’m in awe of the message and can’t think of anything else to contribute!)
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Loved it!!!!!!!!!!! …
Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so sick of people associating the Caribbean as one island and the island is Jamaica! But I completely relate to the single story message.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
the caribbean is a …
the caribbean is a ‘victim’ of that everyday….somewhat of a positive and negative…we advertise images of palm trees, beaches, sand, etc but when persons from the islands migrate we get similar questions as mentioned above….i moved back to Barbados and chatted with my coworkers online from the London they were all ’shocked’ that we have DSL on the islands….the question remains are ppl willing to find out more than just the single story?
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Well said, there is …
Well said, there is never 1 story, we each have our own.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Thank you whoever …
Thank you whoever invited Ms. Adichie. I will look for her work thanks to seeing this video.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
I’m from South …
I’m from South Africa and I was surprised coming to the United States to discover that the same stereotypes applied to me, as people of countries far North of there such as Nigeria and Somalia. It really is true about the danger of the single story.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Excellent Video
Excellent Video
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
I hate to think …
I hate to think that there are Americans who will view this, her story and important message, as just another cog in the liberal media machine. I feel so fortunate to have grown up in a multi-cultural community, where I feel connected to people from places so varied. I have heard multiple stories, not just from people but books and music too. And I know about Nollywood- too much lol.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Same in Britain and …
Same in Britain and Nazi Germany our bad news is a good headliners in their daily journals.2009 in Germany a young boy went on rampage shooting school mates, another killed his teacher cos hes too disciplined.A stupid german girl once asked his African boyfriend after serving him potato chips and fried chicken if he ever saw or ate such food in Africa and in his lifetime…A good response he gave her “No we dont eat chicken and potatoes we Africans eat sands”
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
“The Thing Around …
“The Thing Around Your Neck” was a good read!!! Did not beat “Half of a Yellow Sun”, but don’t miss it!!
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
her eyes are SO COOL
her eyes are SO COOL
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Cool message. …
Cool message. Absolutely beautiful woman with a million dollar smile.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
I think what Europe …
I think what Europe and America media dont want to do is report anything good about Africa because it is not news, bad things happening in Africa is good news to them. A man walking into a school in America and spraying all the kids, at least 10 dead, does not make the Nigerian embassy make noise and declare America unsafe.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Well a good reason …
Well a good reason to read more widely (not just about Africa) could be so Americans may become less ignorant and CLUELESS about the rest of the world. And so when some of them do get the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean & other places they do not have to ask the most stupid questions ! As if we all live in trees in the 3rd World, many of us have actually travelled & experienced more, studied more and have a much higher quality of life than they could even imagine.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
@AngryAfrican,
No …
@AngryAfrican,
No breathing African likes to be told the truth. They will gang up and call you a traitor. Herd mentality is another problem too…
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
african countires …
african countires have offered assistance to haiti. just because its not on the front page of ur newspaper doesnt mean they havent.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
wow, isn’t amazing …
wow, isn’t amazing how anything can cause an argument, healthy debate, whatever you want to call it. Always a comment, lol like the one I am making.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
@AngryAfrikan …
@AngryAfrikan Perhaps if U rewatched the video presentation with an OPEN MIND, a pen and paper in hand, and an open ear…U might better appreciate FREEDOM from stereotypes and labels. Is it really that hard for U to accept that EVERYONE ON THIS EARTH has a story worth hearing?
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
hbcukid. what do …
hbcukid. what do you mean by ‘everyone deserves his or her story told’?
do you mean your parents are wealthy and you dont want to be identified or associated with the poor majority in your country?
January 30th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
The “single story” …
The “single story” comes from rational ignorance. People don’t care about what doesn’t effect them. Why would an American ever read African literature? Aside from intellectual curiosity there is almost no reason.