Knowledge is Power
Everyone has the ability improve their knowledge every day- if they are willing to. “The Danger of a Single Story,” a speech given by Chimamanda Adichie, “The Lunch Date,” a short film directed by Adam Davidson, and the short story, “Gryphon,” written by Charles Baxter, all demonstrated how society can judge one another solely based on prejudices. This phenomenon was highlighted through racial presumptions and snap judgements in these stories. “The Danger of a Single Story,” was a TED talk given by Chimamanda Adichie. Adichie was an African woman who struggled with racial stereotypes and learned how to look at them in a new light. “The Lunch Date,” was a short film about a woman who missed her train and decided to purchase …show more content…
Chimamanda Adichie is a Nigerian woman who had struggled with many racial and African stereotypes throughout her life. In her TED talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Adichie described a situation with her American college roommate. She stated, “‘She asked where I had learned to speak English so well, and was confused when I said that Nigeria happened to have English as its official language. 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. She assumed that I did not know how to use a stove’” (Adichie 2). Adichie's roommate presumed that she would not be able to speak english, or know how to use a stove. This assumption was purely based off of the color of Adichie’s skin. Her roommate even asked to hear her “tribal music”. Nigeria's official language was English, Chimamanda could use a stove, and enjoyed Amercian music. Time after time, Adichie’s roommate assumed that she lived a certain way exclusively based on the African stereotype. These assumptions affected the girls relationship because Adichie's roommate could not look at her as an equal. The roommate's lack of the ability to see Adichie as her equal, prevented her from being an educated woman, open minded person, and a critical thinker. This same style of thinking was shown by the woman in the short film, “The Lunch Date.” A woman was pictured at Grand Central Station. She was on her way to her train when she unfortunately collided with man- who happened to be black. As a result of the collision, the woman’s belongings spilled everywhere. The man was quick to help her gather her items, however she was even quicker to shoo him away. The woman spoke in a harsh tone and demanded, “Please don’t touch that.” It was apparent that the woman had prejudices towards the man and assumed he would steal her possessions. However, it was clear to
Everyone has the ability improve their knowledge every day- if they are willing to. “The Danger of a Single Story,” a speech given by Chimamanda Adichie, “The Lunch Date,” a short film directed by Adam Davidson, and the short story, “Gryphon,” written by Charles Baxter, all demonstrated how society can judge one another solely based on prejudices. This phenomenon was highlighted through racial presumptions and snap judgements in these stories. “The Danger of a Single Story,” was a TED talk given by Chimamanda Adichie. Adichie was an African woman who struggled with racial stereotypes and learned how to look at them in a new light. “The Lunch Date,” was a short film about a woman who missed her train and decided to purchase …show more content…
Chimamanda Adichie is a Nigerian woman who had struggled with many racial and African stereotypes throughout her life. In her TED talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Adichie described a situation with her American college roommate. She stated, “‘She asked where I had learned to speak English so well, and was confused when I said that Nigeria happened to have English as its official language. 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. She assumed that I did not know how to use a stove’” (Adichie 2). Adichie's roommate presumed that she would not be able to speak english, or know how to use a stove. This assumption was purely based off of the color of Adichie’s skin. Her roommate even asked to hear her “tribal music”. Nigeria's official language was English, Chimamanda could use a stove, and enjoyed Amercian music. Time after time, Adichie’s roommate assumed that she lived a certain way exclusively based on the African stereotype. These assumptions affected the girls relationship because Adichie's roommate could not look at her as an equal. The roommate's lack of the ability to see Adichie as her equal, prevented her from being an educated woman, open minded person, and a critical thinker. This same style of thinking was shown by the woman in the short film, “The Lunch Date.” A woman was pictured at Grand Central Station. She was on her way to her train when she unfortunately collided with man- who happened to be black. As a result of the collision, the woman’s belongings spilled everywhere. The man was quick to help her gather her items, however she was even quicker to shoo him away. The woman spoke in a harsh tone and demanded, “Please don’t touch that.” It was apparent that the woman had prejudices towards the man and assumed he would steal her possessions. However, it was clear to