The Danger of a Single Story
I found this Ted Talk to be interesting because I have never heard a message about bias being put quite like this. She did an outstanding job of relaying this important message while having a kind and understanding spirit about her. I respect that fully. It was thought provoking because it immediately points us to look at our own way of thinking and our unrealized bias' and opinions that we hold and have been taught through our culture. One of the things that I took note of was that her way of life. I wonder how often we are trapped and guided by a single story because we only know so little of the rest of our world, other countries, other cultures, and the people living in them. I also think this idea of a single story effects us with the people we meet everyday at school, work, or even Walmart. I know I am guilty of "judging a book by it's cover" or not taking the time to see beyond the one glimpse or "story" someone is presenting on any given day. We must be willing to not be settled upon first impressions, but find out who a person is and what there story looks like. The message of a single story being dangerous has many applications. If we are willing to depend upon a single story of someone, we may not realize that they are going through a tough time and need some help or even a friend. The person standing beside us in line at the grocery store may be a really nice person in need of encouragement, even though all we can see is that they look or are dressed differently than us (the single story of that person in our minds).
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