Chimamanda Adichie The danger of a single story单一故事的危险性.docx

Chimamanda Adichie The danger of a single story单一故事的危险性.docx

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ChimamandaAdichieThedangerofasinglestory单一故事的危险性

ChimamandaAdichieThedangerofasinglestory

I'mastoryteller.

AndIwouldliketotellyouafewpersonalstoriesaboutwhatIliketocall"thedangerofthesinglestory."

IgrewuponauniversitycampusineasternNigeria.

MymothersaysthatIstartedreadingattheageoftwo,althoughIthinkfourisprobablyclosetothetruth.

SoIwasanearlyreader,andwhatIreadwereBritishandAmericanchildren'sbooks.

Iwasalsoanearlywriter,andwhenIbegantowrite,atabouttheageofseven,storiesinpencilwithcrayonillustrationsthatmypoormotherwasobligatedtoread,IwroteexactlythekindsofstoriesIwasreading:

Allmycharacterswerewhiteandblue-eyed,theyplayedinthesnow,theyateapples,andtheytalkedalotabouttheweather,howlovelyitwasthatthesunhadcomeout.

（Laughter）

Now,thisdespitethefactthatIlivedinNigeria.

IhadneverbeenoutsideNigeria.

Wedidn'thavesnow,weatemangoes,andwenevertalkedabouttheweather,becausetherewasnoneedto.

MycharactersalsodrankalotofgingerbeerbecausethecharactersintheBritishbooksIreaddrankgingerbeer.

NevermindthatIhadnoideawhatgingerbeerwas.

（Laughter）

Andformanyyearsafterwards,Iwouldhaveadesperatedesiretotastegingerbeer.

Butthatisanotherstory.

Whatthisdemonstrates,Ithink,ishowimpressionableandvulnerableweareinthefaceofastory,particularlyaschildren.

BecauseallIhadreadwerebooksinwhichcharacterswereforeign,IhadbecomeconvincedthatbooksbytheirverynaturehadtohaveforeignersinthemandhadtobeaboutthingswithwhichIcouldnotpersonallyidentify.

ThingschangedwhenIdiscoveredAfricanbooks.

Thereweren'tmanyofthemavailable,andtheyweren'tquiteaseasytofindastheforeignbooks.

ButbecauseofwriterslikeChinuaAchebeandCamaraLayeIwentthroughamentalshiftinmyperceptionofliterature.

Irealizedthatpeoplelikeme,girlswithskinthecolorofchocolate,whosekinkyhaircouldnotformponytails,couldalsoexistinliterature.

IstartedtowriteaboutthingsIrecognized.

Now,IlovedthoseAmericanandBritishbooksIread.

Theystirredmyimagination.Theyopenedupnewworldsforme.

ButtheunintendedconsequencewasthatIdidnotknowthatpeoplelikemecouldexistinliterature.

SowhatthediscoveryofAfricanwritersdidformewasthis:

Itsavedmefromhavingasinglestoryofwhatbooksare.

Icomefromaconventional,middle-classNigerianfamily.

Myfatherwasaprofessor.

Mymotherwasanadministrator.

Andsowehad,aswasthenorm,live-indomestichelp,whowouldoftencomefromnearbyruralvillages.

SotheyearIturnedeightwegotanewhouseboy.

HisnamewasFide.

Theonlythingmymothertoldusabouthimwasthathisfamilywasverypoor.

Mymothersentyamsandrice,andouroldclothes,tohisfamily.

AndwhenIdidn'tfinishmydinnermymotherwouldsay,"Finishyourfood!

Don'tyouknow?

PeoplelikeFide'sfamilyhavenothing."

SoIfeltenormouspityforFide'sfamily.

ThenoneSaturdaywewenttohisvillagetovisit,andhismothershowedusabeautifullypatternedbasketmadeofdyedraffiathathisbrotherhadmade.

Iwasstartled.

Ithadnotoccurredtomethatanybodyinhisfamilycouldactuallymakesomething.

AllIhadheardaboutthemwashowpoortheywere,sothatithadbecomeimpossibleformetoseethemasanythingelsebutpoor.

Theirpovertywasmysinglestoryofthem.

Yearslater,IthoughtaboutthiswhenIleftNigeriatogotouniversityintheUnitedStates.

Iwas19.

MyAmericanroommatewasshockedbyme.

SheaskedwhereIhadlearnedtospeakEnglishsowell,andwasconfusedwhenIsaidthatNigeriahappenedtohaveEnglishasitsofficiallanguage.

Sheaskedifshecouldlistentowhatshecalledmy"tribalmusic,"andwasconsequentlyverydisappointedwhenIproducedmytapeofMariahCarey.

（Laughter）

SheassumedthatIdidnotknowhowtouseastove.

Whatstruckmewasthis:

Shehadfeltsorryformeevenbeforeshesawme.

Herdefaultpositiontowardme,asanAfrican,wasakindofpatronizing,well-meaningpity.

MyroommatehadasinglestoryofAfrica:

asinglestoryofcatastrophe.

InthissinglestorytherewasnopossibilityofAfricansbeingsimilartoherinanyway,nopossibilityoffeelingsmorecomplexthanpity,nopossibilityofaconnectionashumanequals.

ImustsaythatbeforeIwenttotheU.S.Ididn'tconsciouslyidentifyasAfrican.

ButintheU.S.wheneverAfricacameuppeopleturnedtome.

NevermindthatIknewnothingaboutplaceslikeNamibia.

ButIdidcometoembracethisnewidentity,andinmanywaysIthinkofmyselfnowasAfrican.

AlthoughIstillgetquiteirritablewhenAfricaisreferredtoasacountry,themostrecentexamplebeingmyotherwisewonderfulflightfromLag