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