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My View on "The danger of a single story”

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My View on "The danger of a single story”

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Chimamanda Adichie in her piece, “The danger of a single story” highlighted the dangers involve in having a single story or a single image on basically anything whether it may be a someone or something.

Since from an early age she started reading various children books, but these books weren’t by Nigerian authors nor were there settings anything like Nigeria. Chimamanda’s view of the persons in the United Kingdom and United States of America were that they were white in complexion, blue eyed, played in the snow, ate apples, drank ginger beer and talks about weather”. This then shows how she perceived those people based on what she read thus bringing forth the point of single image.

Also, Americans have a single concept on Nigeria, thinking and assuming that they are all poor, always in catastrophe and cannot speak proper English or know anything outside of Nigeria.                                  Nigeria is seen by “foreigners” as only a land of beautiful landscapes, beautiful animals and incomprehensive people fighting senseless wars, dying of poverty and AIDs, unable to speak for themselves and waiting to be saved by a kind white foreigner which is not true at all. As there are people living regular lives and almost similar to those in America and more developed countries.

With this being said, the same mindset was applied to the Caribbean in slavery days that the indigenous people were “uncivilized or barbaric” as mentioned by Dr. John Campbell in the very first Caribbean Civilization online lecture of the semester. The mindset or single image of the so merchants and explorers were that what was done in their home country was the right and only way, hence saying that they are civilized and anything contrary to that was uncivilized.

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9 Mornings Celebration at Christmas Time - "It's 9 Mornings!"

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9 Mornings Celebration at Christmas Time - "It's 9 Mornings!"

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According to Merriam Webster online dictionary, culture can be defined as “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also, the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time”. In the Caribbean due to its multitude of islands it comprises, the cultures vary and as so do their festivities.T

In St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG), around Christmas Holidays Vincentians from all every part of awake in the early hours of the morning and partake in a range of activities, among them sea baths, dances (or in local parlance, fetes), bicycle riding and street concerts.  In the rural areas, the final morning of the festivity usually ends with a steel band “jump-up”. The main festivity takes place in Heritage Square which is in the centre of capital Kingstown. Nine Mornings is a unique Vincentian festivity associated with the Christmas season. The following link gives some insight to SVG's 9 Mornings celebration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAza14MC3p0

The festivity evolved from a colonial Christmas custom, over two (200) years ago plantation owners will bring their slaves and servants to church on Christmas Eve, but they were not allowed inside the church. As they were outside, the African within them found ways in entertaining themselves by singing and a tradition developed from this. So, by the planation owners basically scorning or thinking that the slaves were less than them and to possibly the point of not being civilized enough to enter the church, a new tradition was developed. Therefore, this act provided another bit of culture towards SVG and also giving them a unique identity as compared to other countries in the Caribbean region do not have this celebration, although some may be similar in little ways.

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Caribbean Civilization Course (FOUN1101) was quite an informative and was well set out. It gave new insight on various Caribbean history especially information around Christopher Columbus.  The lecturer and Regional Course Coordinator, Dr John F Campbell did an excellent job of passing on the information in his two (2) hour weekly lectures on a Monday evening at 6pm EC time. His lectures were very detailed and gave a new and different perspective on what was civilization and Caribbean society in its entirety.

Through various mediums such as PowerPoints, videos, songs, books and the like all units were brought forward in manner that allowed everyone to grasp the concepts being discussed. The best part of this course was the lack of an exam which eased the strain that university places on us as students, as persons have phobias and challenges with exams but with the course work the information was still passed on, applied and was graded based on the persons immediate responses and timing as well as enabling persons to become critical thinkers. It also allowed free expression and opinions on topics that were brought forward.

Each unit covered a different aspect of Caribbean Civilization, from as far back as the indigenous people to how Caribbean People got their identity, creation of unique cultures and traditions and even beliefs.

The Caribbean or some may call it The West Indies, is one unique and diverse place, and a such the course was delivered in the same manner – One course, One university, One Caribbean!

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CARICOM is the shorten form for Caribbean Community or Caribbean Common Market. According to CARICOM.org, the recognised movement of skills initiative was established in the 1989 Grand Ansa Declaration but has been modified to what we have today. Essentially, free movement can be deemed as the free movement of skills that entails the right to seek employment in any Member State, thus resulting in the elimination of work permits and permits of stay.  This then brings forth the point of having a One Caribbean as we are all One People and there should be no limits to conducting legal activities.

People are constantly on the move and in search of a new and better life especially those within the Caribbean region. A person may migrate from for example, St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Trinidad and Tobago, which are both members of CARICOM, to get a better a better education as there is a University of the West Indies Campus with many courses to choose from as compared to the Open Campus in their home country. In doing this the person will not need any limitations that will hinder them to move forward in their endeavours.

Therefore, the free movement in CARICOM is essential as it benefits everyone in some way or the other and also to all member states. One Caribbean, One People is the best way and should never be misused and belittled in any way.

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·       Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. “The danger of a single story.” TED: Ideas worth spreading, www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

·       caribbeanconnecttv. “Nine Mornings in St.Vincent & Grenadines ! :) & Paradise Nicole :).” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Dec. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAza14MC3p0.

·       “Nine Mornings Festival.” Nine Mornings Festival: Discover St Vincent And The Grenadines, discoversvg.com/index.php/en/whattodo/festivals-a-events/nine-mornings.

·       “Bamboo Species of the Caribbean and West Indies.” Guadua Bamboo, www.guaduabamboo.com/distribution/bamboo-species-of-the-caribbean-and-west-indies.

·       Secretariat, CARICOM. Skill- Free Movement in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) —Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, caricom.org/skill-free-movement-in-the-caricom-single-market-and-economy-csme/.

·       “Free Movement Of Persons In Caricom.” Barbados Underground, 6 July 2009, barbadosunderground.net/2009/07/06/free-movement-of-persons-in-caricom-csme/.
. Campbell, John, Lecture Slides.

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