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Thesis: In Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk “The Danger of a Single Story,” she claims that there are simple or single stories that only show one side of a group of people. These single stories are raw and unfinished, showing only negative qualities of certain groups. However, Adichie claims these single stories can be overturned and made positive when they are added unto. This semester in Minority Voices in American Literature, we read several books, which have served as examples of transformed single stories. To clarify, in the beginning of every novel we have read, we were introduced to a single, unfinished story. Yet, the authors of our class novels have overturned the single stories presented in their books, showing us a different side to people. Specifically, “Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison and “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison have overturned single stories through the development of the characters in their book, ultimately proving the value of reading multicultural literature by giving us insight to the struggles faced by specific races within our society.

Intro about Single Story ted talks

Reading multicultural literature overturns these single stories and gives us insight into the struggle that people within our very society face on a daily basis.

Two novels: invisible man and the bluest eye (both clearly overturned single stories, gave new meaning to their character, both are reflections from the past = growth and development on characters = their new stories and experience of other new stories. In invisble man we see character development through IM na dhis rejection of his past self and past counterparts (bledsoe, the college, brotherhood, white lady, brother with sambo dolls) and in TBE we see character development through Claudia and Freida and we see previous single stories with the Breedlove family; see how their past experiences affected them yet no growth in them bc they only are aware of their single stories)

Passages: page numbers already on padlet

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Summary 1:

In “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer” by Murphy Paul, the author argues that reading printed texts or “deep reading” causes people to become more knowledgeable and is overall beneficial to the brain. More specifically, the author emphasizes that those who are deep readers are “better able to understand other people, empathize with them, and view the world from their perspective.” In other words, reading printed literature, rather than reading online, causes one to become more intellectual and forces one to better comprehend and analyze emotions. Realistically, no online article can satisfy the mind better than literature that is in a book. As technology advances, printed texts become rare to those in younger generations. The experience that comes with reading literature is one that is unmatched and impossible to find anywhere else. In conclusion, reading printed literature is fundamental and essential to understanding complex ideas and emotions.

Summary 2:

In “Should Literature be Useful?” by Lee Siegel, the author observes the fact that there is much argument over whether or not reading fiction is actually beneficial. More specifically, the author suggests that the act of reading fiction is “idleness in its purest state.” In other words, some do not see reading literature as beneficial since the act does not lead to any actual results. However, Siegel goes on to assert that reading fiction does give us empathy. Additionally, the author claims that best part about reading literature and fiction is nothing. Rather, reading literature gives us the freedom to think. In conclusion, the emptiness that comes from reading literature allows us to be more in-tuned with our minds and gives us new information and complexities to share with the outside world; fiction has numerous effects on the human mind.

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Single story: Similar to The Woman Warrior, the idea of having a double identity is explored again in this novel, creating multiple single story. On one hand, we have the concept of racism against Latinos in America, and seeing Latinos only as poor, criminals, and less than. On the other hand, within the own Latino community, there is sexism against Latina women. Author Sandra Cisneros using various vignettes to show how these women are locked away by men, both metaphorically and literally.

Regarding identities, we see the identity of Mexican immigrants with many connotations, young Latina girls being sexualized as they explore womanhood and experience puberty, unsuccessful single mothers, and Latina women only having the purpose to serve their men. ‘

Author Sandra Cisneros adds to these single stories through leading character Esperanza. As Esperanza lives on Mango Street, she sees how poor her community is, yet she also sees how close the community is and the importance of family. Additionally, Esperanza encounter different Latina women and learns to grow away from their single stories as she becomes a woman. Esperanza’s purpose is to not become a single story, to show a different aspect of the Latina woman, which she has done so effectively.

P. 11 (looked out the window her whole life . . . women seen as being locked away)

P. 26 (sexualization of young girl, waiting on a man. . . can't see girls as mature and as explorers of their identity)

P. 13 (move farther away . . . community only seen as less than when Latinos begin to move in more and more)

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Single story: Chinese women are either slaves or wives, Chinese immigrants

In The Woman Warrior, there is still a single story that is based on race. However this single story comes from within a community and mainly focuses on one individual; the author / narrator. In this novel, author Maxine Hong Kingston introduces her readers to the concept of double identity. Through the narrator, the author develops this idea by depicting a visualization of living in between two worlds. In the first world, there is the single story about the Chinese woman. She is either to be a wife or a slave. In the second world, which is America, readers are introduced to struggle of being a first generation Chinese immigrant. Since the narrator was born in America, her mother sees her as an un-authentic Chinese person and is somewhat disgusted by this.

Besides the identities of being a Chinese woman, and a first-generation Chinese immigrant, we also see the identity of Chinese-born immigrants struggling to fit in America themselves. We see this identity through the narrator’s aunt, Moon Orchid.

The author show readers different versions of these single stories through various oral stories about Chinese women. Readers are able to see Chinese women as doctors, warriors, and famous authors. Regarding Chinese immigrants, Kingston shows her readers how successful immigrants can be in America. In this novel, we see Chinese immigrants struggling against American racism and cultural Chinese standards. The author, herself was able to break through both of these barriers.

P. 169,183 (hated secrecy of chinese, stereotypes of Chinese keeping secrets, stereotyping of what Chinese expect from immgrants)

Another stereotype, cultural Chinese traditions

P. 45-46 (not rewarding or recognizing the successes of Chinese girls..girls seen as less than)

P. 132 (unhappy American babies...narrator and her other siblings do not live up to the greatness of authentic Chinese children)

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Single story: In The Bluest Eye, author Toni Morrison helps her readers explore and understand the stereotypes about black ugliness, and the overall idea of American beauty standards. Specifically, readers explore the identity of being a black girl, specifically black girls with darker skin and kinkier hair, In other words, black girls who have more afrocentric features. Through characters such as Pecola, and Claudia and her sister, readers are able to see these stereotypes clearly. Additionally, through Cholly Breedlove we see how society can label a black man as demented, and how easy it for society to ruin the character of a black man”

More identities: trying to please white people = Polly Breedlove

Through the two sisters, we see how complex, smart, and creative black girls are. We completely forget about beauty and are forced to focus on what is important on the inside. We see these two sisters grow and as readers, we become excited and proud to watch them develop. Regarding Pecola, readers feel guilt and shame when we learn of her backstory. We no longer want to see Pecola as this ugly little girl. Instead, readers come to see her as someone who has been brave and strong, through the most tumultuous of trials. Regarding Cholly, readers are never given another aspect to him. Rather, we see how society ruined him from the start. Before Cholly was humiliated by those white men, we see a caring husband and son who was excited to explore the threshold of manhood, yet that was all taken away from him in one instant.

P. 150 (he was small, black, helpless ... Cholly described as less than, black man seen as weak and defenseless in the face of the white man)

P. 74 (if she was then we were not...Maureen having more white features, confirming that her beauty is more valued than that of Pecola's and the sisters )
p.123 (I let my hair go back, settle down to being ugly, Polly accepting the fact that society has labeled her as ugly, accepting her single story)

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Single story: uneducated negro needs the help of the white man to be successful

In Invisible Man, author Ralph Ellison helps his readers explore single stories about African Americans, particularly men. In the novel, these single stories only show black men as uncivilized, uneducated, and as people who need guidance.

In Invisible Man, we see characters such as Bledsoe whose only wish is to please the white man; we see Jim Trueblood, a man who is only known for raping his daughter and further confirming the stereotype that black men are savages and uncivilized; we see the narrator falsely believing in the university and Brotherhood, thinking they are doing what is right for him; and finally we see characters such as Ras the Exhorter and the narrator’s Grandfather, black men who are somewhat radical and want to overcome the white man and point out his crimes.

Ellison overturns all of these single stories through the invisible man’s entire journey. Readers are able to see the invisible man understand and realize the realities of the world; that he is seen less than and that he has been treated less than. The invisible man comes to resent men who he used to look up to, simply because they only wish to serve the white man, Specifically, we see the narrator grow to hate Bledsoe and the Brotherhood members. Invisible man sees these characters as traitors to black community. As the narrator reflects on his past choices and experiences, he overturns the single story and adds to the complexity of who the black man is. He is smart, determined, and aware of the real-world truth. Through his speech we see smartness and awareness.

Author explores brotherhood, is knowledgeable himself, his speech

Explores identity of being african american man, identity of invisible man trying to please white man

P. 36 (kneeling slave image, removing veil, white man seeing the black man as someone who needs his help)

P. 32 (shape the destiny of your people, black people seen as needing the help of whites in order to survive)

P. 49, 67 (Jim Trueblood, white ppl loved this story, confirmed their stereotypes about black men as savages and uncivilized)