Understanding the world and the societies in it requires recognizing the role that our prejudices and stereotypes play in shaping the lives of people and the power dynamics that go into defining them. Employing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Ted Talk, The Danger of a Single Story, this lesson plan was designed as part of a broader unit oriented towards guiding student reflection and initiative on these topics.
Materials
Students engage with this worksheet as they complete the lesson.
Introduction - 20 minutes
As a warm-up, students are provided time to free write on the topics of stereotypes and prejudices and encouraged to devote time from the very basic - definitions - to the more complex - specific examples and feelings. Time and space is subsequently designated for guided student discussion. By the end of this process, the class should have a general idea of what stereotypes and prejudices are, some common examples, and how they can be harmful. The Equality and Human Rights Commission page can be used as a source for formal definitions.
The Danger of a Single Story - 45 minutes
Now that students have collected some foundational knowledge on the theme, they are ready to engage with Adichie's powerful speech on single stories. In the talk, she works the listener through numerous examples of single stories and their harmful impact. She also engages with the notions of power and vulnerability and story-telling as a critical vehicle for influencing the lives of people. She develops the concept of a "balance of stories" as a countermeasure to the single story.
The worksheet can be employed as a starting point for more extended student discussions - I like to occasionally stop the video for these moments. Is Adichie right that children are especially vulnerable to believing single stories and why is that? Who else could be vulnerable to single stories? What do students think of her definition of power as being about the ability to make a story the definitive story of a person? If that's the case, who are some of the people and institutions with power in society? Implications: What can be done to ensure we achieve the "balance of stories" that Adichie calls for? Students should finally take time to work through their own examples of single stories.
Just for Fun
Play this satirical music video, Africans Radiator Song To Norway. Support Radi-Aid!, that mocks single stories imposed on Africa.
Ask students: What is this group seeking to do with this video?
Further Extension
I've developed a packet of lessons for this unit. After learning about stereotypes and prejudices and (hopefully) developing empathy, students are ultimately challenged to become part of the process of changing them. In this vein, students prepare articles that put a spotlight on stories that challenge the stereotypes told about a particular community.
For more on my teaching, connect with me on Twitter: @ShaneMarkowitz