The “single story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The “single story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells us more about the dangers that come with relying on one story as it creates stereotypes (Chimamanda, 12:57). The stereotypes are incomplete and prevent one from knowing the truth, taking the necessary steps to achieve his potential in life. According to Chimamanda’s narrative, and concerning feminism theory, a single story will advance gender stereotypes and patriarchal ideologies that portray women as inferior as compared to men. She narrates how she used to rely on a single story from her mother during her childhood, and it prevented her from knowing the reality of life. When she traveled to the United States for further studies, she also encountered friends who perceived Africans as a weaker race who lived in pathetic and miserable conditions in their continent. They did not know the truth because they relied on a “single story.” Her mind shifted and made her a better person when she stopped counting on one story and embraced diversity and learning culture. Based on the feminism theory, the movie Black Panther challenges a “single story” in many ways.
According to Chimamanda’s narrative, that dependence on a single story defies the feminist theory. But what do different authors say about feminist theory? The feminist theory challenges gender inequalities by calling for the replacement of the patriarchal system with a different one that emphasizes fairness, justice, and equal rights for all people irrespective of their gender. Hooks highlights the inequity between white and black women as the primary point to explain his idea of feminist theory. She had a strong notion that black women are marginalized even in theory itself (Hooks, p. 42). Hooks goes further to give reasons why feminism should not be regarded as a single story. His argument is replicated in Chimamanda’s narrative when she tells how her roommate considered her a disadvantaged woman from Africa. The roommate had, in all her life, read different versions of a single story, which prevented her from knowing the reality about Africa, and the potential of African women (Chimamanda, 07:05). Although she Chimamanda agrees that Africa is a continent full of catastrophes, the impression gotten from relying on a single story was misleading and deceiving.
The Story of America by Calkins explains the important role women play in history and offers people the confidence to believe the ability of women. It gives a strong gesture on why we should embrace feminism for a better world. It includes the history of black people and the female movements they participated in during their liberation. It emphasizes the achievements of black women that saw their status change. Women and homemakers produced thousands of coats that were useful in the American Revolution before winter. Calkins sought to show that the female gender is as important as the male gender (Calkins. Pp. 123-125). It is also interesting how he chose to include blacks rather than white women because that is important in shunning the ideology of racial inequality in women. Chimamanda’s story offers strong support to the Story of America in that it gives examples of famous women in Nigeria who have defied odds to achieve bigger goals than most whites (Chimamanda14:09). Chimamanda’s ability to speak good English against the expectation of her roommate is also an excellent example to show the power of black women and how relying on a “single story” posed a great danger to women’s liberation.
A different journal by Bunting Madelene shows that women have an essential role to play in war, unlike the patriarchal norms in most societies were women are portrayed as weak gender (Bunting, p. 310). War is an integral part of history as it has affected different countries, cultures, religions. Women have, however, been given passive roles in history, such as staying at home in peaceful times or given manufacturing roles during the fighting. The journal, however, paid more attention to different roles played by women during wars and how they have a significant impact on determining the final results of the war. It is one of the best publications which seek to support the feminist theory and in support of the “single story.” The high-end examples of feminism in the movie Black Panther pose a significant challenge to the “single story” narrative by Chimamanda.
Black Panther achieves considerable success in advocating for the end of patriarchal ideologies, where women are considered weaker than men. It is also vital to show the power of black women, unlike the stereotypes which come as a result of relying on a single story. One of the distinctive aspects of the film is that it integrates women into the essence of the whole narrative. The viewer will get the message of having the 31-year-old Ryan Coogler, an African-American filmmaker in Black Panther. He has employed worked with women of diverse identities in various positions across all his movies (Garside, p. 108). This is a strong hint to the viewer to show how the filmmaker valued the power of women in participating in movie production. Despite being an African-American, her selection of people to include in filmmaking has never been based on gender. But what if he relied on a single story that would have otherwise portrayed the black race as primitive people who could not play a significant role in the filming industry? He would have destroyed an essential part of the film production that makes his movies attract a large customer base. He just avoided the dangers of a “single story.”
Coogler worked with Rachel Morrison in several films. Rache was the first woman to be nominated for the best cinematography Academy Award in 2018. Hannah Rachel has participated in production design in almost all his films (Melissa, p. 1). The legendary Ruth Carter has involved in Black Panther as a costume designer. No single story has ever advocated for such prominent roles to be given to the female gender. Coogler, however, must have had some vital information to pass to the world about the power of women in film production. This is a big challenge to a “single story.” The story wrote and directed by Coogler, and Joe Robert makes a sense to feminist theorists, unlike the typical superhero movies. One of the striking features that, no doubt, challenge a “single story” is how it feels like a post-gender film. The characters in the movie are not stereotyped or define by gender. The heroes in the movie are both women and men. Chadwick played T’Challa, the Black Panther, who is the prince of Wakanda destined to ascend to King’s position after the death of his father (Coogler, 34: 23-46).
If you have ever thought of enjoying “women in action,” then Black Panther is your movie. A line has been crossed in the sand in how the film portrays women. Danai Gurira features as Okoye and the head of Milaje, the security forces which protect the Wakanda kingdom. Another fascinating feature of the security forces is that they are all females. Danai also serves as the army general and the head of the intelligence department (Coogler, 1:12:4-15). According to most traditional narratives, which I feel promotes a “single story,” men take essential positions in security forces while women are either given passive roles or entirely omitted in security activities. Black Panther, however, comes with a different story where the whole security force in the Wakanda is made of women. It is beyond doubt that Ryan Coogler sought to challenge a “single story” in the production of his film. The fact that T’Challa relies on Danai, a woman, to give him security gives a sense of irony that I believe serves the primary purpose of showing feminism in the film.
Other women in the film are also fierce, unlike the expectations of anyone who has been relying on a “single story.” Lupita Nyong’ o acts as Nakia, who spends most of her time outside the kingdom spying, and later returns show her support to the King and her country when challenges of war face it. The always-regal Angela Bassett plays as the queen in the film. Letitia Wright plays as T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, and is depicted as the second influential person in the throne (Coogler, 1:50:26-34). She also seems to be the smartest person in the whole kingdom who proves that superpower is not all about using brutal force but wisdom. The combination of power and wisdom defies a “single story.” Stereotypes regularly depict men as the strong gender that has the potential to lead people well, unlike women. Even Chamamanda gave an example of powerful women in Africa to show how stereotypes posed by the “single story” were misleading and false. Coogler poses a challenge by showing how Shuri changed Wakanda into the most advanced nation in the world when it comes to technology (Melissa, p. 1). This makes sense to the viewer when he looks at how she designed the Black Panther suit, which was much advanced for war technology.
Bobbitt-Zeher provided valuable insight into gender discrimination in the workplace. His article seeks to show the cause of gender discrimination in society and how it developed to cause the call for gender equality, as seen in different platforms today (Bobbitt-Zeher, p. 773). His discussion about the female human statue in a culture gives a strong hint on how a “single story” emerged and prevented women from achieving their potentials in life. Black Panther defies the system of gender discrimination and women’s oppression. The women in the movie are also the comic relief, as they proceed to the battle feed just like men. The beautiful thing in the film is that there is no single thought that women are weak or should not go to fight and protect their King (Melissa, p. 2).
The integration of women from third world countries into the women’s studies curriculum has been challenging due to the dangers of a “single story.” It is an area that has been previously neglected, thus making the situations of third world countries’ women harder. Bazin pointed out the disadvantages of modern feminism, which seems to portray some bias towards some women, mainly from African countries (Bazin, pp. 34-35). This idea was also highlighted by Chamamanda’s narrative when her white roommate wondered how she managed to speak good English, yet she was an African. She narrated how sorry she felt when an announcement in Virgin flight referred to Africa as a country despite that everyone knew it was a continent (Chamamanda, 05: 21-55). This is an unfortunate trend stereotyping Africans as inferior and having a weak culture, and caused by overdependence on a “single story.”
Coogler challenges this notion successfully in Black Panther. Unlike a few black films nominated for an Oscar Award, the Black Panther is not about the suffering of black people but the rich black culture. A story that celebrates the rich black cultural heritage goes against the assumption inflicted on people’s minds towards African culture. The movie has cultural elements which play a more significant role in making the entire film enjoyable. It is indeed what I enjoyed most in the film: the food, the markets, the music, the philosophy and mythology, and the beautiful African dance (Coogler, 45: 43-60).
Finally, it is beyond doubt that Ryan Coogler successfully challenges a “single story” based on feminist theory. His film plays a leading role in showing that women, and especially black women, can excellently perform duties traditionally considered to be Males’. He involved women in film production, highlighting their vital role in the industry. Women also participated in security systems, and they dominated the Wakanda security forces guarding T’Challa. The “Single story” portrays women as weak and men as the strong gender that should participate in duties that require the use of a lot of energy, like in security forces. It was also interesting to see how, in the movie, Shuri, was depicted as the wisest character who understood that brute force could not solve the challenges that the Wakanda Kingdom faced. Her intelligence in leadership contributed many incidences of success for her community. The celebration of black cultural heritage in the film was also a strong gesture that sought to end stereotypes caused by patriarchy and dependence on a “single story.”
