The Courage that You Gave Me
The day that I recited an Angie Thomas poem at the St. Petersburg College’s auditorium was my humanities moment since this author is an inspiration for me. First, it was hard to speak and be there in front of so many classmates and professors because I am shy, so I hate to do presentations. Despite my insecurities, I participated in the open mic since everyone deserved to know this beautiful poem “A right to happiness.”
Angie Thomas is a Black American writer who wrote The Hate U Give, a book that tackles all the oppression and injustice that black people suffer from police violence. Since I read this book, I follow every work of Angie Thomas such as books, poems, and more. For that reason, I know this poem could motive myself to do infinite things and never keep silent.
This is a brief part of the poem, “Well, I am not one of those,
who will bow down to their woes.
I will stand up and fight,
fight for what I think I have the right…. Happiness….” This poem reminds me that no matter what, I need to make heard my voice, and be my own hero because no one else can save me.
Angie Thomas's poem "A right to happiness"
2019
I am Geraldine Galindo, I am 28 years old, and I am student at the St. Peterburg College
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Don’t Buy Into A Single Story
I encourage everyone to watch novelist Chimamanda Adichie’s 2009 TED talk “The Danger of A Single Story.” Adichie uses her personal experiences to illustrate the importance of sharing different stories about people. She warns of the consequences of a single story and how it can rob people of their dignity, create stereotypes, and make difficult the recognition of our equal humanity.
Adichie’s talk made me ponder current events and how many American politicians and leaders are attempting to create a single story about immigrants and others. One, in particular, is the group of Central American migrants fleeing danger and desperate situations for a new life in America. The president and others are painting them as criminals who are trying to invade the country. This is dangerous. It’s a seemingly hateful attempt to fan the flames of division and stoke the fears of his supporters. Adichie says, “show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become.” She continues “power is the ability not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person.” Imagine if the first story told about this group of migrants was that many are mothers and fathers who desire safety and security for their families. Doing so would change the narrative entirely. To insist on only negative stories, those in power are attempting to dehumanize migrants and encourage Americans to believe that migrants are in no way similar to them. These views are extremely dangerous and can result in violence against an entire group of people.
I hope Adichie’s talk will encourage more people to not buy into a single story told about others. And in doing so, recognize that all people are informed and shaped by many stories. This is needed always, but especially in current times.
Chimamanda Adichie, author of <em>Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, </em>and other works
“The Danger of the Single Story,” a TED talk by Chimamanda Adichie
2018
Olympia Friday, Digital Engagement and Marketing Coordinator, National Humanities Center
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