Why tell just one story?
In her TED Talk, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talks about how harmful and dangerous a single story can be to a person and to a community. She talks about how when visiting Guadalajara, she was caught up in the American Media mindset that these people were “those” immigrants who tried cheating the healthcare system and tried to sneak across the border, when in reality, they are just normal people doing hard work and having a good time. Adichie says, “So that is how to create a single story, show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become.” I have had multiple experiences where a community I am involved in has been defined by a single story, but the one that has stuck with me for the longest time is the story of the community of Bristol, VA.
The most common answer I receive when I tell people I am from Bristol, VA, is “Where is that?” With me being me, I respond with “Right next to Bristol, TN!” What is really shocking is that most people know where Bristol, TN is, but not Bristol, VA. How hard is it to reason that Bristol, VA is right next to Bristol, TN? Anyway, the conversation then leads to me explaining that Bristol, VA, is located in Southwest Virginia (SWVA). The usual responses I get are, in my opinion, very derogatory. I have often heard my town be referred to as a town full of backwards, highly conservative, hicks. I have also heard that Bristol is half hicks and half ghetto. People, who did not even know where Bristol, VA, is located, were making absurd stereotypes solely on the fact that the town is located in SWVA. What does not help this is that many citizens of Bristol often bad mouth Bristol, VA. Rumors and stereotypes travel faster than the superhero The Flash. However, the community of Bristol, VA, is so much more than just some stupid stereotypes. Bristol, VA hosts such a diverse environment, it is hard to not love it. There are so many community events put on by incredible community members that the downtown is busy every day and every night. Most people do not even know that Bristol, VA, is the birthplace of country music. That should give people such pride in their town, but that depends on who you ask. Being involved with Bristol Youth Council has really helped develop the love and pride for my town. Bristol Youth Council is made up of a bunch of high school students from some of the local high schools. BYC is very involved with the community of Bristol, we often participate in various local service opportunities, and discuss ways we can improve the Bristol community for mainly teens, but for the rest of the population too. Bristol holds an event every summer called Rhythm & Roots Reunion which draws in a lot of people from all over. In 2015, Bristol hosted their own film festival called PUSH! Film Festival. They showed over 40 US and International films, and this year, there are over 150 entries. There is so much happening in the Bristol community and I am very proud to call Bristol my home. We are a town who refuse to conform to stereotypes, and be judged on a single story. From listening to Adichie’s story, and experiencing how harmful single stories can be, I have learned to look at communities and people as a whole rather than basing everything off a single story or a stereotype.
The most common answer I receive when I tell people I am from Bristol, VA, is “Where is that?” With me being me, I respond with “Right next to Bristol, TN!” What is really shocking is that most people know where Bristol, TN is, but not Bristol, VA. How hard is it to reason that Bristol, VA is right next to Bristol, TN? Anyway, the conversation then leads to me explaining that Bristol, VA, is located in Southwest Virginia (SWVA). The usual responses I get are, in my opinion, very derogatory. I have often heard my town be referred to as a town full of backwards, highly conservative, hicks. I have also heard that Bristol is half hicks and half ghetto. People, who did not even know where Bristol, VA, is located, were making absurd stereotypes solely on the fact that the town is located in SWVA. What does not help this is that many citizens of Bristol often bad mouth Bristol, VA. Rumors and stereotypes travel faster than the superhero The Flash. However, the community of Bristol, VA, is so much more than just some stupid stereotypes. Bristol, VA hosts such a diverse environment, it is hard to not love it. There are so many community events put on by incredible community members that the downtown is busy every day and every night. Most people do not even know that Bristol, VA, is the birthplace of country music. That should give people such pride in their town, but that depends on who you ask. Being involved with Bristol Youth Council has really helped develop the love and pride for my town. Bristol Youth Council is made up of a bunch of high school students from some of the local high schools. BYC is very involved with the community of Bristol, we often participate in various local service opportunities, and discuss ways we can improve the Bristol community for mainly teens, but for the rest of the population too. Bristol holds an event every summer called Rhythm & Roots Reunion which draws in a lot of people from all over. In 2015, Bristol hosted their own film festival called PUSH! Film Festival. They showed over 40 US and International films, and this year, there are over 150 entries. There is so much happening in the Bristol community and I am very proud to call Bristol my home. We are a town who refuse to conform to stereotypes, and be judged on a single story. From listening to Adichie’s story, and experiencing how harmful single stories can be, I have learned to look at communities and people as a whole rather than basing everything off a single story or a stereotype.