Like Amy Cooper – The Stories We Tell
We often think of storytelling as highlighting the adventures of Hansel & Gretel or Superman or a curious monkey. Stories – often created to teach a cultural lesson – to highlight important societal values. They temporarily bring readers to different places, status or situations – delving into the diversity of life experiences. Everything from The Ilyad & The Odyssey to To Kill a Mockingbird serve as history – if not 100% accurate – at least capturing some greater truth and wisdom.
What we often overlook is the storytelling that is happening in our midst every day. It’s in all of our lives today – right now – demanding our attention. Journalism. As Bill Barr recently suggested, how a story is told is determined by the winners or those in power. Unfortunately, he is right, although it may not be in the hands of powerful individuals. You are more likely to find a culture in the driver’s seat. A big powerful assumed-to-be-good culture. The news we read and watch reflects the culture in which it was written. And right now we have a culture and systems steeped in racism. Like the old adage, “fish discover water last,” we, too, can be oblivious to what stories are not being told.
I encourage you to check out these two articles and give some thought to how the stories we have been hearing reinforce some cultural aspects we wish we could actually change. These stories seep into our homes, into conversations – informing our assumptions. They paint a picture of the world that will feel “right” to kids – that this is just the way things are. – SA
"Kama Amy Cooper, ""Hadithi tunazozungumza"" ni hadithi za hadithi za Hansel na Gretel, Superman, au nyani mwenye hamu ya kujua." Hadithi <unk> mara nyingi kuundwa kufundisha somo la kitamaduni <unk> ili kuangazia maadili muhimu ya kijamii. Wao kwa muda kuleta wasomaji kwa maeneo tofauti, hadhi au hali <unk> delving katika utofauti wa uzoefu wa maisha. "Kila kitu kutoka ""Iliad"" na ""Odyssey"" hadi ""Kuua Mockingbird"" hutumika kama historia - ikiwa sio 100% sahihi - angalau kukamata ukweli na hekima kubwa." Kile tunachopuuza mara nyingi ni hadithi zinazotokea katikati yetu kila siku. Ni katika maisha yetu yote leo <unk> sasa hivi <unk> kudai tahadhari yetu. Uandishi wa habari. Kama Bill Barr hivi karibuni alivyosema, jinsi hadithi inavyoelezwa huamuliwa na washindi au wale walio madarakani. Kwa bahati mbaya, yeye ni haki, ingawa inaweza kuwa si katika mikono ya watu wenye nguvu. Una uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kupata utamaduni katika kiti cha dereva. Utamaduni mkubwa wenye nguvu unaodhaniwa kuwa mzuri. Habari tunazosoma na kutazama huonyesha utamaduni ambao ziliandikwa. Na sasa hivi tuna utamaduni na mifumo iliyojaa ubaguzi wa rangi. Kama msemo wa zamani, "samaki hugundua maji mwisho", sisi pia, tunaweza kuwa na ufahamu wa hadithi ambazo hazisemiwi. Tunakutia moyo uangalie makala hizi mbili na kufikiria jinsi hadithi ambazo tumekuwa tukisikia zinaimarisha mambo fulani ya kitamaduni ambayo tunatamani tunaweza kubadilisha. Hadithi hizi huingia katika nyumba zetu, katika mazungumzo <unk> kueleza dhana zetu. Wao kuchora picha ya dunia ambayo itahisi <unk> haki <unk> kwa watoto <unk> kwamba hii ni tu njia mambo ni.  SA