Page 10 - Reflections on the Danger of a Single Story

Throughout my life, I have been extremely blessed in that everyone around me has taken the time to hear my story and experiences while sharing their stories and experiences with me. Living abroad for three years, traveling extensively and falling in love with a Cameroonian man has helped me develop habits of mind that reject single stories. At this point in my life, I naturally want to learn more about a person, their experiences and their journey. I find perspective fascinating especially as I continue to learn more about my husband's experiences growing up in Cameroon, being recruited to France at 15 and then deciding to become a United States Marine as an adult.
My worries lie within the future of our children. I remember when I was first pregnant, I started looking for books and cartoons with mixed children as the characters to fill the bookshelves. I had started collecting books when I lived in Europe and Asia, and I quickly realized the trouble with my collection. I turned to my husband, looking for more resources, in which he produced, “Kirikou and the Sorceress.” I was devastated! Here was the cartoon my husband wanted to share with our children and it contained a topless African witch and a half naked African boy who makes silly mistakes. I couldn’t share this with my own parents yet alone our children. It truly fosters all stereotypes we were fighting against as a mixed couple.
Luckily, I am not alone is this journey of raising mixed children, so the world is beginning to publish a more balanced set of stories that depict and empower our little mixes of light and darkness. It does not come easy though. I order every book I can find with African and American characters creating families, I make recommendations to our local libraries and I continue to add to my classroom library as I try to fight the single story of what it means to be mixed in America. However, I catch myself at times selecting weaker or less interesting stories just because of the identity of a character, which is something I want to avoid as well.
Kirikou is still celebrated among our French friends and family members living in France, but I love how my children asked revealing questions like, “Why doesn’t the mommy wear a shirt? and” Why is Kirikou treated like he is stupid?" when we watched it together recently. I know I cannot prevent the existence of these single perspectives, but I can educate my children and students to recognize when something seems off.
AMY BYRNES