I’ve been reading slowly for one reason or another. Sometimes I desperately miss the days I stayed awake into the wee hours of the night racing to finish another novel. Now, I’m squeezing in writing time during toddler naps and bargaining with time in the evening, knowing said toddler will be fully charged as early as 6 AM (does he not know that weekends are for sleeping in?!)
I’m currently savoring every bit of Homegoing. This quote I read last night is still sitting with me. It reminds me of Kittle and Gallagher’s strategy of asking that same question: Whose story is missing? Or what side is not being told? It also reminds me of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED talk, “The danger of a single story.”
This is the problem of history. We cannot know that which we were not there to see and hear and experience for ourselves. We must rely upon the words of others. Those who were there in the olden days, they told stories to the children so that the children would know, so that the children could tell stories to their children. And so on, and so on. But now we come upon the problem of conflicting stories….. Whose story do we believe, then?
We believe the one who has the power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must always ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there, you begin to get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.
Homegoing, pages 226-227
This morning I am sitting with the reminder that there is always more than one side. Not just big picture, but in my own life, too. When I feel I have been wronged, for example, I so often cannot imagine another view. It takes quite a bit of intention to place myself in a potentially different point of view.
What stories do you hold onto that you know you should seek the other side, sides even?
No, not that one. That one.
britt escribe 
So often people get focused on one POV that they refuse to accept that there is another side to the story as well. I think of children who hear their parents version of an incident and come to believe that there is no other possible way things could have occured. We must learn to keep an open mind and take in all possibilities.
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This reminds me of Howard Zinn’s, “A People’s History of America.” History is written by the winners. There are many other versions of that history to be told. Thanks for the reminder!
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It’s certainly something to remember and I love that you shared this passage. I also really enjoyed how you ended this slice — it was so creative!
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This quote is 100% on point. Thought-provoking writing, too. Thanks for the inspiration1
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I love that Ted Talk by Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story.” Disrupt Texts also raises the issue of whose story is not being told. It is so important to remember this as we read history, and as we navigate our own lives, as you point out. Insightful post; thank you.
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Such a great reminder to really think about whose story is being told. Thank you for sharing this quote today.
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This is so powerful! And your last line – wow! I just saw where our library has this book, and I will be picking it up tomorrow!
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There are always two side to every story, indeed. Too often, one side of a story gets whitewashed and changed because of how many times it has been repeated and by whom. For instance, history in general is largely told from a one sided POV, that of the white male, which always leaves out minorities, women and immigrants. Those are the stories I have been seeking out. those of the oppressed.
Thanks for sharing!
Joshua C
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Jumped onto your post to see what you were reading:) I absolutely LOVED Homegoing. Her second is much more clinical, so it landed differently for me. Curious to know your thoughts when you move to that one at some point! XX
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I finished Homegoing – it was soooo good! I have her other book in the house, but I can’t decide if I’m ready to pick it up yet LOL I will definitely commit to reading it at some point in 2021 🙂
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>It takes quite a bit of intention to place myself in a potentially different point of view.<
I've struggled with this as well. It's taken a lot of thinking and reflecting to get myself to the point where I can see those other points of view and even then, it's a difficult journey. Each time becomes a little less difficult, and at almost 50, I've still got lots of work to do.
Thanks for this reflective slice.
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