Although it was recorded almost a decade ago, I only recently watched "The Danger of a Single Story," a 2009 TED Talk by esteemed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Adichie is more recently popular for her 2013 TEDx talk "We should all be feminists" that was sampled in Beyoncé's 2013 song "Flawless." Her novel Half of a Yellow Sun was adapted into a 2013 film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton. If you have not yet viewed "The Danger of a Single Story" before, I highly recommend it.
Adichie's words are strong and they ring true to the message of this blog. We must elevate the voices of non-Western authors and experts to reinforce that there are alternative forms of knowledge and understanding. These authors steer you a wider scope of thought and challenge our preconceived notions of truth. The Western style of education that favors empirical evidence and systematic analysis dominates education worldwide thanks to its deep entrenchment by former colonial powers. I am not invalidating these forms of knowledge, but rather encouraging us all to explore these alternatives, as they just might spark new connections across neurons.
The games and conversations that I hope to discuss in this forum will honor and highlight these alternative voices. After unexpected election results in the United States, it is even more important to keep our ears attuned to the voices of minority groups. Follow experts and writers of color on their blogs and Twitter. Read their articles and books. If you want to specifically focus on exposing yourself to international voices, the TED Talks are a great way to hear from experts around the world on a variety topics.
If you need a push in the right direction, start with Bunker Roy: