The concept of a Single Story resonated with me. I realize that I am currently doing many things in my classroom to combat the idea of a single story. I teach Global History and Geography I (Grade 9). My course deals with diverse cultures. I start off every year, reading an article with my students entitled "The Body Ritual of the NACIREMA." It portrays the every day rituals of the NACIREMA (American spelled backwards), as beyond strange. For instance, they state the NACIREMA put hog hairs and potions into their mouth every day (Brushing Teeth). It portrays other daily rituals. The students have this image that these people are strange. By the end of the article, I attempt to have students guess the group. Rarely do they understand that it is the U.S. from an outside perspective. I then state that we are going to study many diverse cultures this year and we should attempt to understand their viewpoints and not to jump at any conclusions. Another component that students have a misconception about is Cleopatra. The image most students have of Cleopatra of Egypt was that she was white. This image is portrayed through books and movies such Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor). I However, this single story can be disrupted is portraying the image of Cleopatra for my students as an Egyptian. Students need to understand the true image of this amazing and powerful Queen. Finally, we discuss various perspectives of different events. For example, we not only discuss the Spanish viewpoint of conquering the Aztec Civilization, but the Aztec point of view as well. Another perspective is the multiple perspectives of the Crusades. This is demonstrated by both the Islamic and Christian viewpoints.
