Literacy Like Land Analysis

“Power is the ability not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person” (Adichie, 2009, p 4). Literacy is much defined as a source of power. We as individuals obtain that power on a small scale but our Country has the ability to convince its people to make a solid perception of anything/anyone they set fit. This source of power is not black and white, the language of literacy is quite complex. You see an ad on television, and think they are simply giving you world news but really they are trying to sway you into a political party. A supervisor gives you “productive feedback”, not to better you as an individual but to benefit their title and brand. You see literacy being used as power in many situations

In Nigeria most of the books she was able to obtain were of white people with white authors it wasn’t until she was older that she had discovered books with writers from her own country. This is showing that most of this country wants their people to stay in line and not rise above their government. Deborah Brandt, a researcher who focuses on social literacy, individual’s access to literacy and most of what all surrounds these issues. Brandt stated “Literacy, like land, is a valued commodity in this economy, a key resource in gaining profit and edge” (1997, p 5). Adichie’s country had the power and they had the gains the power and edge. Books with white authors are common in this country and authors of their own country are harder to get your hands on because it shows a type of freedom of speech from the people. This is not okay with the government; they can’t afford to loosen their grip on their

We are also painting one story on all races and countries through our media, presidential speeches, and cop situations. C. H. Knoblauch and I have quite similar views towards power from literacy, how if one is literate and attains a platform they then have the power to set a standard for the rest of society, an entitlement. Knoblauch stated “American citizens will accommodate some liberalization of outmoded curricula and an improved quality of life for the less privileged as long as fundamental political and economic interests are not jeopardized” (1990, p 6). Knoblauch is saying that we will accommodate the less fortunate, just as long as it doesn’t interrupt or inconvenience our politicians and the ones who are in power. Adichie has experienced the single story of Africans from her white roommate, she was stunned to hear how Adichie knew English and that her tribal music was not a man banging on a drum. Adichie’s college professor had even mentioned that the characters in her story were not acting “authentically black”, like how close minded one needs to be to believe that a race can only act, be, or do one thing. But I guess you can’t blame it all entirely on the individual because our country is doing a poor job to properly inform it’s US citizens. But I’m sure it’s their