Who’d ever think that storytelling could be so strategic? However, when you think about it, it makes sense because there has to be a reason as to why certain stories connect with our emotions, remain in our memory but most importantly inspire us enough to expand our minds and make a change. In our Writing for Social Change class we had the privilege of virtually meeting Dessa, a little woman from Detroit who’s an activist for social injustice. Before this class we were also asked to read a few of Dessa’s blog post in order to get an idea of what kind of person she is. Dessa is a great storyteller. “A good story, public story is drawn from the series of choice points that have structured the “plot” of your life – the challenges you faced, choices you made, and outcomes you experienced. (Ganz1) ” In each of her blog post she uses her disability to her advantage by expressing the challenges she faces and then uses that as a connecting dot to teach others about why and how she strives towards social change.
During her Skpe session with our class, Dessa touched briefly on how she motivates her audience through storytelling by identifying with Marshall Gonz Story of Self, Story of Us and Story of Now. In which Ganz further addresses that there are three parts of a public narrative:
The Story of Self: invites others to sympathize (be in relation to you). With self, we recognize that there is a challenge the character is facing. In Dessa’s case it is the discrimination and lack of resources not provided for the disabled. She uses the emotions of how this makes her feel in order to draw in her audience.
The Story Us: this is where the character invites others to join in community. This is where we find a common ground. Even though I’m not disabled, I can still connect with Dessa because she is a woman and a minority, like me. I can relate to discrimination and wanting to be treated as nothing less than equal. As a result, I’d be willing to help her work towards a solution.
The Story of Now: this is where we invite others to take action. It is important to be specific and strategic with this part. Identify what exactly do you want others to do? What’s the hope to move towards change? Although, our class is not in Detroit and we can’t come in for community training with Dessa. We are still able to read Dessa’s blog. We are still able to be a part of her goal in raising awareness about her challenges as a disabled person. We are still able to connect with her story and support her efforts towards equality.
Ganz recognizes that “Stories not only teach us how to act – they inspire us to act. Stories communicate our values through the language of the heart, our emotions. And it is what we feel – our hopes, our cares, our obligations – not simply what we know that can inspire us with the courage to act.(Ganz 1)” In simpler terms we connect with emotion.
Ganz, Marshall. “TELLING YOUR PUBLIC STORY Self, Us, Now.” TELLING YOUR PUBLIC STORY Self, Us, Now. Cambridge : kennedy school of goverment, 2007. . Print.
Wolcott Writing for Social Change 14 