The presidential debate is over, but the people of Springfield, Ohio, are only beginning to face its fallout.
Bomb threats now plague the town and Haitian American families fear sending their children to school — all sparked by lies from Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
As a communications professional who thinks often about the contours of political narratives, this episode made me think of Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk on “the danger of a single story.”
A single story is a stereotype — a limited view of a group, perpetuated by media and culture. During the debate, which had over 67 million viewers, Trump repeated his false, dehumanizing story about immigrants. These lies fuel harmful memes and jokes, even among those who disagree with his views, which unfortunately gives the falsehood even more exposure.
“So that is how to create a single story. Show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become,” Adichie said.
In many ways, she’s describing the illusory truth effect — the tendency to believe something after repeated exposure. Tell a lie enough times, and people start to believe it, even when it’s baseless.
No one exploits this effect like Trump. He counts on it when he spreads self-serving conspiracy theories — from the “birther” lies about former President Barack Obama to his denial of his loss in the 2020 election. We need to pay particular attention to how he’s introducing doubt to his followers in what seems like a preemptive effort to undermine the results of this current election if they don’t go his way.
The antidote? If Trump and his Republican supporters keep flooding the zone with lies, those of us who still live in a reality-based world need to flood the zone with the truth. We must tell and keep repeating the truth and avoid repeating lies, even to correct or mock them. We must also tell fuller, more nuanced stories that broaden the cultural narrative of America. The truth needs more champions.
We can find role models in Springfield. I deeply admire Nathan and Danielle Clark, who refused to let the Trump campaign exploit the death of their son in a tragic accident involving a Haitian driver. They confronted the lies directly, speaking their truth.
For her part, Kamala Harris has effectively broadened the narrative of America. On the debate stage, at the Democratic National Convention and elsewhere, her campaign skillfully tells a more optimistic story about who America is and what’s possible in this beautiful and complicated country.
She has reclaimed what freedom means, changing the single story of who is a patriot in the process. The symbols of freedom ought not to be the exclusive domain of a party led by Donald Trump, with his history of inciting rioters on Jan. 6, 2021 to go to the Capitol to overturn the will of the voters.
True patriots push for a more inclusive country. Abolitionists to suffragists to labor activists work twoard progress out of their deep love of country.
Harris broadens the narrative around women who seek abortions when she ties abortion rights to maternal health, family planning and the economy. If anyone thinks abortion is merely a lifestyle decision, Harris has reminded us that some women with pregnancies they desperately want to keep also need this essential medical service. Women who suffer a miscarriage need care from doctors who are not afraid of losing their licenses or facing jail time for attending to a patient in need.
Similarly, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) challenges the single story of rural America. It’s not full of bigots and blight, as often portrayed. These towns are also places where neighbors of different beliefs and backgrounds look out for each other.
Trump will continue to tell his single story about America: Our best days are behind us, we’re a nation in decline and we need to return to a time before everyone started demanding equal rights.
In response, we must keep expanding the narrative. America is about freedom. Our best days are ahead of us. We must preserve our rights and ensure that more people have full access to them — including the freedom to read stories that reflect all of us.
America is more than a single story. We are vast, diverse and capable of overcoming politicians who peddle lies and shallow narratives — if we have the courage to speak the truth and share a multitude of stories.
Na Eng is the chief communications officer at People For the American Way.
