“Nothing is more deceitful," said Darcy, "than the appearance of humility. .”― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice.

Dear Proteas,

I had always thought that there were two sides to a story.  One person can tell others how one is a villain (mean, rude, disrespectful), while the other can tell others about the unfairness endured (manipulation, hijacking, gaslighting). However, based on who is telling the story (credibility), some parts of a story may or may not be believed by others, leading to a third story. Below, I have included some examples.  

         The first story (person 1): This is the narrative spun by the person in power, a story that others are often compelled to believe due to the storyteller's high level of credibility. This credibility is usually tied to the person's status, such as their socioeconomic standing, race, job title, or circle of power, which plays a significant role in shaping belief. For example, suppose the person in power uses their resources to create a convincing narrative to portray the disempowered person as a villain. In that case, it may be easy for them to frame the disempowered person as a villain and others to believe their story.

         The second story (person 2): This is the narrative spun by the disempowered person. Others may be skeptical of believing them due to the storyteller’s low credibility. This credibility is usually tied to the person's status, such as their socioeconomic standing, race, job title, or circle of disempowerment, which plays a significant role in shaping belief. For example, suppose the disempowered person tries to challenge the narrative of the person in power but does not have the adequate resources to do so. In that case, it may be difficult for the disempowered person to prove that the person in power is fabricating things, and because of the lack of evidence, others may not believe their story.

         The third story (how others perceive the story): Most person evaluate (compare and contrast) the two stories and decide which side to believe or what parts of the stories to believe, leading to a conclusion. However, such judgments are not always impartial because some persons may not always be fair and objective in their assessments.  Some persons may show a strong inclination toward the person in power (more credibility) and against the disempowered person (less credibility), leading to a third narrative to justify why one story should be believed over the other. This is how groups of persons are not afforded active voices in communities or places.

Conclusion: We all have a role to play in amplifying the voices of those often pushed to the edge of society to silence them. To address this, it is crucial for each of us to ask questions and not take stories at face value. What solutions may you have to fulfill this responsibility and show empathy towards those being silenced?

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