Outlier
I just finished reading The Book of Negros by Lawrence Hill. The novel is one of five on trial in CBC Radio’s Canada Reads. The main character Aminata Diallo, or Meena, is celebrated as a strong, intelligent woman throughout the entire novel. Her ability to read, her success as a midwife, and her stubborn will all contribute to her ability to surrive situations most people couldn’t imagine.Throughout the novel, Aminata reflects on the 11 years she spend in her hometown Bayo with her mother and father. She wonders why her father went against muslim tradition and taught her how to read. She is thankful her mother brought her along to catch the babies of all the women around Bayo, inadvertently ensuring Aminate could earn an income later in life.
Aminata, and author Lawrence Hill, undoubtedly credit Aminata’s parents’ progressive attitude for Aminata’s skill and survival. This assertion reminded me of the next book I’ve picked up, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. I saw Gladwell speak at a lecture last week. The talk was absolutely fantastic, and inspired me to start reading the book right away.
out·li·er \out’lī’ər noun
1: Something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body
2: a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample
In the book, Gladwell discuss advantages and disadvantages, and how they shape the success of individuals throughout their lives. Aminata, for example, was able to surpass other members of her race and gender because of her strong will and the teachings of her parents. Aminata’s parents unconventionality put her in a position of advantage.
Our parents can pass on disadvantages as well. Second generation immigrants, for example, are often unable to work as hard as their parents because their parents gave them to many advantages, spoiling them. Then there are disadvantages that actually act as advantages. Dyslexia, for example, can often be an advantage. Statistics show that a large percentage of CEO’s and leading business professionals are dyslexic. At a young age, these individuals learned to garner the support of those around them to get through, and as a result became community builders and lead projects at a young age.
I often reflect on my own situation, and what advantages or disadvantages I have inherited from my parents. As I continue to read the book, I am sure I will develop more conclusions on my own experiences. For now, I will relish the skills of great writers like Hill and Gladwell.
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