The Lion Project

There are different ways of telling a more complete story. For example, a website called Clubfoot Club and a book called “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe shares to the world about the life of being clubfooted or living in Africa. These two sources are two different ways to tell a more complete story of their stereotypes. The website tells a story of how living a life being clubfooted is always a battle of being an outsider and not able to relate or talk to anyone. The book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe shows a different perspective of the life of an African and not just unfortunate people who need help. All in all, both sources are ways the authors portray a more complete story about what they represent and are known as. These sources are two different ways to share their voices that want to be heard.

            No one really knows what being clubfooted really is. Well it is a birth defect when a baby is born and there feet are curled in between their legs, you either need surgery or casted when you’re a few days old. Children need to be treated immediately to live a “normal” life style. Born with clubfeet has misconceptions of being awkward, lonely, bullied, not a curable disease, suffering in silence, but also overcoming battles.  The website Clubfoot Club is one way to not suffer in silence, meet other people experiencing the same defect, and sharing the complete story.

            Anyone that writes on this website are certain individuals who want other people to hear what he or she are going through and to be able to not suffer in silence. A sixteen-year-old girl named Victoria shared her story saying that, “[she] has recently started looking for stories written by people like [her].”(Clubfootclub.org-Victoria’s story). This shows that individuals use the website as a great resource to read about people’s stories who are struggling with the same birth defect and able to relate and not suffer in silence. Victoria also says that, “The teasing probably started in third grade”(clubfootclub.org-Victoria’s story) which supports the clubfoot stereotype and one main reason to have this website. Victoria is not the only one bullied but “knowing that someone else has dealt with the same thing and knows what you are going through makes dealing with it a lot easier” which is what the website is used for people in need to be heard just like Cindy, another survivor.

            Cindy also told her story at the age of thirty-one years old born with severe bi-lateral clubfeet. On the website she said, “[She has] been reading some of the stories and they are very uplifting but [her] story isn’t as positive” which she wants people to know the good, the bad, and also the ugly. Cindy struggles through the pain everyday of her life and doesn’t enjoy people looking at her feet because it is embarrassing. She says, “But after all of those things, I am stronger and my pain threshold is extremely high. Like I said earlier ‘I am still walking’ and that is great!”(Clubfootclub.org-Cindy’s story). Living the battle of clubfeet makes you a stronger optimistic person who never gives up and all these stories share this message throughout the website and is amazing to read. What is also amazing to read is “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, which is another way to share the complete story of an African man.

             The author Chinua Achebe wrote this book to share Okonkwo’s complete storing of his life in Africa. Achebe tells the story of a man who is stuck in a hard world that is changing the way he doesn’t want to live. Living in Africa is a hard way of living because of the poverty, men having more control over woman, and different religious beliefs. The stereotype of African people is ones who need help all the time and who portray innocence. But being innocent is not the case because Okonkwo, “beat her very heavily”(Achebe 29) just because his food wasn’t ready and his wife wasn’t to be found anywhere when he called for her. He is one who isn’t an innocent man you needs to feel forgiveness for because he felt guilt so he “did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna”(Achebe 63). This contradicts the misconceptions of the African stereotype because not everyone is innocent and deserves help or attention. This is the reason why Achebe wrote this book to tell the story of the good the bad and the ugly and wanting everyone to know this side of Africa.

            The Clubfoot website and the book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe are two completely different ways to tell stories you want to be heard by a broad audience. The website is a way for people who were born with clubfeet that feel there are suffering in silence to tell the complete story, and to find other people who are experiencing the same life struggle. People who are born with clubfeet aren’t known for their stereotype, they aren’t awkward and they are normal like everyone else. The website is a great way to express your feelings about what you have gone through and let everyone know about it. Another great way to do that is by writing a book. “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is different and efficient way to get your voice heard, and to tell the complete story of African people’s life.  The book contradicts the misconceptions of the African people. Achebe portrays that these people aren’t as innocent as we perceive them to be, and they aren’t as poor and do have hard working labor. They experience the good the bad and the ugly throughout the entire book, and that is what Achebe wants heard. These two sources show different but similar stories of struggle, accomplishment, and defeat and they use a website or book to share that complete story.