Name: A one-woman global village
Uploaded: 2009-04-29T01:00:00Z
Duration: 20 min 46 s
Description: In this hilariously lively performance, actress Sarah Jones channels an opinionated elderly Jewish woman, a fast-talking Dominican college student and more, giving TED2009 just a sample of her spectacular character range.

Sarah Jones: A one-woman global village

A one-woman global village

In this hilariously lively performance, actress Sarah Jones channels an opinionated elderly Jewish woman, a fast-talking Dominican college student and more, giving TED2009 just a sample of her spectacular character range.

Identity is not fixed; it is shaped by culture, history, and imagination. Through a parade of vibrant characters—including an elderly Jewish woman and a fast-talking Dominican student—the performer explores how anyone might inhabit many selves. From an immigrant mother's struggle to accept her daughter's sexuality to the warmth of shared Beatles lyrics across cultures, the performance highlights humor, empathy, and the power of embracing difference. Every accent, anecdote, and perspective reveals that diversity is not just around us but within us.