The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian was named one of the top ten most challenged books 8 out of the 10 years from 2010 to 2020. The novel was written by Sherman Alexie, a controversial Native American Author. The novel tells the story of Junior, a teenager growing up on a reservation and going to a rich white school. The story shows Juniors personal thoughts and journey as he struggles to find his place in society. Many sensitive topics are discussed throughout the book. Although it is important to include books about different cultures and ethnicities in curriculums, the Absolutely True Diary of a Part time Indian by Sherman Alexie should not be in school curriculums. The book approaches the topic of eating disorders dissrespectfully, …show more content…
Throughout the book many slurs are used, both in what the characters say and in the thoughts of the main character. After a conversation with his old best friend, Rowdy, in which they both call eachother the F slur, Junior reflects: “I was a happy faggot” (Alexie, 198). He mentions before this sentence that their conversation was homophobic; although he recognizes the problem, he does nothing to change his actions. This is clearly shown as he continues to use the slur. Their entire conversation and Juniors reflection had a positive and joyous tone. Using a slur in a positive tone normalizes the use of slurs. It shows the slur as a kind word, ignoring the years of hatred and discrimination the word represents. Schools should not be reading a book that supports this belief. It may lead students to believe the slur is acceptable to use in …show more content…
A main reason schools read this novel is to have Native American representation in the curriculum. It is really important to include this culture in the curriculum, but the Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian is not a great choice. Even though it talks a lot about the issues facing reservations, it ignores the cultural aspect of Junior's life. A great example of Native American cultures and traditions not being elaborated on in the book is Junior talking about Rowdy punishing the brothers that jumped Junior, “Then Rowdy snuck in, shaved off their eyebrows, and cut off their braids” (Alexie, revenge is my middle name). Most students would not think twice about this quote; they would just believe cutting off braids was to be a form of public punishment. But in Native American Culture, braids are very significant. Braids can represent different things to different tribes, for some it is the union with the infinite creator or strength. Many people in Junior’s reservation have braids; they are a part of Spokan culture. Even though Junior is never pictured with braids, it is clear they are still a significant part of his community’s culture. The main reason schools are including this book in their curriculums is to teach students about Native American Culture, but this book is not a good way to do so. It is important to note, writing and expanding on culture is not a
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie is a novel that follows the journey of a young Native American boy named Junior, as he transfers to a new school and encounters unknown situations. At the beginning of the book, he struggles with an abundant amount of physical insecurity and sense of inferiority about his basketball skills. Nevertheless, after he transfers to Reardan High School, he forms new friendships and joins the school’s varsity basketball team. Due to these positive influences in his life, Junior gains more confidence in his looks while also becoming more determined and prideful in his basketball gameplay.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian should be taught at DHS. It teaches a person about reality and about the struggles of the world, yes it uses profanity and sexual, but it shows what can happen to a teenager and showing them what could happen to them. The absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a wonderful and fantastic book. Reardan, the all white school Junior transfers to, is about 23 miles off the reservation. This means he either has to hitchhike or walk because his family can’t afford the money for gas, that could be someone in a teen in Douglas community.
Sherman Alexie’s “Indian Education” describes his personal experience as a Native American in the American school system while growing up in the 1970s. In this historical period, many white Americans discriminated against those of different races and ethnicities. In this short story, Alexie attempts to open the eyes of white Americans who do not realize what Native Americans and other groups go through to inform them of the hardships he encountered all his life by utilizing stereotyping and the organization of his writing. The intended audience of "Indian Education" is white Americans who either did not realize or were negligent of the troubles Native Americans were enduring.
Lyric Sinan Sinanian Mr. Rodriguez Academic Literacy 21 April 2023 The Issue of Poverty The damaging consequences of poverty are a big issue in America, and have raised in severity over the years. In the realistic fiction novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, the life of a poor Native American exhibits the terrors of poverty and how it can affect families within the poor communities in the country. The economically unfortunate have seen the worse come over them and their family.
The Part- Time Indian The book, The Part- Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, is a book that school should keep encouraging students to read this because students should learn about American-Indians, the student can relate to it, and it shows how to help people to work together. Sometimes students are not aware of what American-Indians have gone through in American history. Indians were exposed to horrible fighting and were kicked out of their reservations because new settlers wanted to take over. Many were killed and taken from their settlements. An example from the book is when Junior punched Roger in the face.
Many Native Americans, as well as the pack in “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves”, were forced to receive an education. Figures of authority tried, and usually succeeded, to force Native American children to attend school. These figures of authority did not give the Native Americans a choice in this matter, nor did they care about these individuals or their culture. Not to mention, over 100 Native American youth were chosen to attend school in PA. This was a noticeable number of people that were forced to attend school, and this was not very considerate.
Lynda also loved painting and drawing as her teacher viewed it as a healing technique as Lynda colored and drew with naturalness. These pastimes that Lynda and Alexie enjoyed gave these characters a resemblance. “Indian Education” by Sherman Alexie and “The Sanctuary of School” by Lynda Barry are unconnected when it comes to experiences in the education system. “Indian Education” is a personal essay that critically analyzes the American educational system as experienced by a Native American student. This essay highlights the
In the 1800s, Native Americans were oppressed because they were deemed to be “uncivilized” barbaric human beings. In order for Native Americans to become assimilated into the “white mans” culture of that time, Native American children were enrolled into boarding schools. Students in these boarding schools have had both positive and negative experiences. In the novel, Recovering Native American Writings in the Boarding School Press, by Jacqueline Emery, Henry Caruthers Roman Nose reflects on his experience in the boarding school through essays, and in the novel, American Indian Stories, Legends and Other Writings, Zitkala-Sa reflects on her experience through different types of writings. Despite how Henry Caruthers Roman Nose found boarding
It is important to ensure that all students feel comfortable among each other and understand each other so they can learn from each other. Therefore, if there are any stigmas associated with American Indians and their education that can be projected by their peers, it is due to the negative images and thoughts provoked by the inaccurate history taught in the classrooms. It is important that students are getting a precise and truthful education so that the lack of understanding towards and about Native Americans can be avoided and how that can be reflected in the education
American Indian culture focuses on storytelling and being able to tell stories from generation to generation. The boarding schools did not allow the children to continue their language and therefore they couldn’t share storytelling with their culture. These young,
In his book the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie portrays a teenage boy, Arnold Spirit (junior) living in white man’s world, and he must struggle to overcome racism and stereotypes if he must achieve his dreams. In the book, Junior faces a myriad of misfortunes at his former school in ‘the rez’ (reservation), which occurs as he struggles to escape from racial and stereotypical expectations about Indians. For Junior he must weigh between accepting what is expected of him as an Indian or fight against those forces and proof his peers and teachers wrong. Therefore, from the time Junior is in school at reservation up to the time he decides to attend a neighboring school in Rearden, we see a teenager who is facing tough consequences for attempting to go against the racial stereotypes.
Facing struggles of life defines one’s character in life. The ability to confront one’s problems speaks volumes about their strength in character, hopefulness, and flexibility as a person. Through struggles, sacrifice, and tragedy, Junior in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, Junior adapts to survive difficult situations and faces his problems head-on. As he makes radical changes to his life, adapts to unfamiliar culture, and finds himself amongst misery and heartbreak, Junior demonstrates this ability to overcome wicked adversity and struggles.
One of the students from the schools, Eastman, had learned to respect elderly and be generous to the poor plus other things that helped him to have a bright future. (Indian school) The wolf girls had returned home after they had gone through all the phases of change but did not become part of society at least not told in the book. For the Indians both of the sides of the assimilation had good points because using the American Indian values did help about half excel academically, although on the other about the same amount did not do well using the Indian values with the American. (Assim.
Argument for Banning “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” Book in Middle Schools Published in 2007, “The Absolutely True Diary of Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie says about the moving story of a Native American teenager named Arnold Spirit who made the bold decision to attend an all-white high school from Spokane reservation to find hope for the future in the Reardan. This volume won the National Book Award in 2007 and won several other awards. Even though this novel can be power of education, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” paperback should be banned because this is not appropriate for middle schools.
Since the dawn of time, society has always had a major issue in cultural believes. Less and less people find the need to know and understand other people’s customs, which lead to the misunderstanding of people’s lifestyle. The Carlisle Indian School was a horrible attempt to place children of Native American tribes into US culture by placing them in boarding school. The school was used to educate and civilize Indians, “kill the Indian, save the man” (Bear). Edward Thorp was one of those student at the Carlisle school.