Understanding the Portrayal of Native American Identity in Alexie's Work
Alexie's focus on how Native Americans face prejudice and negative stereotyping reflects his purpose of shedding light on the challenges and discrimination they endure. Through symbols like hair and instances of discrimination in the text, Alexie delves into the complexities of identity, societal perceptions, and resilience in the face of adversity.
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Station Discussion What does Alexie s focus on how Native Americans face prejudice and negative stereotyping suggest about his purpose? 1. How, and of what, is Alexie s hair a symbol? 2. What common function do all of the brief sentence conclusions perform? How do their functions vary, and why? 3. How does the section on the seventh grade, almost exactly in the middle of the essay, serve as a metaphor for the change of setting Alexie goes through at this time in the essay? 4. What is his point in writing that his teacher called him and his family Indians without capitalization? 5. What point does Alexie make through the similarities between 29 and 31, and 70 and 72 6.
What does Alexies focus on how Native Americans face prejudice and negative stereotyping suggest about his purpose?
Examples of Discrimination in the Text She sent a letter home with me that told my parents to either cut my braids or keep my home from class (14) Indians, indians, indians. She said it without capitalization. the white girl who would later be raped by her foster- parent father, who was also white. They both lived on the reservation, though, and when the headlines and stories filled the papers later, not one word was made of their color (43) Hey, he said. What s that boy been drinking? I know all about these Indian kids. They start drinking real young (58) The farm town high school I play for is nicknamed the Indians, and I m probably the only actual Indian to ever play for a team with such a mascot (66)
Examples in Text My hair was too short all that first winter in school (1) She sent a letter home that told my parents to either cut my braids or keep me home from class. My parents came in the next day and dragged their braids across Betty Towel s desk (14) my cap doesn t fit because I ve grown my hair longer than it s ever been (69)
What common function do all of the brief sentence conclusions perform? How do their functions vary, and why?
Conclusions condensed 1: But he wasn t the warrior, I was. And I chanted It s a good day to die, it s a good day to die, all the way down to the principal s office. 2: And I said, Yes, I am. I am Indian. Indian, I am. 3: I m still waiting. 4: I ran home after school, heard their Indian tears, and looked in the mirror. Doctor Victor, I called myself, invented an education, talked to my reflection. Doctor Victor to the emergency room. 5: Oh, do you remember those sweet, almost innocent choices that the Indian boys were forced to make? 6: That was Randy, my soon-to-be first and best friend, who taught me the most valuable lesson about living in the white world: Always throw the first punch. 7: After that, no on spoke to me for another five hundred years. 8: There is more than one way to starve. 9: Sharing dark skin doesn t necessarily make two men brothers. 10: Believe me, everything looks like a noose if you stare at it long enough. 11: Go ahead and tell me none of this is supposed to hurt me very much. 12: The tribal newspaper runs my photograph and the photograph of my former classmates side by side. Post Script: Victor said, Why should we reorganize a reservation high school reunion? My graduating class has a reunion every weekend at the Powwow Tavern.
How does the section on the seventh grade, almost exactly in the middle of the essay, serve as a metaphor for the change of setting Alexie goes through at this time in the essay? kissed the white girl, I felt the good-byes I was saying to my entire tribe (45) I was saying good-bye to all the Indian girls and women I might have loved, to all the Indian men who might have called me cousin, even brother (46)
What is his point in writing that his teacher called him and his family Indians without capitalization?
What point does Alexie make through the similarities between 29 and 31, and 70 and 72?
Similarities: But it felt good, that ball in my hands, all those possibilities and angles. It was mathematics, geometry. It was beautiful At that same moment, my cousin Steven Ford sniffed rubber cement from a paper bag it felt good, that buzz in his head. All those colors and noises. It was chemistry, biology. It was beautiful (29-31) I try to remain stoic for the photographers as I look toward the future they smile for the photographer as they look back toward tradition (70-71)
Quick Write: Create a map with your name in the center (or a list with your name at the top) and branch out that map or list to include all of your identities (both chosen and assigned) Example: Miss Iatarola Teacher Writer White Woman Soccer player Reader Blonde End 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 End 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Imitation Writing Look at the stylistic elements that Alexie uses in order to speak his truth, and use his framework to speak your own. How: Pick one of the identities to focus on (his was as an Indian) Divide your life into sections (by grade, by significant milestones, by age, etc.) Pick a symbol to carry throughout (hair, uniform, blanket) Conclude each section with a brief sentence Include sections that detail the similarities and differences between your identity and that of others
Closure How might imitation writing help you to better understand a text or element of writing?
