Sherman Alexie
Alexandros
Giannakitsidis
Sherman’s Biography
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He is a spokane tribe member. He was born on October 7, 1966 (“Sherman Alexie”). He spent most of his childhood growing up in the
spokane tribe reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. He did not have an easy birth or an easy childhood. He was born a hydrocephalic
and underwent a critical surgery, only six months after his birth. The doctors did not think he would live past this age and would soon die,
shortly after the surgery. He proved the doctors wrong and lived through this ordeal, but was stricken with seizures as a child. He spent
most of his time reading books because of this condition. When he reached 8th grade he decided to attend Reardan High school, which
was located outside the reservation and would have to move away from his tribe. His academic excellence earned him a place in
Spokane’s Jesuit Gonzaga university. He did well in school, but started to become a heavy drinker of alcohol.
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He would later transfer out to Washington state university in 1987. During, this time he began writing poetry and short fiction stories.
Fainting sessions in anatomy class convinced Alexie to switch his major. His love of poetry and his talent for writing would later be his
best two assets in life. He would graduate with a bachelors degree in American studies. He would later ascend to fame. The public began
to like his writings and his analysis of Native Indians and life on the reservation. In 1990 his first published work was published in
Hanging Loose Magazine. He likes to say that this achievement made him stop drinking and focus more on his writing. With this added
incentive, he has remained sober ever since then and does not appear to be falling of the wagon anytime soon.
Sherman’s writing
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In his short stories and poetry he likes to highlight the poverty, pain and alcoholism that consumes most of the Natives daily
lives. The protagonists in his story, usually have to fight against drugs, alcohol, and crime. The stories makes us feel sad and
gloomy, but we also show respect to the characters for their humility and honesty. Two traits, that are not emphasized in
today’s youth. His writing always contains a sense of dark humor and irony is a big part of his stories. The narrator and
Alexie both grew up on Native reservations. The story is almost like a retelling of his childhood and how life on a
reservation is. They both were excellent students in the reservations school. They were also excellent in their classes and
were at a higher level than most of the other natives. Alexie and the Narrator will be transferred out of the reservation to
another high school because of their academic excellence and their need for a better life and education. They both became
star basketball players and would light up the basketball arena with their great performances.
Bible connection
(Anthony Holubecki)
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(Matthew 27:32-56) The crucifixion of Jesus. Junior is standing for what seems like an eternity in a position that resembles a
crucifix, which is the eternal symbol of Christianity.
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(Ezekiel 3) Ezekiel is told to eat the scroll, and then go and read it to the people of Israel. The scroll represents knowledge in
both the Bible and Indian Education.
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(Judges 13-16) The story of Samson, who had unusually long hair and it was demanded that he cut it. Samson said God
wanted him to keep his braids. Junior is told to cut off his braids, but strongly believes that he has the right to keep them.
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(Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus dictated three holy passages to Satan during Satan’s threefold temptation. In the story Junior stays
calm and does not do anything rash, as Jesus did when he was tempted by Satan. Junior’s second grade teacher represents
Satan.
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(Exodus 3) Moses and the burning bush. He says “Here I am!” Moses is accepting who is, and is facing the Lord. Junior
knows that he is Indian and he is proud of that. Moses must be strong and face God about the struggles of his people.
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Bible significance
(Ashley Triplett)
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In the story Indian Education the main character Junior alludes the readers to bible story about a man named Samson whose hair length
makes him strong and powerful. Similarly, Juniors’s hair is also significant to his personal feeling about his education because this motif
is brought up a couple different times throughout the story. The first example of this motif is in first grade when Junior says, “My hair
was too short” (Alexie, Sherman). Alluding to the story of Samson and Delilah, this example is important because it shows Junior’s
insecurity towards the length of his hair. Had his hair been longer, he might have felt more powerful and probably a little bit better about
himself as well. The next example that alludes us to the main theme of Samson and Delilah is in second grade when Junior says, “Either
cut my braids or keep me home from class” (Alexie, Sherman). This example is an important reflection off the bible story because Junior
displays his feeling that without his braids, he would be uncomfortable staying in class because the length of his braids would not make
him feel strong/ powerful enough to stay. Also in the second grade, Junior’s parent’s demonstrates, “dragged their braids across Betty
Towle’s desk” (Alexie, Sherman). This exemplifies the parents’ honor and support for their son’s braids. By the end of the story Junior
says, “ Cap doesn’t fit because I’ve grown my hair longer than its ever been.” (Alexie, Sherman). Alluding to the story about Samson and
Delilah, both Junior and Samson feel the strongest and most powerful when they have their long hair.
Name Change
(Ashley Triplett)
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The 2013 Washington Redskin trademark dispute is due to the Native American people not liking the term redskin because
they believe it to be a racial slur like white people calling them red skins- racist, which offends them. Junior also faces similar
issues in the story because his high school team is called the Indians, so when they lose, he’s offended because the headline in
the newspaper “INDIANS LOSE AGAIN” could be racially judgmental against his race/ nationality therefore insulting him.
(Wetherbee, Brandon).
Is Junior a racist? (Katarina Kozarov)
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In the story we can imagine that Junior would be a racist, but one of nationalistic pride and not out of hate in another race. He
is proud to be Indian and even says this in the story, when he kept repeating, “I am Indian, I am Indian, I am Indian”(Alexie,
1). He is proud of his heritage and does not care what anyone says about them. He knows the pain of growing up on a
reservation and no one should humiliate his people. He has relapses of racism during the story. He distinguishes people by
color and origin. He illuminates a new child in school by calling him a “Indian kid from the white town”(Alexie,2). He also
starts to show his dislike to the outside community and the “white people” who had put them on a reservation. He emphasizes
this when he says, “Cries like a whiteboy”( Alexie,2). He experiences discrimination because he is Native American. This
discrimination is usually visible by his teachers attitudes in the reservation and farm town junior high.(Battaglia, 2014).
“It’s a good day to die”
(Katarina Kozarov)
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Junior is a huge nationalist and warrior. His comrades in his first grade class did not treat him with the upmost respect and
dignity. They mistreated Junior, hurt and abused him. They continually, beat hurt him physically and mentally, but throughout
this his does not waiver. He stays strong to his word and his pride. He did have a breaking point and would crack under the
constant humiliation. He was fed up with his classmates and how he was being treated. This constant torture helped mould
his inner warrior and helped him to become a fighter in life. He is going to fight and battle to his last day, but vows to never
get beaten up ever again. He speaks in an aggressive tone in the early parts of the story with nationalistic pride mixed into
this tone. They are in a reservation school that is supplied by the government. The Natives live in constant poverty, but are
still fighting. The natives are heavy drinkers, but are proud nationalists. The mood is very tense and there is a constant fear,
but there is always a sense of dark humor.
Alcoholism
(Michael Feliz)
Alcoholism and poverty are definitely great motifs in Indian Education. Not only in the story but also in real life Indian
Reservations as well. Alcohol seems to be like an anchor in this society because of the fact that these people are poor. This
anchor is what keeps them down and in a sense keeps them poor and living in poverty. It appears that these people spend all
their money on alcohol to suppress their feelings about their life and get their mind away from what’s real (Beauvais 1998).
They use alcohol to remedy their problems but obviously this could only be short term because as soon as they sober up they
still are in the same situation with the same problems. The alcohol is expensive and the sacrifices they’re making to buy it,
when their means don’t allow for it, are what are keeping them poor (Williams 2012). This short term answer to their
problems in the reservation cant help the next generations to come. In comparison to Indian Education, yes it is very realistic
and accurately depicts the way of life in an Indian Reservation.
Critical thinking
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Why were Indian students discriminated against in schooling compared to white peoples education in the 1990’s?
During this time period racial discrimination between different cultures was still apparent. This was especially true
for Indian Americans who were a minority therefor not a priority in education. Not only with their piers but also with adults
and even their teachers. Teachers didn’t want to teach and didn’t support what their beliefs were, but there also wasn’t any
laws currently in affect that supported the equality of minority religions/ races. This was because majority of people were
unaware of Native American culture, since most Native Americans sheltered themselves from the majority of the normalwhite American society. In 1993 they passed a law to recognize the minority religions in the United States; therefore showing
the government was aware of the inequality of the American society vs. minorities such as the Native Americans. However,
the law that was passed in 1993 was overturned by Supreme Court because it was deemed an unconstitutional exercise of
Congressional powers.
Works cited
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Beauvais, Fred. “American Indians and Alcohol.” Spotlight on Special Populations.
November 4 1998,
September 10 2014. Web.
Williams, Tommy. “At Tribe’s Door, a Hub of Beer and Heartache.” New York Times.
March 5 2012, September
10 2014. Web.
“Sherman Alexie.” Poetry Foundation.2014.8 September, 2014. Web
Mark Flanagan. “Sherman Alexie.” About Entertainment. 2014. 8 September, 2014.Web
Battaglie, Soheila. “The Theme of the Story ‘Indian Education.’”Synonym. 9 September, 2014.2014. Web
New International Version. Samson and Delilah, Judges 16. Biblica Incorperated,
2011. Web.
Wetherbee, Brandon. “Washington Redskins Trademark Dispute Comes As Mayor
And Congressman Call For Redskins Name Change.” The Huffington Post, 3 July, 2013. 8 Spetember, 2014.Web.
“Boromir” Meme Generator . 9 September, 2014. 2014. Image
“Kaspos” 9GAG. 9 September, 2014. 2014. Image
Holy Bible, New International Version (Exodus 3)
Holy Bible, New International Version (Ezekiel 3)
Holy Bible, New International Version (Judges 13-16)
Holy Bible, New International Version (Matthew 4:1-11)
Holy Bible, New International Version (Matthew 27:32-56)
“Native Americans.” The Leadership Conference. n.d. September 10 2014. 2014. Web