The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian

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Revelations at the Reservation
The novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” was written by Sherman Alexie, as he depicts the struggles and challenges faced by a Spokane Indian boy, Arnold “Junior” Spirit as he travels through his first year in high school. Alexie’s adolescents inspired him to write this National Award Book winner. This novel was “banned in schools nationwide” (Alexie). “The novel was No. 2 on the American Library Association’s list of most frequently challenged books in 2010. The association listed offensive language, racism, sec education, sexually explicit material and violence as reasons for the challenges” (Alexie). Opportunities were slim to none at the Spokane Indian reservation and Junior exhibited a great …show more content…

Arnold “Junior” Spirit is not like his fellow Spokane Indians, Junior has aspiration to get out of the reservation and make something out of his life. This is a difficult task for Junior considering the environment he was raised in, surrounded by alcoholism, as well as poverty and racism. Junior was able to succeed once he was able to escape from his reservation and go to Reardan High School. When Junior elects to go to Reardan, his close friend Rowdy does not react well to his decision. Rowdy comes from a very dysfunction and abusive household; Rowdy loses his best friend to the predominately white school. Rowdy is even more isolated than he normally is considering he has just exiled his best friend. When Arnold “Junior” Spirit makes the decision to go to Reardan it was a very difficult transition, going from a school where it is mainly Native Americans, to the generally white school, not only did Rowdy not react well to the news, but the surrounding Spokane Indians did not take kindly to his decision to pursue a brighter future. The Spokane tradition is so culturally rich, and they stand by what they believe in. When Junior does decide to leave the reservation he is criticized being exploring anything outside of the reservation is out of the norm. The Spokane community continuously scrutinizes Arnold “Junior” Spirit, referring to him as an …show more content…

Arnold overcame poverty, death, disease, racism, and educational barriers that many Native Americans do not get to defy. When Arnold through that geometry book in Mr. P’s nose, the spark of desperation to leave the reservation and become more than just another poor, drunk Native American was brought to attention. It is difficult for fellow Native Americans to find that spark and the outlet like Arnold did in this novel. The vicious cycle that Native Americans have found themselves in is a problem that is almost insurmountable. When a person need to relinquish their culture and traditional values to become more than a statistic. The Native Americans that have found themselves stuck on the reservations need the attention and opportunity that Arnold and his parents looked for when they were growing up. When that opportunity arises they should not be scolded for doing well, and should strive to achieve greater heights like Arnold and Sherman Alexie both

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