Ten Little Indians Assumptions

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Humans often exhibit an “us” versus “them” mentality. There is a positive correlation with the amount of differences one group has with another and the level of prejudice that lies in between the two groups. Unfortunately, this ignites negative behavior within people because assumptions are made without factual knowledge. Many examples of this concept revolving assumptions are created in Ten Little Indians, a collection of short stories written by Sherman Alexie in 2003. In “The Search Engine,” the main character has an internal battle about her thoughts on European American people. Her uncles push her towards a violent mindset, yet she seeks to create an equitable field amongst not only her people and white people, but also all cultures in general. Furthermore, “Do Not Go …show more content…

In Ten Little Indians, Sherman Alexie analyzes a complexity of both European American Culture and Native American Culture and tries to make all cultures more than just a stereotype by challenging three types of assumptions: assumptions of generalization where a Native American has pre-conceived notions about white people, assumptions of expression where a sex toy is being used as a medicine stick, and assumptions of identity where the scope of sin in humanity during a time of terror is questioned. Assumptions are a two-way street; people often generalize traits about other cultures, and this false attribution negatively influences mindsets towards the people being stereotyped. In “The Search Engine,” Alexie provides examples of different Native Americans’ views towards European American people. Thinking about her college situation, Corliss cancels out people that she definitely does not want as her roomates. “White people, no matter how smart, were too romantic about Indians. White people looked at the Grand Canyon, Niagara falls, and Indians with the same goofy sentimentalism” (p.11). In this case, the stereotype of a white

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