What does racism look like in Alexie's (2007)novel The absolutely diary of a part time indian? Specifically these chapter : How to fight monsters (clue: look for racism -Juniors conservation with mr p and it's relationship with history)

Answer 1

In Sherman Alexie's novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," racism is a prevalent theme throughout the story. In the chapter "How to Fight Monsters," the protagonist, Junior (Arnold Spirit Jr.), engages in a conversation with his teacher, Mr. P, about history and its relationship with racism. This conversation sheds light on the various aspects of racism depicted in the novel.

1. Stereotyping and Discrimination: Throughout the novel, Junior faces stereotypes and discrimination due to his Native American heritage. He encounters racism from his classmates, teachers, and even people in his own community. Junior's conversation with Mr. P highlights the pervasive nature of racial stereotypes and discrimination in society.

2. Racialized Representation in History: Mr. P discusses the distorted representation of Native Americans in history. He explains how history books often fail to depict the true experiences and contributions of Native Americans, perpetuating biased and racist narratives. This conversation sheds light on how racism operates through erasure and misrepresentation in historical accounts.

3. Manifest Destiny: Junior and Mr. P discuss the concept of Manifest Destiny, which is the belief that white Americans had the right to expand and settle across the North American continent at the expense of Native American tribes. This ideology is deeply rooted in the racism and colonialism that oppressed Native American communities, leading to dispossession, forced assimilation, and cultural genocide.

4. Systemic Racism: The novel explores the systemic racism that Native Americans face in their daily lives. Junior's conversation with Mr. P highlights how racism is ingrained in institutions and structures, such as the education system, which perpetuates white dominance and marginalizes Indigenous voices and experiences.

Overall, racism in "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" is depicted through various instances of stereotyping, discrimination, erasure, misrepresentation in history, the concept of Manifest Destiny, and systemic racism. By highlighting these issues, the novel sheds light on the harsh realities that many Native Americans face in a racially unjust society.