The colonization and exploitation of Native Americans, including the mental health effects that follow are somewhat of an overlooked subject. Not only in American History and throughout modern education, but it’s wrath has spread throughout major aspects of modern Native American reservations. European Colonization affected more than land. Spikes in domestic Abuse, substance abuse, and loss of racial identity has plagues reservations historically. These issues are portrayed in the novel Flight by Sherman Alexie through the protagonist, Michael (Zits) and the flashbacks that highlight poverty and struggles on the reservation. Zits’ upbringing shines light on mental and physical health problems that have enslaved Native Americans for years.
…show more content…
The merry go-round analogy can connected to the fact the cultural deprivation on reservations is present. If Zits were to try to go on the merry go round, which translates to his self identity, and his dreams, the rejection from his peers and abuse from his foster parents would prevent him. This cultural negativity stems from poverty which ties back to colonization. The deprivation that occurs on reservations has many notable outlets, besides the emotional and physical abuse, foreign substances have cuffed Native Americans in the modern …show more content…
Alcohol abuse is a problem in indigenous societies, but some studies suggest that alcoholism parallels the problem of domestic violence instead of causing it, and that alcohol problems are also based in history and trauma, according to a 2000 article in “American Journal of Community Psychology.” This is suggesting that the history and the exploitation of Native Americans both spiked domestic violence and substance abuse. It is common to believe that liquor has been established on reservations through domestic production. However there a deeper problem that stems from the poverty and emotional weathering. Zits see’s this on the reservation, and says that, “Alcohol is the liquid mask that covers the emotional voids of our culture” (Alexie
The merry go-round analogy can connected to the fact the cultural deprivation on reservations is present. If Zits were to try to go on the merry go round, which translates to his self identity, and his dreams, the rejection from his peers and abuse from his foster parents would prevent him. This cultural negativity stems from poverty which ties back to colonization. The deprivation that occurs on reservations has many notable outlets, besides the emotional and physical abuse, foreign substances have cuffed Native Americans in the modern …show more content…
Alcohol abuse is a problem in indigenous societies, but some studies suggest that alcoholism parallels the problem of domestic violence instead of causing it, and that alcohol problems are also based in history and trauma, according to a 2000 article in “American Journal of Community Psychology.” This is suggesting that the history and the exploitation of Native Americans both spiked domestic violence and substance abuse. It is common to believe that liquor has been established on reservations through domestic production. However there a deeper problem that stems from the poverty and emotional weathering. Zits see’s this on the reservation, and says that, “Alcohol is the liquid mask that covers the emotional voids of our culture” (Alexie