Define Racism: the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Junior, an indian boy, misunderstands the idea of racism and discrimination. His new experiences at Reardan guide him to understanding how racism affects the world. Throughout the novel Junior realizes that racism is misunderstood by many, including himself.
Junior moves to Rearden and there he experiences racism first hand. In his first few days at the new school the kids begin to call him names like, chief or squaw boy. Roger, a boy at the school, tells him, “‘Did you know that Indians are living proof that …show more content…
He experiences the effects of racism face to face. His life is impacted greatly by the racism projected at him. What took him time to understand, though, is that racism is present in his own mind too. He is racist. “‘I’m an indian boy,’ I said, ‘How can I get a white girl to love me?’” (116). He asks Gordy this question about Penelope. The significance of this quote is that Junior sees the two races as unequal. He does not just want a girl to fall in love with him, but specifically a white girl. Gordy tells him a few days later, “I think it means you’re just a racist asshole like everyone else” (116). This is when Junior really starts to realize that in being so caught up in fighting racism off, he did not notice that he himself has a racist mindset. He has seen the white race as superior to the indian race for his entire life. Earlier in the novel he states, “I knew it; all of those kids knew it. Indians don’t deserve shit” (56). He has been living his life being racist towards his own race. He believes that being indian makes him not as deserving of a decent life. This is the side of racism that is hard to get a grasp
Junior moves to Rearden and there he experiences racism first hand. In his first few days at the new school the kids begin to call him names like, chief or squaw boy. Roger, a boy at the school, tells him, “‘Did you know that Indians are living proof that …show more content…
He experiences the effects of racism face to face. His life is impacted greatly by the racism projected at him. What took him time to understand, though, is that racism is present in his own mind too. He is racist. “‘I’m an indian boy,’ I said, ‘How can I get a white girl to love me?’” (116). He asks Gordy this question about Penelope. The significance of this quote is that Junior sees the two races as unequal. He does not just want a girl to fall in love with him, but specifically a white girl. Gordy tells him a few days later, “I think it means you’re just a racist asshole like everyone else” (116). This is when Junior really starts to realize that in being so caught up in fighting racism off, he did not notice that he himself has a racist mindset. He has seen the white race as superior to the indian race for his entire life. Earlier in the novel he states, “I knew it; all of those kids knew it. Indians don’t deserve shit” (56). He has been living his life being racist towards his own race. He believes that being indian makes him not as deserving of a decent life. This is the side of racism that is hard to get a grasp