In the short story “What You Pawn I Will Redeem”, author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Jackson Jackson, a homeless Spokane Indian who leaves on the streets of Seattle. When it comes to discussing the American Dream, this would be the last narrative one would think of in that Native Americans aren’t thought of as living the American Dream. Everyone else who isn’t actually native to North America is considered to in some way be pursuing the American Dream; however Alexie depicts an unfathomable image—a homeless Native American satisfied with his life. Although given a handful of opportunities because of the relationships he’s made in the area, Jackson Jackson follows Indian and his own personal tradition by sharing his earnings and making everyone else happy, a significant reason why he’s loved by many. The thing is, Jackson Jackson represents the antithesis of the preconceived idea of what the American Dream is in that he started out with opportunities yet slowly over his lifetime,
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Although, in the end he wouldn’t have had enough money, Jackson consistently spent it all—leaving him with the five dollars he started with the previous day. Jackson is portrayed as smart and well-rounded but something morally stops him from stereotypically being good with money. This is an odd perspective that’s somewhat contradictory and difficult for Americans to understand: that money isn’t everything, but in a way, his kindness and ambition led to the pawnbroker giving him his grandmother’s regalia anyway. Jackson Jackson’s fellow Native Americans came and went, but the only consistent relationships were with the stable people around him like Mary at 7 Eleven and the nice policeman. When he does start up the conversation with Irene in the bar, they question “How we brow people are killing other brown people so white people will remain
Although, in the end he wouldn’t have had enough money, Jackson consistently spent it all—leaving him with the five dollars he started with the previous day. Jackson is portrayed as smart and well-rounded but something morally stops him from stereotypically being good with money. This is an odd perspective that’s somewhat contradictory and difficult for Americans to understand: that money isn’t everything, but in a way, his kindness and ambition led to the pawnbroker giving him his grandmother’s regalia anyway. Jackson Jackson’s fellow Native Americans came and went, but the only consistent relationships were with the stable people around him like Mary at 7 Eleven and the nice policeman. When he does start up the conversation with Irene in the bar, they question “How we brow people are killing other brown people so white people will remain