Where in the novel "The absolutely diary of a part time indian" is systematic oppression displayed
Systematic oppression is displayed in multiple instances throughout the novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. Here are a few examples:
1. Poverty: Throughout the story, the protagonist, Arnold Spirit Jr., commonly known as Junior, consistently faces poverty and its consequences. The poverty in the Spokane Indian Reservation limits his opportunities and access to resources, such as quality education, healthcare, and basic necessities. This economic hardship is a result of long-standing systemic oppression faced by Native American communities in the United States.
2. Limited educational opportunities: Junior's school on the reservation lacks necessary funding and resources, leading to poorly equipped classrooms, outdated textbooks, and inexperienced teachers. The lack of a proper educational environment hinders the potential for academic achievement, forcing Junior to seek a better education at a more privileged, predominantly white school outside the reservation. This highlights the systematic oppression that denies Native American students equal educational opportunities.
3. Racist Stereotypes: Stereotypes about Native Americans play a significant role in the novel. Junior constantly encounters derogatory comments and actions from both white and Native American individuals. These stereotypes perpetuate systemic oppression, as they dehumanize and marginalize Native Americans, affecting their self-esteem and sense of worth.
4. Discrimination and marginalization: Junior faces discrimination and marginalization, both within and outside the Indian reservation. For instance, he is often considered an outcast in his own community due to his decision to attend a white school. Additionally, while attending Rearden High School, he experiences racism, isolation, and bullying from his white classmates. Such exclusion and mistreatment come from a deeply entrenched systemic oppression that disregards the value and worth of Native Americans.
These instances of systematic oppression in "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" illustrate the challenges faced by Indigenous communities and highlight the need for dismantling such systems.
In the novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie, systematic oppression is displayed in various parts of the story. Here are the steps that highlight instances of systematic oppression in the novel:
1. Step 1: Introduction to the protagonist's background
The novel introduces the main character, Arnold Spirit Jr., who is a Native American boy living on the Spokane Reservation in Washington. From the beginning, the reader understands that Arnold faces systematic oppression due to his identity as an Indigenous person.
2. Step 2: Discrimination at school on the reservation
Arnold attends the local school on the reservation, where he faces discrimination and marginalization based on race. The lack of funding, outdated textbooks, and inexperienced teachers at the school are all examples of systematic oppression faced by Native American students. This is evident in Chapter 2, where Arnold describes the poor conditions of the reservation's school.
3. Step 3: Decision to attend a predominantly white school
In an effort to escape the limitations and systemic oppression at his reservation school, Arnold decides to transfer to the predominantly white Reardan High School outside of the reservation. This decision prompts backlash from his community, which sees it as a betrayal. The opposition Arnold faces when trying to leave the reservation signifies the entrapment caused by systemic oppression.
4. Step 4: Racism and discrimination at Reardan High School
Even at Reardan High School, Arnold doesn't escape systemic oppression. He becomes an outcast, facing racism, prejudice, and discrimination from both his white classmates and teachers. His experiences are detailed throughout the novel, particularly in Chapter 9, where he shares a conversation with the school's counselor, Mr. P, about racism and the deep-seated biases against Native Americans.
5. Step 5: Economic disparity and limited opportunities
Systematic oppression is also highlighted through the economic disparities faced by Arnold's family and the overall lack of opportunities available on the reservation. The poverty prevalent in the community and the limited future prospects faced by Arnold and his friends showcase the systemic barriers to success imposed on Indigenous people. This theme is explored in various chapters, including Chapter 22, where Arnold reflects on the future of his community.
In summary, systematic oppression is displayed in "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" through the discrimination faced by Arnold both within his reservation school and at the predominantly white school, as well as the economic disparities and limited opportunities experienced by Indigenous communities.