Toughest Indian in the World

[thestrangequark]

Many know the feeling of finding a piece of writing that rings so true that it feels as if the author was speaking for you. It might be a novel, or a poem, or a piece of music -- with or without lyrics.

I stumbled across this essay by Sherman Alexie today, in part about the controversy surrounding his book The Absolutely True Diaries of a Part-Time Indian, but mostly about the meaning of literature, not to academia, but to the individual. He has been a favorite author of mine since I was in high school, a profoundly funny, profoundly disturbing man. An excerpt, speaking of writing as a victim of poverty, rape, and racism:

[...]I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. I write to give them weapons–in the form of words and ideas-that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed.

As a part-Indian myself, having just finished my first novel (a book, not unlike his, for young adults and dealing with some very unpleasant themes), this essay really struck a chord. It was one of those My God, EVERYBODY Should Read This moments. So I am sharing it here. Read the essay, it's not too long. Share your thoughts, it's an important subject.

 

[MANT!]

Read a young adult book in Middle School.....

"sleep,2,3,4" written in 1971, was very disquieting to me and had rather adult themes for the time it was written...
http://www.timestain.com/sittm/goingdown/sleep.html

One of my YA favorites..the story included institutional kidnapping and rape ..and didn't seem to ruin most of my friends who read it..

I happen to agree that KNOWLEDGE is the most effective weapon anyone can have or use..

Ignorance just makes one more compliant..

 

[Myasishchev]

give them weapons–in the form of words

Sad that this line has been forever ruined by Fall Out Boy, isn't it?

Good essay, though. Book doesn't sound like my cup of tea. I prefer my darkness to be vague and nihilistic rather than concrete and obviously evil. You know, French.

But I've actually wondered if fiction, even including escapist or kids fiction, should reflect the fact that sexual assault is not an uncommon backstory amongst women (and men). I know it makes things less fun and light, but shouldn't we be telling the victims--the many victims--of such crime that they're okay and nothing's wrong with them?

 

[thestrangequark]

But I've actually wondered if fiction, even including escapist or kids fiction, should reflect the fact that sexual assault is not an uncommon backstory amongst women (and men). I know it makes things less fun and light, but shouldn't we be telling the victims--the many victims--of such crime that they're okay and nothing's wrong with them?

I can only speak from personal experience, but as someone who was a victim of sexual assault from a very young age, it would have done me a world of good to have read Alexie's book as a teen. Our society, consciously or no, promotes the idea that if one is the victim of a sexual crime (especially if one is male, I think) then it is a reflection on them, their deviance, their unworthiness, etc. And when the majority of children's and young adults' literature that deals with such subjects is patronizing and euphemised, there is little of worth for a young person in who has these experiences to relate to, or to learn from. There need to be more books like Alexie's, honest and of quality, available to kids, not fewer. If I had realized that what happened to me did not define my worth at 15 instead of 25, it would have saved me a lot of pain. Frankly, I'm having difficulty thinking of anything more to add, since Alexie wrote it all so eloquently in his essay.

 

[Deckerd]

I fail to see what ethnicity has to do with this. By Indian do you mean 'from India'? It's a minor quibble, since the efforts of yourself and the author of which you speak are obviously worthy.

I think child abuse has been so demonised in modern media that being able to talk about it has become more and more difficult. Society, mostly unintentionally and born of ignorance, tend to see abused children as damaged goods and there is a perception that they are never able to have a normal life afterwards. Both of these perceptions are bogus and harmful. Anything which debunks them is to be lauded.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Sherman Alexie is pretty good. I read his collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight In Heaven many years ago (and it was partial inspiration for my short story "Dogs Chew Our Legs Off"). I even got to meet him one time at the Coop.

All writing should be in the blood of the author; otherwise it's just hackwork.

 

[Amaris]

Dear god, he's brilliant.

 

[thestrangequark]

I fail to see what ethnicity has to do with this. By Indian do you mean 'from India'? It's a minor quibble, since the efforts of yourself and the author of which you speak are obviously worthy.

By Indian I mean Native American. One will find that Native Americans tend to refer to themselves as Indians, and only white people seem worried about using the word. The title of the thread is the title of another of Alexie's books, that's why I chose it.

I think child abuse has been so demonised in modern media that being able to talk about it has become more and more difficult. Society, mostly unintentionally and born of ignorance, tend to see abused children as damaged goods and there is a perception that they are never able to have a normal life afterwards. Both of these perceptions are bogus and harmful. Anything which debunks them is to be lauded.

Indeed!

RJ, Fistfight in Heaven was the first book I ever read by Alexie, when I was 15. Have you seen Smoke Signals -- the movie adapted from some of those stories? (Also the only film entirely produced by American Indians.) I met him once too! Very friendly and cool guy. The first thing he asked me was which tribe I am from, which took me a little by surprise because people don't tend to realize my ethnicity (I'm so white!), but he said, "Oh, I know a cousin when I see one!."

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I haven't read the essay, but I have read The Absolutely True Diaries of a Part Time Indian. Fabulous book, and I'm several decades past its intended audience.

Edited to add that I've read Fistfight in Heaven and seen Smoke Signals, too. I like them both a lot, but Diaries is my favorite.

 

[RJDiogenes]

RJ, Fistfight in Heaven was the first book I ever read by Alexie, when I was 15. Have you seen Smoke Signals -- the movie adapted from some of those stories? (Also the only film entirely produced by American Indians.)

Yes, I saw that (Irene Bedard was in it, so I would have watched it in any case ). I thought it was well done.

I met him once too! Very friendly and cool guy. The first thing he asked me was which tribe I am from, which took me a little by surprise because people don't tend to realize my ethnicity (I'm so white!), but he said, "Oh, I know a cousin when I see one!."

I loved how all the Indians called each other "cousin."