Essay On Superman And Me

Intolerance on the basis of color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, social status, wealth, and other factors has caused the undue suffering of millions around the world. Even as early as the colonial era, Native Americans have been a prominent target of discrimination; the treatment of the American Indians portrays how modernization can open the door to oppression. Sherman Alexie, a Spokane author, illustrates how past prejudice continues to obstruct his fellow people from attaining success. The underlying theme in Alexie’s writing is his cognizant awareness that intolerance left unchecked makes oppression inevitable. In "The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me,” he tells the story of how he developed his love of reading, and how he uses his gifts to challenge the boundaries that society has set for
people like him. Alexie depicts the repercussions of such limits when he talks about the reservations, his thoughts on Superman, and his experiences with teaching other Native American youth. Written through a lens of sincerity and empathy, Alexie’s piece is a unique social reflection, thoughtfully depicting the unjust consequences that the Native American people have had to experience throughout history.
Alexie's writing demonstrates the government's forced purging of Native American values, which left an irreparable toll on the psyche of their culture. The Native Americans were seen more and more as a nuisance and a hindrance to modernization. Before long, they were forcibly placed on reservations, where they would be tucked away, isolated from the rest of the world. Not only were they forced to give up their homes, but also their culture; the American Indian way of life was being eradicated in the name of progress. Alexie remarks on his reservation's poor conditions and sleepy nature; however, the seemingly placid exterior masks the reality of their situation: "We lived on a combination of irregular paychecks, hope, fear, and government surplus food" (11). Society's system left the Native Americans no choice but to comply with the government's demands, for their livelihood rested upon the whims of the country. Even after being forced to assimilate, the American Indians still faced discrimination, and they continued to fall under the purview of a bigoted, apathetic nation. Such prejudice all but suppresses any yearn for justice to be delivered, an inevitable consequence of intolerance left unchecked.
In the face of such adversity, Alexie was not deterred from cultivating his inherent love of reading.
His passion for language began with a Superman comic book; although he didn't understand words, he used his imagination to discern the meaning of the panels. Alexie was particularly fascinated with one particular panel, in which Superman was breaking down a door. Alexie personalized this remarkable feat, saying that "because he is breaking down the door, I assume he says, 'I am breaking down the door'" (13). Superman represented all the things that Alexie aspired to be — brave, heroic, and strong. American Indian youth are victims of prejudice and insularity, but above all, society's ignorance-driven fear: "A smart Indian is a dangerous person" (13). Alexie recognizes that Native Americans are set in a system that keenly works against them. Having this in mind, he hopes to inspire his fellow American Indians — as Superman had inspired him — to not be afraid of society's intolerance and break the door of cultural barriers. In this way, Superman was Alexie's ultimate role model, motivation to pursue knowledge in a world that works against him and his
people.
Disturbed by the lack of motivation for Native American children to achieve, Alexie is currently working to ameliorate the state of education in the reservations. Alexie realizes that, in order for the next generation of Native American students to thrive, they must be equipped with the proper tools. As society dictated, “Indian children were expected to be stupid… Expected to fail in the non-Indian world” (13). Driven by a strong sense of justice, he also sees the dire need for action on a broader scope. Alexie does his best to instill in Native American children the same love of reading that captivated him, but he becomes disheartened when he sees students who are unmotivated in their studies. Understanding that all change in society must begin with the individual, Alexie wants the children to realize that they are the masters of their own fate. To ensure that justice be delivered, such youth must resist folding under the pressure of living according to their label. This being the case, Alexie urges the children to be active in their pursuit of knowledge, and in such a way, combat the acrimony of a toxic society.
Alexie gives readers a unique perspective on the struggles that his people must face as a result of so-called progress. The probity in Alexie’s writing provokes the reader in to deep thought, allowing one to reflect profoundly on the oppression inflicted upon the American Indians over a number of generations. At its core, intolerance is a moral failure on the part of society and a dereliction of the human conscience. Alexie calls for his people to break the vicious cycle of socialization by developing a deep love for learning. As he learned for himself, society is incapable of derailing anyone who is passionately motivated and diligent; Alexie’s sincere desire is for his entire people to have that same motivation and diligence. Thus, Alexie’s writing urges the Native Americans to confront injustice fearlessly, thereby creating a positive social impact for generations to come.