Sherman Alexie's Superman And Me
Sherman Alexie Reading RR #1
As and Indian Sherman Alexie, from eastern Washington, expresses how he uses reading as a way to “save his life”. In his short story “Superman and Me”, Alexie tells us how he uses his reading to teach himself to write. He then goes on to inspire other young Indians. This young man from the Spokane Indian Reservation shows us that no matter where we come from we are able to go above and beyond.
Alexie came from a middle class family. He states that one of his parents usually managed to find a minimum wage job or another. (pg. 89) Alexie’s father was an avid reader. He would read books of all genres. Do to the way Indians taught in their schools, his father chose to go to a Catholic school on purpose. Alexie loved
his father with an aching devotion, and since his father loved books, he decided to love books as well. Anytime his father would have extra money he would buy books by the pound. It didn't matter where they were from; he stopped and picked them up. Alexie could not yet read but understood that a paragraph was a fence that held words together. He was able to grasp the fact that a paragraph was on a certain topic, and that the words worked together for a common purpose. With Alexie’s understanding of paragraphs at such an early age, he was able to then teach himself to read. It was with a Superman comic book that he put the same concept as paragraphs and learns to read. Alexie sees each panel complete with picture, dialogue, and narrative was a three-dimensional paragraph. (pg. 90) With Alexie being and Indian there were not many expectations for him. Many Indians were completely comfortable with being “dumb”, as many outsiders would say. He is looked at as an oddity in his reservation because he is able to read. Unfortunately due to his knowledge, instead of being praised for his work he was looked at as a prodigy. Which caused him to fight with his classmates on a daily basis? Alexie made sure that he continued to move forward in teaching himself, rather than being defeated.
As headstrong as Alexie was about his reading and writing he refused to fail. He constantly would read, rather it be a cereal box, or an auto repair manual book. When he got older he took what he had taught himself and gave back to his community. The students would now rush to his classrooms eager to learn. While there were still some children who refused to be taught, Alexie still did not give up on them. He tried as hard as he could to continue to throw his weight at their closed doors. Alexie stated that he wanted to be pediatrician, so his love for helping children was always there. When he found himself at a stage to give back he took what he had learned and passed it on to the other children in his community. Something that he did not get as a child.
As and Indian Sherman Alexie, from eastern Washington, expresses how he uses reading as a way to “save his life”. In his short story “Superman and Me”, Alexie tells us how he uses his reading to teach himself to write. He then goes on to inspire other young Indians. This young man from the Spokane Indian Reservation shows us that no matter where we come from we are able to go above and beyond.
Alexie came from a middle class family. He states that one of his parents usually managed to find a minimum wage job or another. (pg. 89) Alexie’s father was an avid reader. He would read books of all genres. Do to the way Indians taught in their schools, his father chose to go to a Catholic school on purpose. Alexie loved
his father with an aching devotion, and since his father loved books, he decided to love books as well. Anytime his father would have extra money he would buy books by the pound. It didn't matter where they were from; he stopped and picked them up. Alexie could not yet read but understood that a paragraph was a fence that held words together. He was able to grasp the fact that a paragraph was on a certain topic, and that the words worked together for a common purpose. With Alexie’s understanding of paragraphs at such an early age, he was able to then teach himself to read. It was with a Superman comic book that he put the same concept as paragraphs and learns to read. Alexie sees each panel complete with picture, dialogue, and narrative was a three-dimensional paragraph. (pg. 90) With Alexie being and Indian there were not many expectations for him. Many Indians were completely comfortable with being “dumb”, as many outsiders would say. He is looked at as an oddity in his reservation because he is able to read. Unfortunately due to his knowledge, instead of being praised for his work he was looked at as a prodigy. Which caused him to fight with his classmates on a daily basis? Alexie made sure that he continued to move forward in teaching himself, rather than being defeated.
As headstrong as Alexie was about his reading and writing he refused to fail. He constantly would read, rather it be a cereal box, or an auto repair manual book. When he got older he took what he had taught himself and gave back to his community. The students would now rush to his classrooms eager to learn. While there were still some children who refused to be taught, Alexie still did not give up on them. He tried as hard as he could to continue to throw his weight at their closed doors. Alexie stated that he wanted to be pediatrician, so his love for helping children was always there. When he found himself at a stage to give back he took what he had learned and passed it on to the other children in his community. Something that he did not get as a child.