Stereotypes in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian Essay Example

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie famously said “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”  In society, stereotypes are prevalent, and marginalized groups of people are particularly vulnerable to these harmful notions. It is human nature to categorize things based on preconceived ideas. However, in an endeavor to label things as merely stereotypical or exaggerated, one might fail to acknowledge the truth. While stereotypes are hurtful, it is crucial to recognize that they do in fact contain a lot of truth in them, and the only way to combat them is to first accept their significance. Junior, the protagonist of The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian , leaves Wellpinit High on the rez and transfers to Reardan, an all white school. He struggles with making a place for himself in the white world while also staying connected to his roots. Sherman Alexie’s The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian both perpetuates and rejects the stereotype that all Native Americans are stagnant alcoholics by fixating on Junior, a Native American teen who refuses to let alcohol consume his life, and his admirable resilience as he overcomes this stereotype. 

By definition, stereotypes are distorted ideas about a particular person or group. As humans, it’s natural to unintentionally “create mental shortcuts as a way to help [us] rapidly respond to situations” (Morin). It can be very difficult to challenge these notions as they are often undetected. For example, one might believe that sayings like “all Asians are smart” and “Black women are strong” are positive things, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Creating generalizations about Asians or black women  fosters the idea that their abilities or traits are solely based on their race or the group that they belong to. Not to mention that stereotypes “have a lasting negative impact on those who experience them” (Morin). If you are on the receiving end of stereotyping, you feel pressure to live up to what people expect of you, which is detrimental to your self-image. You also start to feel less like an individual and more like you're just part of a larger group. Furthermore, preconceptions influence how people approach you, act around you, as well as how they feel about you without knowing you personally. On the contrary, stereotypes, specifically in literature, are very important to discuss. Books with diverse characters are comparable to “‘mirrors’ because they “serve as ‘windows’ into the experiences of children of color” for white children (Flannery) . In other words, they simultaneously validate the experiences of minorities and serve as a wake-up call to society. Native Americans are underrepresented in the media which means their struggles aren’t talked about enough. After all, if people don’t “see [the issue], they can’t help stop it”(Flannery). Stereotypes in novels, as damaging as they are, often contain a lot of truth in them and it’s also important to keep that in mind. For instance, being black is often associated with being impoverished, and while that isn’t true for all people in the black community, it is true for many. Ignoring the fact that many African Americans are underprivileged for reasons that are deeply rooted in our country’s history would be dishonest. Ultimately, it’s reasonable to conclude that only by acknowledging the significance of stereotypes and paying attention to how they are reinforced in our day-to-day lives can we begin to break them down. 

In the controversial novel titled The Absolute Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, one of the main generalizations about Indigenous Americans is that they are alcoholics who live stagnant lives. The impact of alcohol on the lives of Native Americans living on the rez is depicted through the eyes of Junior, the main character. He comes to the realization that “Indian families are unhappy for the exact same reason: the fricking booze” (Alexie 200). This conclusion suggests that addictions to booze is one thing that all Native Americans  have in common. Junior goes on to say that, “90 percent of the deaths have been caused by alcohol” which further emphasizes the significance alcohol has in his community (Alexie 200). In addition to alcohol abuse among his fellow Indians, Junior also faces the harmful effects of drunkenness on a more personal level, in his family. Both of his parents struggle with alcohol and his older sister, Mary, drinks as well. For instance, during the holiday season, his father runs off for a few days to get drunk and by doing so he misses out on spending time with Junior. His connection with his parents suffers as a result of drinking , and it leads him to realize that they are quite “undependable” (Alexie 189). Additionally, the fact that Junior’s grandmother is the “rarest kind of Indian in the world” because she doesn’t drink maintains this idea that being intoxicated is synonymous with being Native American (Alexie 158). Equally important is the stereotype that Native Americans are lazy and never go anywhere in life. Mary is a prime example of this false judgment as most of her life was spent hidden away in a basement. Mr. P, her former teacher, remembers her as a “bright and shining star” who “faded year by year” until she was reduced to a shell of her former self (Alexie 40). Mary, like many Indigenous people in the novel, gave up on life and pushed herself and her aspirations of being an author into a corner. In addition, Junior's parents also have unfulfilled dreams of going to college or becoming a musician. However, seeing as they are Native Americans, those hopes and dreams never come true. Altogether, it’s easy to conclude that Native Americans simply don’t live worthwhile lives because this pattern of depressing existences runs throughout the novel. 

Ultimately, Sherman Alexie’s novel preserves and refutes stereotypes of Native Americans. Despite all of the humor in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the story’s gravity is still obvious. Some novelists and scholars, such as  Louis Owens , believe that Sherman Alexie reinforces stereotypes “in the depictions of drunkenness, bullying and references to poverty that seem to consign the Indian to living as a construct of the white imagination: “‘because you’re Indian you start believing that you’re destined to be poor. It’s an ugly circle…’”(Sparks). One can agree with this viewpoint because Alexie’s novel revolves around the experiences of growing up on the reservation as a Native American.  Time after time alcoholism and the bleakness of reality overshadow the good parts. When things are supposed to be very happy, it quickly becomes very harsh and depressing. For example, winning against Wellpinit in a basketball game appears to be a good thing, but because of the circumstances of the Wellpinit players, Junior realizes that a win isn’t always a win. His former classmates from the rez don’t have much to look forward to, and some are uncertain when they’ll get their next meal or see their  drug or alcohol addicted parents again. Native American children who read this book might internalize this negativity and accept their anticipated fate due to this recurring message.That being said, Junior’s success that follows his decision to leave the rez is a beacon of hope. He knew that he was “crazy enough to leave the rez” behind and never “drink” or “kill [himself]”  in order to live “a better life out in the white world” (Alexie 217). Junior’s determination arguably compensates for all of the stereotypical ideas that Alexie presents in the novel. Native American readers can see that in spite of everything working against them, they can still try to make a better life for themselves. They can go against the current and break free from the confines of the ordinary, just like Junior did. Moreover, it’s critically important to acknowledge that the messages Sherman Alexie discusses aren’t merely “stereotypes” or fabricated notions found in the pages of a book; they are inescapable realities for countless Native Americans. In the words of Alexie himself: “Alcoholism is epidemic among Native Americans and anybody who says otherwise is either drunk or they’re lying or they’re romantic fools”(Szeghi). Clearly, the hardships that these people face shouldn’t be overlooked because they are just “stereotypes” as that only diminishes the intensity of the situation. 

All things considered, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie perpetuates stereotypes in some ways, and also rejects them in others. In this contentious story, there is a blend of stereotypical and hopeful themes. Junior’s accomplishments and his quest for success outside the borders of the reservation are presented alongside the difficulties of living as a Native American. Alexie leaves us grappling with the complexities of stereotypes and the ways in which they can be perceived. In essence, this story’s messages, albeit harsh, aren’t entirely unfounded, but they are incomplete and it’s important to notice how The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian forms a hybrid perspective about stereotypes that is beneficial to the improvement of society.