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Racism In Sherman Alexie's Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight In Heaven?

750 Words3 Pages

Once European men stepped foot onto what is now known as North America, the lives of the Native Americans were forever changed. The Indians suffered centuries of torment and ridicule from the settlers in America. Despite the reservations made for the Natives, there are still cultural issues occurring within America. In Sherman Alexie’s, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, the tragic lives of Native Americans in modern society are depicted in a collection of short stories taking place in the Spokane Reservation in Washington state. Throughout the collection, a prominent and reoccurring melancholic theme of racism against Native Americans and their struggle to cope with such behavior from their counterpart in this modern day and age is shown. In the short story, “Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ in Woodstock”, Victor talks about his father who fought in the Vietnam War. He describes one day where he and his father discuss war and peace. Victor’s father says, “And besides, why the hell would you want to fight a war for this country? It’s been trying to kill Indians since the very beginning. Indians are pretty much born soldiers anyway. Don’t need a uniform to prove it” (Alexie 29). This quote shows the truthful thoughts of a modern day Native American and can reflect his first had experiences with living in America. Based on the quote, Natives are so ridiculed that they are basically taught

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