Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Superman and Me; Response

Why is a “smart Indian” dangerous?  Dangerous to whom?

   After reading Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie, I was shocked to find out how he portrayed his life as a child growing up on an Indian Reservation in Washington in which all Indians expected you to be a certain way. In this case, they are not to show any signs of wisdom but to let the “non-Indians” believe that there is basically no hope for them and they will forever be less educated than them.

   I felt like Alexie was informing us that it was difficult to know which way would be the correct way to follow since the Indians were expected to show themselves a certain way and not engage in any learning activity in order to be “accepted” in the tribe. Whereas Alexie wanted to do the complete opposite and learn as much as he could and grasp as much information as possible whether it be in class with a teacher or in literature. Being well educated can have its dangerous factors with both Indian community and non-Indian communities. As mentioned in the 5th paragraph, “A smart Indian is a dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed.” I believe he says this because he has constant battles with his fellow classmates for answering any questions that the teacher (who is a non-Indian) may ask, when they are supposed to keep their heads low and not answer at all.

   I had to really think about how a person can be dangerous for being well educated. How or why would that person be feared or ridiculed for knowing more? After taking a moment to think about it, I had to put this in another perspective as to maybe that person knows too much. That person would be the geek of the classroom, which in most cases would get picked on all the time. But as we know, knowledge is power. Without knowledge no one would be able to get ahead in life, in order to survive a tough situation or to comprehend enough to know where they can seek assistance. Maybe the people who ridiculed him are just afraid that he could possibly do something that can have a negative effect not only on them but on the whole Indian tribe. And for the non-Indians, the only thing that comes to mind that they will have to fear is that the Indians will learn their legal rights. Maybe something is occurring that shouldn’t, and they do not want them to be aware of it. Maybe I was over thinking it but that’s what I was able to come up with for the questions above.
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7 comments:

  1. LaurenSFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    Hi Jaime,

    The reasons you've generated are insightful. The status quo can be comfortable for everyone involved, even for those who will benefit the most from the change.

    School can breed fear. If a student grows up believing in her inferiority, when faced with a student who's succeeding, she has several alternatives. She can question the perception/stereotype that she's inferior, she can lash out against the student for once again proving her inferiority or she can learn to define herself based on herself and not through a comparison. It's much easier to lash out against the student.

    Your post has me thinking about the way teasing functions in our society. Based on personality, a person could live their K-12 life trying to stay below the radar. Perhaps the reason Alexie needed so much confidence is to fight the forces trying to maintain mediocrity.

    Thanks for giving me more to think about.

    Take care,
    Lauren

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  2. stacyFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Jamie,
    I too was shocked that the Indians on the reservation were expected to act like there were less educated then the “non-Indians” in fact it made me mad. I wanted to just shake them and say please don’t do this to your selves. The “non-Indians “are no better then you!!

    You know after reading this story it not only made me think how the Indians must have felt but it also made me think of other minorities, that still have to deal with this kind of mentality to this day. I can’t even imagine what it must have felt like being these children and having to have played dumb just so that they would be accepted by their own tribe. But then comes along Alexie and he gives me hope that no matter what situation you are in if you believe in yourself the world is your oyster.

    You know I didn’t give much thought to why being a smart Indian would be so dangerous, until I read what you said about being afraid of the teacher, I never even gave the teacher much thought I just assumed that the teacher was on his side. But what if the teacher wasn’t on his side that would have been very scary, he would have not only been not accepted by his peers but then to have to go up against your teacher, it would have been very isolating. Jamie you made some really good points.

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  3. iluvandrewFebruary 3, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    This story really got me thinking about growing up in the K-12 grades. I remeber having friends that were ridiculed for being smart. They were constantly picked on. I watched them be picked on, so I stayed quiet. I did not show how smart I truly was when I was at school. I think that a big reason that people that showed that they were really smart would get picked on is because the people that were picking on them were scared of them because they were smarter than them.

    I agree with you about why the non-Indians would be afraid of an Indian that was smart. They could realize their legal rights and could completely mess up the status quo.

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  4. Dinaplus5February 5, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    Jamie,
    The reasons you came up with were very interesting. I like opening up my mind and seeing what everyone else feels about why "a smart indian is a smart indian."

    After reading your ideas, I put myself there thninking of how it would be to be a smart indian. I feel you have a good point about feeling like he would be the geek of the class. Also, it was very interesting how you came up with feeling that he didn't want to get any of his classmates into trouble as well. He is very educated and smart. Alexie was lucky to have all the books in his life everywhere he went.

    I am very grateful for having education so accessible to us. We are very fortunate. Alexie is an amazing individual and very smart. He read and read and read some more. Thanks for giving me something to think about.

    Dina Dodd

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  5. SamKN1992February 5, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    Jamie,
    reading you blog really got me thinking.And i have to agree with you why the non-Indians would be afraid of an Indian that was smart.

    -Samantha Nichols

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  6. Natalie's blogFebruary 6, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    I don't think it was so much as his classmates not wanting him to engage in his classwork. I understand that was something he went through. I looked at it like he or anyone else was never pushed outside their boundaries. There was no one there to say "hey, look at me. I have walked in your shoes and I made it to were I am. I amounted to something and you can too." Alexie was judged by non Indians. He was put in this little space, categorized with the rest. He understood that, that is why he always wanted to break down that door.

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  7. Haruki YeeFebruary 6, 2011 at 11:27 PM

    It's great what you came up within the question about positive and negative effects of being a "smart Indian". Alexie really was a bright red flower in a field of white flowers. He stood out in class from others because he answered question and participated in class. This allowed him to be ridiculed by the other Indians and feared by others because he was so different. When things are so different than the norm people don't know to react, which could be turned into fear of that thing.

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