For a while I’ve been hearing about the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie and wondering: why is everyone reading this? Why do I feel like I’m the only one who hasn’t read it? When I received my syllabus for my Children and Young Adult Literature class this semester and saw this book on the reading list, I was elated. Finally, I would get to see what the hype was about!
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Cutting to the chase, I read the book. It focuses on Arnold Junior Spirit, a character that represents the author Sherman Alexie (it is basically an autobiography). He discusses his experiences growing up on an Indian reservation in Washington state. Alexie is born with multiple challenges. Firstly, he is Indian, which is a challenge in itself because of the rampant racism in America during that time. He is born with multiple disabilities, comes from a family who lives in abject poverty, has a father who is an alcoholic, and has little to no hope of a future.
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Hope is planted in Arnold, however, by his white math teacher under rather unorthodox circumstances. This prompts Arnold to leave his reservation and begin attending a white high school, Reardan. At Reardan, Arnold encounters struggles as well; however, with his new environment comes hope of overcoming the stereotype of an alcoholic, non-achieving, good-for-nothing Indian.
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Arnold sets an example for young people that they can be better than what everyone expects of them. He shows them that they can dare to dream and push against the norms of their society in hope of a better future. Being that Arnold, really Sherman Alexie, has evolved into one of the great Indian writers of our time, it sends an even greater message to young people reading this book, because now they can see where Alexie started off and where his encounters have brought him today.
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Except for a few inappropriate parts for a book aimed at middle school students (from my vantage point, I must say; others don’t really mind), the book was amazing. Powerful. Inspirational. Full of complex themes that would open the mind of any young adult reader. Relatable on so many levels. A voice for the Native Americans. A message to the white Americans. An encouragement to any young adult who has felt like an outcast. Just overall full of goodness.
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In the midst of myself and my fellow classmates basking in the sheer awesomeness of this book, my professor approached us in a solemn manner: “I’m afraid there’s been some bad news about Sherman Alexie. Has anyone heard?” The class looks around in confusion. “Mr. Alexie has been accused of sexual assault. Not one woman, not two women, but several.”
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The class grows silent. Many of us are education majors, some of which had dreams of teaching this book to our students some day. But how do you teach a book about overcoming and hope written by an author whose recent actions have negated everything he stood for?
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Alexie did not deny these claims. He even stated that some of them were true, and he is working to make better decisions. Regardless of this quasi confession, the deeds have been done. Many publishing companies have now publicly broken ties with Alexie. Even scholarships written in his name have been changed.
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So now I am in a dilemma. Do I see this powerful book, with all its complex themes and lessons, with all its hope, as just what it is, or is it now tainted by the actions of its creator? What about all of the students who have read this book and look up to Alexie as a hero? What are they supposed to believe now? What about all of the writers who have been inspired to tell their stories? Do I owe it to the multiple women who have been assaulted to abstain from granting this book, or rather this author, more publicity by teaching, or even talking about it?
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Maybe I shouldn’t have even wrote this post.
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-Fortunate Ekwuruke