Let's discuss... Native American racism!

[sleepy_sheep683]

 Hi all,

I'm opening up a dialogue about this for fairly selfish reasons- my beta-reader has been going over one of the later chapters of my fanfic and is of the opinion that the racism aspect is potentially overshadowing the story.

There are indeed quite a few references in my story to tensions between Forks and La Push reservation, the tribe

Comments

[likexaxdove]

A few months ago I read a book called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Here's the synopsis:

"With his first foray into teen literature, acclaimed author Sherman Alexie packs a punch in this absorbing novel about a Native American boy searching for a brighter future. At once humorous and stirring, Alexie's novel follows Junior, a resident of the Spokane reservation who transfers out of the reservation's school -- and into a nearby rich, all-white farm school -- in order to nurture his desire to become a cartoonist. Junior encounters resistance there, a backlash at home, and numerous family problems -- all the while relaying his thoughts and feelings via amusing descriptions and drawings. Having already garnered a National Book Award for Young Adult Literature, this moving look at race and growing up is definitely one to pick up."

The book is based on real life events that Alexie went through growing up as a Native American, and for me personally it was really eye opening. Granted, the Spokanes are obviously going to be different then the Quiluetes, but I think the tribal opinions on marrying someone who isn't Native (or, in the case of this book, not attending the school on the reservation) are universal. The main character, Junior, was practically shunned by his tribe when he went to an off-reservation school.

Here are some over all themes I picked up from the book (without spoiling anything major, in case someone on here wanted to read it:

*While alcoholism and gambling addictions are stereotypes, they weren't uncommon amongst the tribe, or at least that's the vibe I got from this book.
*Physically violence was pervasive and fist fights in the schools or in the neighborhoods weren't uncommon.
*The Natives rolled their eyes at all the white people who lived on the reservation or taught at the schools. They just came off as self-righteous do-gooders, and no one likes those.

That's about all I can think of at the moment. Obviously there were many good themes in this book involving friendship and acceptance, but I don't want to give away too much. It's a great read, and since you're writing a story where you want to get the current Native American culture right (which I commend you for, by the way), I think it's a book you should pick up.

[sleepy_sheep683]

Thanks- I read 'The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist-Fight in Heaven', which has similar themes (I do fancy reading 'The Absolutely True Diary...' however). Again, 'The Lone Ranger...' was apparently semi-autobiographical, Alexie drawing from his friends, family and himself for each story. It was this that made me think, 'Fuck- I can really push this a lot further than I was ever going to.', although one has to remember that he grew up in the 60s/70s and some things are bound to have improved (the stories in this book suggested the hospital deceived women who had given birth into signing consent forms for sterilization, for example- I would be very surprised if that still went on).

"since you're writing a story where you want to get the current Native American culture right (which I commend you for, by the way)"

Thanks. I still don't feel 100% comfortable with it, mainly because I think I've got a reasonable generic Native American tribe but as each tribe is vastly different, it stands to reason it won't reflect the Quileutes that closely (I've added disclaimers; the last thing I want to do is offend someone with my story); especially as I have to reconcile the truth with Meyer's Quileutes (see below RE: five minutes on Google).

I am however feeling a little more comfortable with the racism storyline.