Native Americans in the 21st Century: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

     Prejudice has been a word long known by Native Americans. They have been persecuted for centuries; violently kicked off their land and killed by new settlers of the West.  They were placed on reservations, fighting to keep their traditions alive during the changing times. Now, in the 21st century, the struggle to be accepted is still prevalent. The fierce appearance of Native American’s causes them to be seen as mysterious and untrustworthy, especially to the white majority. In Sherman Alexie's piece The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, experiences of Native Americans in the 21st century are told through a Native's perspective. 

     In one excerpt from the short story "Indian Education" Alexie is victimized by his teacher saying "she sent a letter home that told my parents to either cut my braids or keep me home from class" (Alexie 173). The braids were an Indian tradition and it is truly sad to think that even a teacher would join in society's irrational belief that "Indians" were lower class people. 

     As unfair as it sounds, most Natives accepted the fact that their lives were to be confined to their reservation. Alexie describes reservation life as depressing; "when we looked in the mirror, see the history of our tribe in our eyes, taste failure in the tap water, and shake with old tears...Believe me, everything looks like a noose if you stare at it long enough" (Alexie 178). The Natives were stuck in a rut, most consumed by alcoholism, a common trait seen on reservations. 

     Alexie also shows a different side of Native Americans. At his high school graduation Alexie recalls, “I try to remain stoic for the photographers as I look toward the future. The [others] smile for the photographer as they look back towards tradition" (Alexie 180). Alexie breaks away from the expectation of reservation life and becomes a published author, while his friends stay stagnant and choose reservation life. This piece reminded me of the Twilight Saga (I know, it has been used a lot) and Jacob's life on the reservation.  His tribe still believes in myths (vampires/werewolves) and most remain on the reservation, not advancing into the real world.  Alexie stresses that, though Native Americans are subject to extreme prejudice, they can escape their stereotypes and doomed expectations and finally achieve greatness. They must stop being suppressed by the "haters" and live their life on their own accords.