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Angela Chu

Professor Nader

English 1101

9/25/13

Breaking Down the Door

Sherman Alexie, a young Native American, was surrounded by people who ridiculed his

knowledge and tried to keep him uneducated, but his ambition prevailed as he continued his

passion in reading and writing which he reminisces in his essay "The Joys of Reading and

Writing: Superman and Me." Throughout the essay, Alexie shares his difficulties in facing

prejudice from those around him due to his upbringing. Despite the odds, Alexie refused to fail

so he “teaches himself to read at an early age and advances quickly” (29). With his resolve,

Alexie overcomes his obstacle in his life and share his experience to inspire the audience to

follow their passion. The challenges in life and the method people use to overcome them shows

the true nature of their personality and their overall perseverance.

Alexie describes his living conditions growing up as a child. His family was poor by most

standards but managed to become middle-class by reservation standards. Alexie was surrounded

by books in which his father had purchased. When Alexie’s father had “extra money, he bought

new novels at supermarkets, convenience stores, and hospital gift shops” (28). His father is a

huge influence on him and introduced him to books in his early childhood. Alexie expresses,

“My father loved books, and since I loved my father with an aching devotion, I decided to love

books as well” (29). This was only the start of shaping Alexie’s identity.

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It was clear that racism transpired during Alexie’s childhood. Growing up as an

adolescent Native American, he faced many prejudice people. According to Alexie, “We were

Indian children who were expected to be stupid” (29). His classmates ridiculed his knowledge

and argued with him on a daily basis. Alexie did not want to fall into these stereotypes so he

continued to read and learn. He was determined to prove them wrong when he said “I refused to

fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky” (30).

With the start of a Superman comic book, “a little Indian boy teaches himself to read at

an early age and advances quickly” (29). Alexie later on learns that Indian children were

expected to be stupid. Most live up to those societal expectations but Alexie refused to fall into

that stereotype so he decides to follow his own path. He stood up for himself and continued to

follow his passion for reading. His perceptions on these obstacles in his life and how he acts

upon them is a big part of who he is.

Some people would agree perception of experiences and how you utilize them make up

an immense part of who you are. Alexie shares many difficulties in facing prejudice from those

around him due to his upbringing. Through his journey to “breaking down the door” (29), Alexie

overcame many life obstacles which he explains in his essay "The Joys of Reading and Writing:

Superman and Me." Our actions control our identity, and in succession, our identity shapes our

actions.

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Alexie, Sherman. “Superman and Me.” The Writer’s Presence: a Pool of Readings. 7th ed. Eds. 

Donald McQuade and Robert Atwan. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin, 2012. 27-30. Print.