Stereotypes in Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie Essay Example

“When intellectuals accept stereotypes, it is not surprising that other people do the same” (David Gilmour). The short story, “Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie, follows Alexie recalling how he first learned to read and how he had to reject the “Native American” stereotype when chasing his dreams. Alexie faces harassment because of his talent and strives to convince other Native Americans to also reject stereotypes. Alexie overcomes obstacles with society’s expectations in order to learn that stereotypes do not determine what one is or isn’t, and how easy it is to accept labels as truth.

Growing up on the reservation, Alexie is quickly identified as talented and then attacked because of expectations of what an ‘Indian’ is supposed to be. At a young age, Alexie is already ahead of his peers. Alexie describes how he “...reads ‘Grapes of Wrath’” in kindergarten when other children are struggling through ‘Dick and Jane’” (Alexie 2). The juxtaposition of “Grapes of Wrath” to “Dick and Jane” is meant to emphasize the gap between Alexie and the others. “Grapes of Wrath” is a complex work of literature while “Dick and Jane” is a simple picture book designed to teach kids how to read. This shows how Alexie is talented because he is reading complex books while his peers are far behind him. Alexie starts to accept stereotypes about himself as truth and it causes him to demean himself. While referring to his skill, Alexie says that if he’d have been white, he would have been “...called a prodigy,” but since he’s Indian he’s just an “...oddity” (Alexie 2). The juxtaposition between prodigy and oddity shows how others have internalized labels about what a Native American can or can’t do. The words ‘prodigy’ and ‘oddity’ are strong antonyms that put a much more positive emphasis on white people rather than Native Americans. But, it is not Alexie who calls himself an oddity, but other people who have bought into the stereotypes of what a Native American should be. Therefore, these stereotypes have caused others to think less of Native Americans because they think of Alexie, a prodigy, as an oddity just because of his race.

Alexie overcomes the barriers that prevent him from succeeding and tries to blaze a path for others as well. He transcends barriers by learning to read by himself. When recalling how he learned to read using the title comic book, he says:

“Aloud, I pretend to read the words and say, ‘Superman is breaking down the door.’ Words, dialogue, also float out of Superman’s mouth. Because he is breaking down the door, I assume he says, ‘I am breaking down the door.’ Once again I pretend to read the words and say aloud, ‘I am breaking down the door.’ In this way, I learned to read.” (Alexie 2)

The repetition of “breaking down the door” is meant to signify Alexie’s victory over stereotypes. The “doors” refer to the figurative barriers of stereotypes, labels and expectations that inhibit Alexie from succeeding. When Alexie breaks down these “doors”, he prevails against racism metaphorically as well as literally because learning how to read and educating himself, attacks these labels at their core. After escaping the reservation, Alexie tries to persuade those who remain to reject labels just as he had. Alexie notes:

“I visit the schools as often as possible. The Indian kids crowd the classroom….there are the sullen and already defeated Indian kids who sit in the back rows and ignore me with theatrical precision….They refuse and resist….I throw my weight against their locked doors. The door holds.” (Alexie 3)

The “locked door” is meant to symbolize the barriers faced by Native-Americans that prevent them from succeeding. This is the same “door” that Alexie overcame when he was a child and now yearns to “break down the door” for others as well. But, the doors “hold” which is meant to show how the stereotypes “hold” and how Alexie is unable to get people to reject labels and expectations. Therefore, Alexie’s battle against the “doors” is too often futile.

To conclude, Alexie’s struggle against stereotypes shows how he is determined and headstrong because he had to endure harassment from his peers. His natural gift is frowned upon by his own society but Alexie shatters the stereotypes that demean him. He struggles against the “door”, the barriers that impede his peers’ success. In the end, Alexie shows not only that stereotypes don’t define someone and how difficult it is to rebuff them, but also how rejecting stereotypes is necessary to achieve equality.