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The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part Time Indian Essay

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Arnold is the misfit Native American teenager outcast that just wants to find his place in the world. In the novel, the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie, Arnold discovers his true self by trekking his way through a series of challenging events. He breaks stereotypes by coming to realize the struggles of an alcoholic, addictive lifestyle and in the process, finds himself.
There are three hundred and thirty six reservations in America. One of the biggest difficulties each reservation faces is addiction. Arnold, as well as many others on these reservations come across the reality of this, in their own homes. The stem of alcoholism among Native Americans can be one of many things, including hurt being passed down among generations and generations. Native Americans have lived in America for years and years, even so, they …show more content…
Many years ago, Native Americans and white settlers had turmoil with whites wanting the rightfully owned Native lands. Later on, the different tribes across America were forced out of their land and in turn, turmoil between the two arised. As a result, Native Americans established reservations, that were then completely owned by each tribe. Almost a third of Native Americans live on reservations. In 2010 the poverty rate among these reservations was 28.4% alone. In addition to these poverty rates, reservations had below average education, a less chance of a job opportunity, poor healthcare, and a bad economy. “it's not like my mother and father were born into wealth. It's not like they gambled away their family fortunes. My parents came from poor people who came from poor people who came from poor people, all the way back to the very first poor people”(11). This quote is in direct effect of the reservations poverty and how it stems from the very root of the problem, past generations hurt. But because of these trials and errors, Arnold comes to find his true

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