Part Time Indian D Block Blog 2017

#1. Why does Junior say, “it sucks to be poor…” (13)? What does “poverty teach you (13)”? Explain. (Sandro B.) Junior compares an Indian’s life to a white person’s life. He believes that Indians don’t get as much opportunity as white people, and sometimes have to make choices that a white person doesn’t, such as putting a dog down because an individual can not afford a Vet. “But we reservation Indians don’t get to realize our dreams. We don’t get those chances. Or choices. We’re just poor. That’s all we are” (13, Alexie). Junior believes that poverty doesn’t motivate one to do better, “Poverty only teaches you how to be poor” (13, Alexie). Junior’s dog had been suffering from pain and needed a Vet critically, but Junior’s family had to put him down because they didn’t want the dog, Oscar, to undergo all of that progressive pain like that. If the family had the opportunity,  maybe Oscar could have been saved and be living a happy life right now. This experience does not motivate ...

Examine the cartoon on page 12. What is the relationship between poverty and dreams? (Katie B.) On the cartoon on page 12, poverty is shown relating to dreams in the way that being poor makes it harder to achieve a dream. Junior explains that if his family had had more money, his parents probably would’ve followed their greatest dreams, “But we reservation Indians don't get to realize our dreams. We don't get those chances. Or choices. We're just poor. That's all we are” (Alexie, 13). Junior says that his family’s lack of money created a barricade for his otherwise talented parents. His mother and father truly are good, hardworking people but their living situations, financial situation, and Native American heritage work against them stopping them from pursuing a dream.

During one of Junior’s geometry classes at the beginning of his freshman year, his teacher handed out geometry textbooks, and he realized that this book was used by his mother thirty years ago. Arnold concludes that it is the “absolutely saddest thing in the world” (Alexie 31). The fact that his school is unable to afford new textbooks, proves to him once again how his community is suffering of financial issues. Previously in the book, Junior explains his economic status and what he thinks about it: “We reservation Indians don’t get to realize our dreams… We’re just poor. That’s all we are. It sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor… It’s an ugly circle and there’s nothing you can do about it ” (Alexie 13). At one point, this “ugly cycle” convinces Junior that he is simply destined to be poor and that there is nothing he can do about it. When he finds out that his mother used the same materials he is using, it just reminds him one more time how his ...

Welcome to our class blog!