On the Rez

The book 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian' follows a Junior, a Indian, who lives on a reservation, or rez. Here there is no hope, and there is a cycle of hopelessness and alcoholism. Historically and currently alcohol is used as an escape from pain or what is going on. On the rez many most Indians have lost hope in being successful or following their dreams, an instead are alcoholics who drink and abuse others and their family. This cycle of alcoholism and hopelessness is hard to break from ever since Indians lost their land long ago. Thats why Junior is such an outcast because he is one who has aspirations to be better and is actually following through to be successful.

Thankfully I am blessed enough where I don't know a world such as the rez depicted in the book. I have a loving family and I am supported whole-heartedly. The closest my life can connect with the rez is through my community. I don't live in the best neighborhood. There are things such as shootings and violence around me. I wouldn't say that my community has lost hope in a way such as the rez. But I don't live in a top notch place. So I'm thankful that I don't have to know a place such as the rez and I that my hopes are supported and I'm not heckled and in a way that Junior was for trying to do better.

Native Sons

Native Son is an interesting book that showed life from the prospective of Bigger(a black man), who has been shaped by society. Not to mention its the 1930s when racism was a huge problem. White looked down upon blacks during the time as the many blacks were oppressed. That's why I was intrigued by Max, Bigger's lawyer. Bigger committed several crimes; accused are and murder of a white women(which is why he is on trial) and the rape and murder of a black women. Many whites want death for Bigger for his crimes. Usually whites won't side or try to understand a black man which is why Max was special. He knew that Bigger committed murder and that people wanted death. What made Max interesting was that he actually looked at the situation form Bigger's prospective. I saw that the environment that Bigger was in shaped him and his actions, something nobody ever did. I like Max because he understood the problem at hand. although Max didn't win the case for Bigger, I thought it was interesting to see a white man during the time period actually stoop to a blacks level and see what is actually happening.