America's Native Wows

America's Native Wows

America’s Native Wows
“Alcoholism is epidemic among Native Americans.” States Sherman Alexie, the author of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. In the book the reader follows an adolescent Native American boy by the name of Arnold Spirit who grows up on an Indian Reservation in Washington. The book is an autobiographical journey of the hardships of growing up on an Indian reservation and the shocking realities that come with it. Alexie emphatically argues that Native American life on a reservation is met with various challenges, such as alcoholism, poverty, and the lack of education, but that these challenges may be overcome if only one and endure and never give up.  
A major problem among Native Americans is alcoholism. A bold example of this in the book is when the main character Arnold decides to attend a new high school and is being driven by his father. Arnold recalls that, “his [father’s] breath smelled like mouthwash and lime vodka” (54). It’s saddening to think that on such a big day for Arnold it’s overshadowed by the thought of his dad being drunk, not to mention he was driving. It is worth mentioning that when Arnold’s dad drove away Arnold had hopes that, “he’d drive right home and not stop in a bar…” (55) In a study found in the article Broken Promises it was discovered that Native Americans are 770 percent more likely to die from alcoholism. Towards the end of the book several tragic deaths occur that are directly related to alcohol. Arnold’s father’s friend Eugene is shot in the face by a friend amidst a drunken stupor, Arnold’s grandmother is hit by a drunk driver and killed and his sister and brother-in-law are killed in a fire that could have been avoided had they not been pasted out drunk. These three deaths were absolutely devastating to Arnold, the astonishing thing is that Alexie makes mention that in his real life it wasn’t three deaths but eight deaths in one month, all related to alcohol. Alexie makes the comment in an...