Analysis Of What Sacagawea Means To Me By Sherman Alexie

In “ What Sacagawea Means to Me” Alexie argues that America has many contradictions, including himself and Sacagawea. Sherman Alexie begins his essay by using a theme park ride to describe Sacagawea’s journey. Alexie does this to appeal to the reader, theme parks are something that was popular at the time and readers would likely be able to relate to the experience of being at one.
Theme parks are seen as places that anyone is welcome to attend, and Alexie expresses this when he says, “For the low price of admission, every American, regardless of race, religion, gender, and age, will climb through the portal and into Sacagawea Shoshone Indian brain” (Alexie 2). Alexie describing theme parks as such inclusive places has a sense of irony because

America, at the time of colonization and Sacagawea’s journey, was not accepting or tolerant of distinct or unfamiliar people.
Theme parks are also seen as places of leisure and amusement, both of which Sacagawea’s journey was anything but. Alexie describes her journey by saying, “The two captains will lead the adventure, fighting rivers, animals, weather, and diseases for thousands of miles, you will march right beside them. But you, the aboriginal multitasker, will also breast-feed.” (Alexie 5-6). In this paragraph Sacagawea’s hardships are emphasized from being enslaved, sold, and wed as a child, to traveling a tribulus journey while nursing and caring for an infant. By using a theme park to depict her journey, Alexie may be getting at the fact that Americans would only be able to experience or imagine this type of hardship through a ride because of the privilege they hold, which is greater than that of Native Americans.
Alexie creates irony through emphasizing an important moment in American history, Sacagawea’s journey, more famously known for Captains Lewis and Clark, and amusement parks, a staple of pop culture entertainment as a means to appeal to the reader. Although, Alexie risks isolating and drawing away readers through his commentary because of his critiques of American culture and its relations to colonization. By relating Sacagawea, a representation of Native American culture, and a Western pastime, Alexie reflects his commentary of contradictions in American society.