Part Time Indian Being Banned

“Naked woman+right hand= happy happy joy joy” (Alexie, 26) is one of the many lines that contribute to the restriction of the book Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie in many distinct school districts. Sherman Alexie encompasses a few different inappropriate categories in the book, mainly to show an evolving conception of life on the “Rez”. Part Time Indian has won various awards including the National Book Award, yet still has been banned by a plethora of school boards across the country. One of the main reasons that this book has been banned is for its explicit language and sexual references that parents refuse to have their kids reading. According to a study done by the American Library Association, around 56 percent of book challenges

in the United States are issued by concerned parents of school children. Obviously these parents do not realize that these explicit parts add charisma to the book and enrich the reader on Junior’s hardship to succeed. Alexie does not intend for this book to be read by young children, but many of the vulgar parts occur as a part of young adults’ everyday life, such as masturbation, violence, and explicit language. There are many reasons why various school boards across the country may have banned this book, but without these unseemly excerpts Alexie’s novel would not have the same emotion, power, and emphases if these parts were omitted.
Throughout Junior’s constant struggle to thrive as a child at a new school, Sherman Alexie still cultivates the average teenage years and how sexuality plays a vast role.

Masturbation, and arousement are a conventional part of the teenage years, and Alexie shows that Junior is in fact still a normal teen, despite his constant hardships. Alexie shows Junior “Spend[ing] hours in the bathroom with a magazine that has one thousand pictures of naked movie stars” (Alexie, 25) in order to lighten up the mood in such a depressing book. Even though that quote could be deemed inappropriate, it shows normality and humor. Sexuality is listed as one of the main reasons as to why Part Time Indian was banned at the Antioch High School by parents. Alexie again uses sexuality towards the end of the book at a time of despair when Juniors says, “Miss Warren hugged me so tight that I was pretty sure she could feel, er, physical reaction” (Alexie, 201). Junior made this comment indicating that he was aroused by the enticing guidance counselor after she had hugged him, but before she had broken the news to him that his sister had passed away. This action of sexuality right before a time of sadness shows that the physiological response of sexuality doesn’t always match the mood, and the complex years of being a

teenager.
Alcoholism is a severe issue that haunts the “Rez” every single day and night because “It [is] all booze and god, booze and god” (Alexie, 171).

Alcoholism is a chilling subject, but one that is prevalent amongst many adults, especially native americans, and plays a vital role in the message of this book. Alcoholism adds to the overall feeling of depression, as alcohol plays a huge role in all of the negative actions on the reservation. Every single spare dime that Junior’s father could get his hands on was spent on alcohol; he could never dispel it. Even on Christmas when there wasn’t enough money to have Christmas presents, Junior’s dad went drinking. When he came back, Junior’s dad asked him to take his shoe that “Smelled like booze and fear and failure” (Alexie, 151). Inside the shoe was a 5 dollar bill that his dad had saved. Alexie shows honor in that even a raging alcoholic still thought to save some cash for his son. This scene and other scenes from this book show how much alcoholism can take over one’s life, and could even discourage the reader from ever drinking alcohol. Alcoholism even takes over in times of sadness when family members die from alcohol! Guests at Junior’s sisters funeral were ironically “Drinking booze and getting drunk and stupid and sad and mean” (Alexie, 211). Alexie portrays sadness, depression, alcoholism, and a sedentary attitude towards life while adding power to the depressing story of Junior. Some may call the references to alcoholism

inappropriate, but they are actually essential, showing the reader how bad choices can cause serious depression and a terrible, hopeless life.
Throughout the novel, Junior encounters a lot of violence to either himself, or others. Violence is all over the “Rez” even at pow wows, a time for happiness. “Those rhythmless, talentless, tuneless Indians are most likely going to get drunk and beat the shit out of any available losers” (Alexie, 17). On the “Rez” getting drunk and fighting is an everyday act. It is important that the reader understands how violent some places really can be. On the “Rez” there is even violence by adults to children when “One of the brothers picked [Junior] up, dusted [him] off, and kneed [him] in the balls” (Alexie, 21). The brothers that beat Junior up weren’t other teenagers, but instead 30 year old grown men. Alexie shows hopelessness on the “Rez” by showing adults picking on and beating up teenagers because it shows that the grown men have nothing else to do. This sort of violence is obligatory because it shows the depression and absence of hope for the residents of the Spokane Reservation. Without this disturbing scene where grown men beat up Junior, a teenager, Alexie would not have been able to get his powerful message across to the reader. Violence in Part Time Indian is a necessity that shows Junior fighting back, and standing up for himself like he did when he punched Roger. This sort of courage is something that parents should want their children to be educated on because sometimes taking a stand for yourself and stopping the cycle of bullying results in a violent confrontation.
Unfortunately, many school districts have misinterpreted Alexie’s mature language, ideas, and stories as inappropriate to read in school. Sadly, there is true meaning and power in these sophisticated statements that add to the stories overall meaning. Instead of banning the book for the whole school district which has been done in Stockton, Missouri; Richland, Washington; and Newcastle, Wyoming schools should be putting forth an age limit in which students can read Part Time Indian and other mature stories that are similar. By life the ban on Part Time Indian, students can read a great book that has a mature approach to delivering messages while learning life lessons because the maturity truly adds to Alexie’s portrayal of the current situation on the common Native American reservation.