Bigotry And Discrimination In Sherman Alexie's Indian Education

In his short story “Indian Education,” Sherman Alexie uses character to suggest that even though the world is seen to be equal, but bigotry and discrimination still exists. Alexie uses the stories of his main character, Victor, to express the constant prejudice in the world.
In first grade, Victor was teased and called names by other little boys in his class. The little boys called Victor names, such as Bloody Nose, Steal-His-Lunch, and Cries-Like-A-White-Boy. The boys that teased Victor lived on the same reservation as him, but still teased him. Victor and the other little boys came from the same place, but they still treated him badly. Victor also was beat up by a little boy named, Frenchy Sijohn. One day, Victor beat Sijohn up and chanted “it’s a good day to die, it’s a good day to die” all the way down to the principal’s office. Victor stood up to Sijohn and referred to himself as the warrior. Victor was proud that he was able to finally defend himself against someone who treated him badly. Victor was being discriminated against by his own peers. By Victor saying that he was a warrior, he is embracing where he came from.

The name of the basketball team was the “Indians”. Victor was probably the only actual Indian that played for the team. After a game, where Victor scored twenty-seven points, he went to the high school dance. At the dance, Victor passed out. A teacher assumes that Victor passed out because he is drunk. The teacher says “I know about all these Indian kids. They start drinking real young.” Victor is discriminated against because of a stereotype that all Native Americans drink. Victor was later diagnosed with diabetes. Victor responds to the teacher’s stereotype by saying “Sharing dark skin doesn’t necessarily make two men brothers.” Victor is expressing that just because someone looks like you or share the same ethnic group as you, does not mean they will be a support