Sherman Alexie

Author Sherman Alexie, using poetry and prose saturated with imagery, drama, and humor, has shed light on what it means to be a Native American in contemporary American society. His works have helped his fellow Native Americans to understand themselves better by honing in on typical problems rampant on reservations, including poverty, alcoholism, and racism. However, Alexie's characters are not the clichéd stone-faced people who accept their lot in defeat; rather, he exposes the rich sense of humor that Native Americans commonly use to deal with their problems. His works are also useful in helping non-Native Americans recognize the issues that Native Americans face and dispelling old mistaken notions of who Native Americans are, although his writings are disdainful of...