Convincing a young boy to read The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian

Xavier how would you like to play a game of magic with me?  Remember the little Indian boy we seen at the Halloween party, and how much you liked his costume? Ok, we are going to read a really magical book about a kid just like the one at the party and how cool he is. The book is called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. The main character in the book is a little boy named Arnold. We all  know how much you enjoy characters.  So, since you like to play dress up and have all the best Power Ranger outfits, I decided to get you a costume just like the little boy at the party and you can be Arnold every time you read a page in this really good book.  Just like you, Arnold is a very smart kid, he loves to play basketball, draw pictures, and he even gets to ride Eugene’s motorcycle.  I know that you love riding motorcycles because they are so much fun and can go really, really fast. Eugene is his dads best friend, just like your dad has a best friend named Jamil. Arnold has a best friend named Rowdy and they spend a lot of time together just like you and Malaki. The pictures in the book are so much fun to see and he draws almost everything he’s thinking, now how cool is that? Just like you he loves his mom, dad and his grandmother, and they love him.  You will see that Arnold has a lot of things happening to him in the story but he handles it like a champ.

Arnold is a very strong kid and he lives on what's called a reservation. He is sometimes bullied by other kids, however he does not  let any of the negative things people say get to him. When the other kids at school bully him, he still find a way to be that cute little Indian boy that loves learning new things. Oh, and did I tell you he has a sister?  When you get to that part in the book, please let me know what you think about his sister. We know you always talk about your sister and how smart she is, so let’s see who’s sister is the smartest after we finish the book. I’m sure you will be surprised! The most amazing thing that happens is that Arnold gets to go to another school and meet new friends. Wow! That must have been fun! He even becomes the best basketball player and will play basketball against his best friend he left on the reservation. More than that he beat him at his own game. One of the new friends that Arnold meets at the new school is named Gordy who is really nice to Arnold and you will read about the big guy Roger who was not so nice.  I know you hate when someone is being mean to your friend Malaki and wish he would punch them.  Well guess what? Arnold was not going to be bullied anymore and he punches Roger in the face.  Because Arnold stood up for him-self he earned the respect of the other kids at school.  He even gets to talk to a girl named Penelope and go to a party.  I won’t tell you the whole story, however I’ve given you enough information to “Have Fun Reading”!

Sample Paper # 3

Sample Paper #3 Critique   

    After reading the sample paper #3, I felt it was very well developed and supported the topic primarily. The author started out by asking the question, what would a child do when forced to grow up in a world without parents?  The introduction was very clear and very easy to understand as it laid out various accounts on what one may be going through in a situation best described in referencing  the main thesis,  “The Path Of A Child”.  The focus that I feel was well represented in the sample paper appear to be written by an author who could have very well put themselves in the eyes of this very fragile soul.  I was able to easily understand each point that was being discussed, and each topic sentence was followed by a convincing statement.  As the author transitions from the child to “Arnold” the boy, it became evident that we were now speaking of a young Indian boy who went through many struggles, not only with his parents but friends, teachers and other Indians on the reservation While. I feel there could have been an elaboration on the fact that Junior had two parents, granting they were very inadequate and flawed when it came to the responsibility of caring for a young medically challenged boy. Despite the fact that much was not revealed about the parents, the image of Junior as a young Indian boy living on the reservation was utterly clear and precise.  I was captivated by the structure of each moment as I went from one story-line to the other, systematically  interpreting the observations the author brought to light.

     The author takes you on a journey allowing the reader to look inside the soul of a young boy with courage, determination and resolve.  Sample paper number three became very interesting to me as I share the same sentiment after finishing the book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.   l would have liked to have seen the author bring to the attention of the reader the medical condition that Junior was battling from the onset as he maneuvered from birth to where he eventually ended up.  The mention or implication of drawing a picture of two halves was quiet clever in the representation of knowing oneself and what others may think of you.  To speak of children in their own right as an open book, I feel is fair and  balanced as we view our children from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicity.  The author articulates the views of the young boy with compassion, empathy and grace as it is emphasized the “constant struggle one faces in finding acceptance from others “.  I did not find much that I was not able to understand.  I followed the topic very easy and was able to make the transition when necessary. The conclusion was exceptional and powerful as the acknowledgment of “the measure of one's dignity depends on one measure of themselves”, and that the only opinion that matters is your own. In many ways the paper was concise and to the point in its overall analogy.

Current State of The Native American Indian

In the United States the Bureau of Indian Affairs has the responsibility of listing all federally recognized tribes.  According to the National Congress of American Indians, there are 562 federally recognized Indian nations. The U.S. relationship with Native Americans allow for certain treaty rights and sovereignty, giving authority over certain geographic areas.  Per the Us Department of Commerce The current state of affairs allows the Native American to be self-reliant and hold several rights to self-governing.  The Indian Civil Rights Act, Child Welfare Act and Indian Religious Freedom Act are all important pieces of legislature protecting the indigenous people. Currently through self-governing the opportunity exist for the Native American to acquire restitution for all they have suffered and been denied.

Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole)

Beginning in the 1820s, the U.S. Government began moving all tribes east of the Mississippi River to the Indian Territory in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. A series of treaties provided for the removal of almost all principal eastern tribes.

The Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole (known as the Five Civilized Tribes) were among the many southeastern tribes who were removed by treaty to Indian Territory. In 1838 the Cherokees who had not already moved voluntarily were forced to move to Indian Territory. This migration became known as the “Trail of Tears.” Large parcels of land were distributed to these five tribes who became self-governing “Nations.”

White settlers moving west after the Civil War pressured the government to extinguish Indian title to lands and relocate the Indians. The alliance between the Five Civilized Tribes and the Confederacy during the Civil War also provided Congress with an excuse to realign tribal boundaries. Treaties in 1866 and later reduced the land of the Five Civilized Tribes by almost half. These created the “Unassigned Lands” in central Oklahoma that were eventually opened for land runs.

The Oklahoma Historical Society also has identified the "American Indian Nations" within the boundaries of their state. That list is available on their web site.

 “Fresh perspectives and new ways of dealing with challenges will be the promise. The future Native peoples will have the survivor-ship, the inventiveness and the adaptive abilities of their parents and grandparents. The new generations will take the Native life path with less burden, and build new traditions that protect the homelands, the culture, the traditions, and carry the language into another millennium . . .”

by Janine Pease Pretty On Top (Crow). In a column entitled “Viewpoint,” in Native
Peoples Magazine, Vol.11, No. 1 (Fall/Winter 1997). Published by Media Concept
Group, Inc., Phoenix, AZ.

Topic discussed in class

Equal Pay For Women




The topic Equal Pay for Women is one that concerns me as an African American woman. My concern is that so many households tend to be run by single women, women with children, and women who may be suffering from disabilities. Unfortunately, the compensation for the hard work performed by this group of women is seldom fair. Per The National  Women's Law Center, women are paid an average of seventy-seven cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. Women of color, African-american and Latino receive considerably less.  Thanks to President Barack Obama, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into Law on January 29, 2009 addresses the inequalities that women have been subjected to in the workforce. This happens to be the first piece of legislature signed by the president, and an important one.The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act ensuring that individuals who may have suffered unlawful pay discrimination are able to assert their rights, providing for a 180-day limit to file a claim.  Evidence to prove the unfair practice women have suffered for decades point to the Supreme court case, "Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber".  Ms Ledbetter worked two decades facing discrimination of equal pay as well as sexual harassment.  Ms Ledbetter was clueless of the discriminatory practice been used against her, until she received an anonymous note revealing the salaries of three male managers working in the same capacity, and receiving better pay. She filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Counsel.  Her case went to trial and according to The National Women's Law Center she was awarded a 3.3 million dollar settlement in compensatory and punitive damages for pay discrimination.  I feel this law protects myself, my daughter and all the other women striving to make it to the top of the ladder. Nevertheless, still today,  women are fighting to receive equal pay.