Identity Crisis??

First of all, I really enjoyed this short story! I liked the style of writing and the narrator was very entertaining. Unfortunately, though, it was too bad that there were so many negative Native American references and stereotypes in this story.

The question was proposed, how does one formulate a Native American identity amid stereotypes of Native Americas? Well, there's no easy answer to this question. Because people formulate certain perceptions of people with different color skin, or different color hair, or just different in general, it is difficult for these "different" people to break the molds of their stereotypes. Native Americans, for instance, have a stereotype of being drunks. Clearly not all Native Americans are drunks, but because some Native Americans drink a lot all Native Americans are stereotyped as drunks. 

Another stereotype can clearly be seen through the character, Tonto. Tonto is supposed to be a shy, quiet side-kick that never speaks his mind. Because a lot of people watched the show with this character, they stereotype Native Americans as being like Tonto: quiet, shy and soft-spoken. It's difficult for Native Americans to form their own identities when other people have already formed it for them. 

There's no easy or simple way for a person to form a Native American identity amid all the stereotypes that exist today. The best a Native American person can do is act however they would act normally. Since not all Native Americans are drunks or soft-spoken, people will eventually realize that this is a horrible and simply incorrect stereotype of all Native Americans. It's hard to change people's minds once they formulate an opinion about something, but the best a Native American person can do is act however they would act, without any stereotypes in mind.