Jazmine Colvin

Colvin1

Dr. Suhr-Sytsma
Indigenous Adolescence
27 March 2016
Do you see what I see? Do you feel what I feel?
Steve Maraboli, an inspirational speaker, once said: a kind gesture can reach a wound
that only compassion can heal. These words ring true for two of Sherman Alexies characters:
Zits from Flight and Arnold in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. In her article,
Healing the Soul Wound, Jan Johnson discusses the themes of forgiveness, compassion and
empathy that are within Alexies work. She supports theories about historical trauma and the
effects it has upon the Native American community. Johnson also analyzes particular passages of
Alexies work she believes this theory is demonstrated. I agree with Johnson that this trauma and
its effects are demonstrated through Alexies Flight and Diary however, an essential part of the
theory is that in order for historical trauma to be alleviated the trauma must be recognized and
while I do think Alexie brings the suffering and oppression Natives have endured to the
forefront, in neither of these works (Flight and Diary) do the protagonists have their trauma
really recognized by the culture responsible for it: whites. I do agree with both Johnson and the
scholars which she credited this theory of historical trauma and it being relived through
recognition however I think there is a difference between recognition and understanding. I will
argue that this pain is only able to be alleviated through recognition and understanding. While it
is a desire for oppressors to understand the damage they have caused it is crucial we be wary of
our perception of someone and their intentions; just because someone understands pain doesnt
mean they are capable of healing said pain.

Jazmine Colvin

Colvin2

Dr. Suhr-Sytsma
Indigenous Adolescence
27 March 2016
Within Healing the Soul Wound Johnson discussion the themes that Alexie captures in
his novels Flight and Diary. These themes include those which she has given from her own
critical analysis of his work as well as some Alexie has offered readers himself. She also
forwards the arguments that the historical trauma that Natives have undergone has lead to many
of the prominent issues in the Native community; issues which Alexie delves into in his writing.
Lastly, Johnson analyzes the ending of these novels and draws the conclusion that simply crossrace relations may be answer to the woes of suffering Natives. Many of Johnsons arguments are
backed by work from scholars and she also disagrees and counters some of their conclusions.
The first most prominent of these arguments would be the concept of historical trauma and
historical amnesia.
In Johnsons explanation of what historical trauma is and its effects, she references Maria
Yellow Horse Brave Heart and Lemyra Debruyn. They concluded that many of the vices that
infect Native communities such as high rates of suicide, homicide, accidental deaths, domestic
violence, child abuse, and alcoholism are a result of racism and oppression (both external and
internal) that has been forced upon Native people (Johnson 226). Through Alexies work we are
able to see how serious these issues are. In Diary, Arnold speaks about how alcohol plays such a
crucial part in the death of Native Americans, And you know what the worst part is? The
unhappy part? About 90 percent of the deaths have been because of alcohol. (Diary 199). In
Flight, Zits has an alcohol problem but more importantly his resents his father because he feels
that he chose alcohol over his responsibility to be a father. Alexies writing can be viewed as

Jazmine Colvin

Colvin3

Dr. Suhr-Sytsma
Indigenous Adolescence
27 March 2016
essential because it allows readers to glimpse into the pain of the Native person. By letting
people become aware and begin to understand what Natives have undergone the idea of
historical amnesia is reduced.
In addition to analyzing exactly what historical trauma is, Jan Johnson discusses the
aspect that I would argue Alexie demonstrates excellently in his work: The internalized rage that
results from the soul wound. This internalized anger is exhibited through depression, anxiety,
substance abuse, and suicide and the constant feeling that you deserve the suffering you receive
(Johnson 226). Alexie shows this in both of his works through Arnold Spirits eyes and through
Zitss father. In Diary, you feel Arnolds frustration through his thoughts:
it sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor. You start
believing that youre poor because youre stupid and ugly. And then you start believing
that youre stupid and ugly because youre Indian. And because youre Indian you start
believing youre destined to be poor. Its an ugly circle and theres nothing you can do
about it. (Alexie 13)
This internal conflict many Natives feel has the ability to be passed down through generations.
Either by one witnessing this struggle or having it taken out on you. Alexie shows this in Flight
through the dynamic between Zits and his father. Zits has issues with alcohol and violence due to
the fact that his father was absent due to a dependence on alcohol. Alexie extends this dynamic
by showing readers that Zits father had a toxic relationship with his father. Zits grandfather

Jazmine Colvin

Colvin4

Dr. Suhr-Sytsma
Indigenous Adolescence
27 March 2016
verbally abused his son making his say he aint worth shit (Alexie 155) repeatedly to the point
that this message becomes engrained within Zits fathers head.
These passages exhibit both the internal frustration that Arnold, Zits and his father feel.
These shed light to frustration that Alexie feels about the internalized struggle Natives
experience. If we look past just the words and examine that Alexie intentionally italicizes the
words theres nothing you can do about it. His effort to draw attention to the fact that these
feelings and the harsh reality that due to the historical trauma he and his people have experienced
they are powerless to the internalized oppression that has the capability of ruining them.
According to Johnson as well as some scholars, historical trauma and its effects can only be
rectified through recognition.
Johnson supports Baldwin and Wests proposal that through recognition victims of
historical trauma can be healed. Johnson believes this proposal is exhibited in Alexies work,
however, while I agree that the proposal may be true I dont think recognition of a victims pain
can always have a positive result. In Flight, Zits meets a white boy named Justice who
recognizes Zits pain as a Native. Justice even apologizes to Zits saying, Im sorry that my
people nearly destroyed your people (Alexie 25). Due to this recognition, Justice becomes
appealing to Zits and is able to influence Zits to go in a bank and shoot innocent people. Zits
even states that Justice understand him. This appeal and effect of this white character has what I
believe to be two purposes: first, that having historical trauma recognition accompanied with a
feeling of understand has the ability to alleviate the soul wound and secondly, intention behind

Jazmine Colvin

Colvin5

Dr. Suhr-Sytsma
Indigenous Adolescence
27 March 2016
said understanding is essential to whether the outcome of the encounter will be positive or
negative.
Due to American history being taught in school it is not a stretch to say that majority of
Americans are aware that whites had interactions with the Indians. However, due to biases in the
recording of history, I would venture to say not many people truly understand the strife Natives
underwent and the traumatic events caused by whites. This is an example of recognition without
understanding. Johnson touches on this in her argument that one of the most painful issues of
being Indian in America: the history and legacy of genocide are ignored and occluded (Johnson
231) however, she misses a crucial part of the equation when claims that historical trauma is
perpetuated by the failure of whites to recognize the soul wound of Natives. I argue that
recognition singularly is not enough; if the pain is not understood then recognition is useless.
Alexie exhibits this very clearly in Flight and explains it himself. In Flight, when Zits is
inhabiting his fathers body there is a moment when he walks down the street bloodied and is
attempting to speak with the people walking down the street. Many of the people are flinching
away from him in fear and Zits/his father feels frustration due to the fact that no one hears him.
He states whats worse is that no one understands him. Lack of understanding is a recurring
theme in Alexies novels. Zits feels misunderstood throughout the novel and Arnold Spirit in
Diary is constantly misunderstood when he is both on the reservation and at Reardan school; this
demonstrates that Alexie is in touch with this issue. Alexie identifies his feelings about this issue
in saying, The inability to understand why something might be offensive is a form of

Jazmine Colvin

Colvin6

Dr. Suhr-Sytsma
Indigenous Adolescence
27 March 2016
sociopathy (Johnson 228). By Alexie writing novels such as Flight and Diary this allows those
who do not experience the historical trauma that Natives undergo, this allows them to have an
insight into this trauma and begin to understand. This important quality is supported Van
Styendale who argues that native literature is necessary because it gives Native communities a
pathway to have their trauma recognized. In my opinion, recognition and understanding within
Native communities is beneficial but trauma can truly be alleviated through cross-race relations.
Jan Johnson brings up an interesting dynamic that Alexie uses in his novel Flight: Zitss
interaction with whites. In the beginning of the novel, Zits is influenced by Justice who leads him
astray. In contrast, at the close of the novel Zits gets his happy ending with a white family.
Johnson questions why Zits is placed with a white family and continues to probe whether crossrace relations are necessary for healing the soul wound. I would answer this question with a
resounding yes. In my opinion, cross race relations are absolutely necessary for healing the soul
wound. Having understanding with someone who experiences the same struggles as you is
relatively easy as compared with someone who cannot identify with what you experience.
Jan Johnson does an extraordinary job of examining Alexies work in relation to
historical trauma and the soul wound. While I do agree with many of her points, I would argue
that Alexies novels are not solely about historical trauma being relieved through kindness and
forgiveness. Through Zits and Arnold Spirit, readers are able to witness not only the desire to be
heard but also the desire for someone to understand that is felt by not only these characters but

Jazmine Colvin

Colvin7

Dr. Suhr-Sytsma
Indigenous Adolescence
27 March 2016
for many actual Natives. Through Alexie bringing to our attention the feelings and effects of
historical trauma on Native lives he aids in taking the first step towards cross-race understanding.