"Last night I missed two free throws which would have won the game against the best team in the state. The farm town high school I play for is nicknamed the "Indians," and I'm probably the only actual Indian ever to play for a team with such a mascot.This morning I pick up the sports page and read the headline: INDIANS LOSE AGAIN.Go ahead and tell me none of this is supposed to hurt me very much."

Identity, Injustice, Pain, Recognition

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"Last night I missed two free throws which would have won the game against the best team in the state. The farm town high school I play for is nicknamed the "Indians," and I'm probably the only actual Indian ever to play for a team with such a mascot.This morning I pick up the sports page and read the headline: INDIANS LOSE AGAIN.Go ahead and tell me none of this is supposed to hurt me very much."

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Explore more quotes by Sherman Alexie

"They wanted to help me with my pain."

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"Teenagers read millions of books every year. They read for entertainment and for education. They read because of school assignments and pop culture fads."

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"I learned how to stop crying.I learned how to hide inside of myself.I learned how to be somebody else.I learned how to be cold and numb."

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"So I guess you were hopelessly romantic and easily distracted, a B-plus mother, certainly good enough to get into Matriarchal State University but not quite good enough for St. Mary's College of the Blessed Womb Warriors."

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"Like the coffin was settling down for a long, long nap, for a forever nap."

Death

"Gay people were seen as magical, too. I mean, like in many cultures, men were viewed as warriors and women were viewed as caregivers. But gay people, being both male and female, were seen as both warriors and caregivers. Gay people could do anything. They were like Swiss Army knives!"

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"Because I want to be remembered."

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"Everybody prayed, everybody lied about it. Even atheists prayed on airplanes and bingo nights."

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"Son," Mr. P said. "You're going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk away from this sad, sad, sad reservation."

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"He was going to punish me now. He couldn't beat me up with his old man fists, but he could hurt me with his old man words."

Abuse