English > “I hated Tonto (Still Do),” by Sherman Alexie

When I was younger I used to watch Indian movies and as a little girl. Indians were my favorite heroes. I was very sad to read about how blue-eyed warriors provided a more empowering stereotype, how the writer deals with the characters of cinematic Indians, and finally why he hated Tonto.

First of all, Sherman tells us how novels and movies used handsome blue-eyed warriors instead of full-blooded Indians just because they were sexier. Also he talks about how painful was to watch half breed heroes in every movie played by white actors but they comfortably ignored that the actors were not Indians.

Secondly, the writer complains how the characters of cinematic Indians were not near close to the characters of real life Indians. He also compares his feelings about his favorite film, the way he used to love it immortally and the way he is ashamed now with every stereotypical scene.

At last, Sherman talks about why he hated Tonto. As a little boy the writer wanted to be a cinematic Indian warrior who will climb mountains, swim in streams and will be brave. He never believed himself that he could do all that because he thought only handsome, blue-eyed, half-blooded Indians can have characters like that. He hated Tonto because he was the only cinematic Indian who looked like him.

I still like Indian movies regardless of the actor’s ethnicity; Indians are still my favorite heroes. Thanks to the writer I understand how an average, but real Indian feels when in the movies they are represented as warriors and heroes and they are described as an empowering stereotype.