Sherman J. Alexie Jr. was an Native American author who at a young age experienced poverty and racism towards other native american’s while living on a Spokane Reservation in Washington states. In ‘Superman and Me’ Alexie demonstrates how he learns to read and write by reading the comic book Superman. Superman also inspires him to ‘break down doors’ meaning that in order to save people or in his case native american’s, Alexie must break their doors to reach out to them and help them get an education.

Terry McMillan was a woman born in Port Huran, Michigan in 1951, who suffered growing up in poverty and caring for her younger sisters and brother with little to no freedom while her mother worked. In ‘The Movie That Changed My Life’ McMillan learns to be an idealist by watching the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’. McMillan also uses ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to help her make dreams by having faith, courage, a brain and a heart in order to fight the obstacles or ‘knots’ in life.

The one important similarity between the two authors, Sherman Alexie and Terry McMillan is they both use fantasy stories to help them in life. In Alexie’s case, he uses the comic book hero Superman to help teach himself how to read and write which was something he was unable to do due to the stereotype that Native Americans must remain uneducated. The reason for that was the fact that a “smart Indian” was dangerous and must be avoided. In McMillan’s case, she used ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to help her gain courage and have faith in order to take risks and make dreams. The movie also helped her learn to be an idealist and that its okay to dream as long as you have faith in yourself. The one important contrast between the two authors is how they use the stories later in their lives. In Alexie’s case, he uses Superman’s “breaking down the door” to save other uneducated Native Americans by breaking down their walls to reach out to them in order to get them to read and write. In McMillan’s case she uses ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to remind her to not be afraid because if she didn’t take a risk and giving them a try even though it seems like there are still “bumps in the road” then she may never know whats in store for her.