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.

In “Superman and Me” author Sherman Alexie explains how a superman comic helped him learn to read and write despite the struggles he had gbrowing up due to his race. To his fellow Indians he was viewed as an odd person but he did not let anything hold him back even though Indians were expected to fail in the non-Indian world. Superman also helped him learn to “break down” the doors that were locked to many others.

In “The Movie That Changed my Life” author Terry McMillan explains the lessons she learned from watching the movie The Wizard of Oz. She compares her life to Dorothy’s life based on the many obstacles they both had to face. Terry McMillan states that it is okay to be an idealist, meaning that if you can imagine and put your mind to something then you will be able to get through any obstacles and succeed.

These two authors have a few similarities and contrast between the both of them. An important similarity between these two authors is that they both had families who lived in poverty and lived a rough childhood. One important contrast between these two authors is that Terry McMillan compared her life to Dorothy’s in specific details where as Sherman Alexie simply saw Superman as a role model or ispiration.

Sherman Alexie’s essay “Superman and Me” tells the story of a Native American boy who lives on a Spokane Reservation in Washington state with his lower-to-middle-class family. Despite his disadvantageous circumstance, he managed to teach himself how to read via a Superman comic, who he idolized in his younger years because he used his abilities to help others. The main point Alexie tries to establish is that by learning how to read, he not only bettered himself, he strived to help his people by using his abilities as a reader and writer, as well as helping them ascend from the shackles of cultural stereotyping with education.

Terry McMillan’s essay demonstrates the many similarities that The Wizard of Oz has with her own life growing up on a farm in Michigan. From her strict parents, lack of freedoms and overall unhappiness, McMillan was amazed to see Dorothy succeed in her quest, and was inspired to see things in a more optimistic fashion and escape her depressing childhood. McMillan’s thesis is that inspiration can come from anywhere and it can take you far in life.

In the end, both authors made their revelations through a key event in their childhood. However, one key difference is that Alexie wants to help others around him, and McMillan wants to focus on herself and her happiness.

In “Superman and Me,” author Sherman Alexie was an Indian child who learned to be arrogant and learned to read and write by Superman. He was taught by Superman, a hero in one of the super hero comic books, which influence to be a role model to Indian children by opening a door to new opportunities. Alexie teaches us to pursue and take advantage on an opportunity, so we need to leave our doors open.

In “The Movie That Changed My Life,” author Terry McMillan was an American girl who learned to be brave, thoughtful and respectful. She learned them by watching the Wizard of Oz movie many times, which taught her to pursue her dreams but also taught her that even dreams contain obstacles as life does. McMillan teaches us that dreams are possible to achieve and its better to try pursuing them but there are obstacles that can stop you in your tracks, so be aware on the road that you took.

Both authors, Sherman Alexie and Terry McMillan, have some similarities and differences in their essays. Both authors have been taught by fictional characters, like Superman and the characters from the Wizard of Oz, which their view on life had changed and made them take action in changing their lifestyle. Although both authors had been taught by fictional characters, Alexie learned to pursue his opportunities that were available and McMillan learned to try pursuing her dreams, even if the obstacles are a bit rough.

Author Sherman J. Alexie, a young native amererican is influenced by the superman comic bookto improve his living standard. The book teaches him to be optimistic, to breakdown doors of struggle. He lived in a native american reservation, where they were isolated from others. However, he tried to see things further, he learned to read and write at young age. In the society he lived it was fine to fail in school as a indian however he was smart and he never failed. His perseverance led him to become a writer, and teach others from the reservation. Terry MacMillan had a tough life growing up.  She grew up in a small industrial town in Michigan. She and her family where very poor and unhappy. The first time she watched the movie “the wizard of oz” was in white and black color. The movie changed her life, it made her thought about escaping from the chaotic and isolated place to find happiness. She never saw people around her happy , the only time was when they were drunk. Her mother was domineering , she could not never question her. further more many times she felt helpless and powerless because she had no control over her situation. the movie made her want to leave the unhappy place and go to the other side of the world. It influenced her to move on that there are better things out there, She knew  how unfairly things can be but somehow always turn out good. In her life negativity had turn into optimistic.

Both Alexie and McMlillan both talk about dealing with struggles growing up. They both use nonfiction dramas, such as the superman comic book and “the wizard of oz”. It helps them to   break down doors from poverty, and racism. The superman comic book helps the young indian to be a hero and save all of their lives to become better by reading and writing and also teaching. McMillan shows us how unhappy she grew up, through out all the movie changed her view of living. To move on and find a place where she can feel happy. In addition, they are different because super and me is about education and learning to overcome obstacles with education. In the other hand McMillan talks about poverty, and how she free her self not depending on nobody, all the courage was obtained from the movie.