Coyote Quote by Sherman Alexie
““Coyote, who is the creator of all of us, was sitting on his cloud the day after he created Indians. Now, he liked the Indians, liked what they were doing. This is good, he kept saying to himself. But he was bored. He thought and thought about what he should make next in the world. But he couldn't think of anything so he decided to clip his toenails. ... He looked around and around his cloud for somewhere to throw away his clippings. But he couldn't find anywhere and he got mad. He started jumping up and down because he was so mad. Then he accidentally dropped his toenail clippings over the side of the cloud and they fell to the earth. They clippings burrowed into teh ground like seeds and grew up to be white man. Coyote, he looked down at his newest creation and said, "Oh, shit.””
About This Quote
Source Story: The Lone Ranger? (short story collection), 1993
Coyote, a trickster, unintentionally creates white people, reflecting on creation, boredom, and unintended consequences.
In simple terms: Coyote's boredom leads to creating white people, causing surprise.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how unintended actions can shape cultures.
Themes
creation
unintended consequences
mythology
colonialism
Mood
ironic
thoughtful
critical
Type
mythic
satirical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- storytelling
- cultural critique
- education about stereotypes
- reflection on mythic narratives
Key Concepts
trickster archetype
cultural genesis
satire
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this story suggest about responsibility for cultural outcomes?
- How can myths influence our view of history?
A Different Perspective
The tale may oversimplify complex histories and assign blame to mythic figures.
