Instead of having sorted things out, he discovers that he has distinguished himself from the neighborhood. “I felt pale and lost, like an American explorer in the desert” (618). Here, his solitude is compared to that of an explorer – and this time, it is that of an American. This serves several purposes: not only does he embellish what he feels, but he also uses it as a comparison to American culture as a whole: lost. Lost, that is to say, of the idea of ​​equality and unity. The culture is lost, and he feels lost too – a feeling brought on by racial prejudice against him, without any real rationalization. He is neither selfish nor critical; it simply highlights an overlooked notion that racial problems exist on both sides of the equation. Yes, African Americans were hit the hardest by it, but that’s not the whole story. Black men are humiliated by white men because they are black, and white men are humiliated by black men because they are white. American culture is lost, just like this explorer in the wild. Additionally, by referring to both cultures, Alexie accomplishes two other things: first, it further expresses the concept of equality, and second, it proves that he does not consider one race better than another. This allows him to communicate his opinions and thoughts on the subject, which, in turn, builds credibility and trust with the audience.