Black Elk Speaks Analysis

Journalist John G. Neihardt’s Black Elk Speaks is one of the most famous texts on the Sioux culture. However, when considering journalism and anthropology, one may realize that Neihardt’s work was much more journalistic than anthropological. When studying culture, an anthropologist would do it holistically. Rather than only looking at individual components of culture, anthropologists must consider every piece of a society to fully understand it. Additionally, an anthropologist would use the ethnographic method. This technique is conducted through fieldwork and requires a person to become immersed into the culture as an active participant. To effectively learn about a new culture, the person must have an open mind by setting aside all of their

Many instances in Black Elk Speaks show Neihardt’s divergence from the ethnographic method. He makes his own changes and adds his own ideas to create what he considers a more interesting story.

Black Elk Speaks had a huge impact on American literature. It is story of Nicholas Black Elk and the Oglala Lakota, narrated by Neihardt. Black Elk and his people had many stories to share about their Indian culture, history and current events, such as being forced onto reservations. When the author met with Black Elk on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1930, Black Elk wanted Neihardt to write and share his experiences. However, “There was some criticism of Neihardt for changes he made when writing Black Elk Speaks” (Silvio).

In relation to journalism and anthropology, Neihardt resides as a journalist. The holistic study of culture is the basis of research. The anthropologist must be open to changes that are needed to learn the ways of the

Unlike Neihardt, a true anthropologist would look at every piece of a culture to gain an understanding of it. Neihardt failed to use the ethnographic method. Instead of immersing himself in the culture, he sat down and obtained information through a translator. This means that facts may have gotten lost in translation, some words were left out, and some were just not included for the fact that they would not make Neihardt’s story as interesting as he wanted it to sound. The true journalist in him emerged as he changed details because of his goal of intriguing the readers rather than including facts important to the culture. An anthropological method of writing would inform the reader about the people in the culture, as well as their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Black Elk Speaks had a great impact on American literature, but some people do not believe that Neihardt’s fame is deserved. Parts of Black Elk’s story will never come to light. A true anthropologist would have made this their goal, while journalists, Neihardt in this case, would