A Self-Aware Samson Occom

A Self-Aware Samson Occom

In Samson Occom's most notable sermon he preaches the virtues of Temperance for the Native American population. In Occom's A Sermon Preached by Samson Occom he addresses one of the stereotypical characteristics of the Native American population. Namely that they are drunkards and spend what money they have on alcohol. Occom, an educated Native American converted to Christianity in his late teens and spent his life educating fellow Native Americans and later preaching. He helped set up a school funded for Native American children and spent much of his time working on behalf on the Indian people.

Occom preached at the execution sermon for Moses Paul, a fellow converted Mohegan Indian. It is this sermon that became so widely published, heralded for its attack on alcohol abuse in the Native American population.

Occom is supremely self-aware. He is knowledgeable about his misfortune as a Native American teacher, receiving less than any other teacher as pay, solely because he suffers the birthright of his Indian heritage. He receives 180 Pounds for twelve years of service while another teacher receives 180 Pounds for a single year. Occom leaves this in God's hands; secure in his religion, saying that it was God that put him in his situation, not himself.

Occom is also blatantly honest when describing the situation of the Poor Indian Boy and his English master, that the boy was beat because he was an Indian. This is horrifically honest, on the part of Occom. Very few people had the knowledge and ability to write of these instances, however, Occom used his education to get this out into the public. And while Occom is not the unbiased source most desired, he does voice the side of the story not often revealed.

Occom also ties his sermon into the place of women in society. He expresses shock at the fact that even the women were shameless in their drunkenness. He felt that women should be more modest than men, however, that under the influence of alcohol, women were found to have no modesty. In addition to his commentary on the modesty of women, he also expresses concern at the danger women face under the influence of alcohol. The danger of falling into the wrong situation or being shamefully treated by men is another issue he tackles.