Discussion of Black Elk Speaks

Discussion of Black Elk Speaks

Black Elk was a holy man of the Oglala band of the Lakota Sioux nation. Black Elk interpreted his life as a holy man as "the story of a mighty vision" (BES, p. 2). As a child, Black Elk was blessed with a great vision from the other world. In receiving his great vision, Black Elk received a great power, a "power to make over" (BES, p. 201), a power to make things better for sick and suffering individuals and nations. He did not know it at the time, but this vision would be the blueprint of his life. It would guide him through times when he doubted his importance to his people. He had other visions, but they all tied into the great vision he experienced as a child. Black Elk made incredible achievements for his people. However, when he grew older and looked back on his life, he did not see the powerful impact he had made on his people.

At the time Black Elk was growing up, there was much change among his people. The Wasichus had started to move into Northern America, and invade the land where the native people had lived. This caused the Native Americans to constantly move their tribes. Not only did the Wasichus take over the land, but they also killed most of the bison. The Natives used every part of the bison. When the Wasichus came, they would kill for sport, leaving the Natives with extremely little food. According to Black Elk, the bison "were the gift of a good spirit," they were "our strength" (BES, p. 39), and they were understood to be "at the center of the nation's hoop" (BES, p. 206).

As a child, Black Elk was blessed by his grandfathers with a vision. In this vision he saw the fate of his people. There were many symbolic creatures and elements in this vision. There we...

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...t home to the exact place that he was taken to in his recent vision. When he arrived it was in the dead of winter. He and his father went in search for food and Black Elk was guided to a bison that they used for food, shelter, and warmth. As Black Elk returned to his people, he realized that the Wasichus were invading their land again and that there would have to be yet another battle. However, that they were outnumbered and they had women and children to care for. So they took down their camp and left. Black Elk ended his story there. As an old man, Black Elk looks back upon his life and says: "Men and women and children I have cured of sickness with the power the vision gave me; but my nation I could not help." (BES, p. 180) Despite his success as a healer of sick men, women, and children, Black Elk felt that he failed to make things better for the nation.