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Native american literature essays
Introduction to native american literature
Introduction to native american literature
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In both of the stories “I am a Native of North American” by Chief Dan George and “ All Together Now” by Barbara Jordan the author expresses their solutions and has very similar thoughts. Barbara Jordan expresses how she just wants people to create harmony in America. The author Chief Dan George expresses how his white brother doesn't respect what mother nature has give us. Chief Dan George states that “ No love at all, for man must love all creation or he will love none of it”. This sentence means that if man to love all of the creation and he will love none of it. Dan George says that his white brother does many things more clever than his people but he wonders if he has really learned to love it at all. George is trying to say that his
white brother is more clever than a lot of his people but he doesn't understand why to be more clever he has to destroy his land. I feel like the authors opinion is that the whites are very clever people but he doesn't see why a there is a culture that “not only hates and fights his brothers but even attacks nature and abuses her.” He also shows how this culture has helped him realize things about the world. In the story “All Together Now” by Barbara Jones the author is trying to see changes in the world on how the americans treat people and they want them to understand how much they had to go through to feel accepted. Jones states that “How do we create a harmonious society out of so many kinds of people” Jones is trying to say that there are so many different people are and she wants to see changes in the way the americans treat mother nature and how they treat each other. In the story “I am a Native of North America and “All Together Now” They are both different because they come from different backgrounds. In I am a Native of North America by Chief Dan George says that he had a lot of struggle to “become an American. In the other story Barbra Jones says that she was treated horribly for her race and and being discriminated and treated different than americans. Even though these people come from different backgrounds they both think the same about how people need to treat the world and how they need to be nicer to people, they both don't realize how and why the americans treat each other so bad. In conclusion both of these stories think the same thing and have the same thoughts even though they come from different backgrounds. Chief Dan George makes it really noticeable that he is disappointed on how the americans treat each other and the nature. Barbra Jones says how it was very hard to get accepted into the world or to “be american”.
Additionally, In “The Last of the Mohicans”, Cooper discusses stories of founding fathers. An Indian and a white man are discussing the stories of their founding fathers. The white man accuses the Indian of attacking the original inhabitants
Modern day Native American are widely known as stewards of the environment who fight for conservation and environmental issues. The position of the many Native American as environmentalists and conservationists is justified based on the perception that before European colonists arrived in the Americas, Native Americans had little to no effect on their environment as they lived in harmony with nature. This idea is challenged by Shepard Krech III in his work, The Ecological Indian. In The Ecological Indian, Krech argues that this image of the noble savage was an invented tradition that began in the early 1970’s, and that attempts to humanize Native Americans by attempting to portray them as they really were. Krech’s arguments are criticized by Darren J Ranco who in his response, claims that Krech fails to analyze the current state of Native American affairs, falls into the ‘trap’ of invented tradition, and accuses Krech of diminishing the power and influence of Native Americans in politics. This essay examines both arguments, but ultimately finds Krech to be more convincing as Krech’s
In Jamestown, the settlers had to deal with the Powhatan Indians. The relationships with them were unstable. John Smith, whom was the leader of Jamestown, was captured by these Indians while he was on a little trip with some of his men. As he left two of his men, he came back to find them dead and himself surrounded by two hundred members of the tribe, finding himself being captured. “Six or seven weeks those barbarians kept him prisoner…” 87). After this event, the relationship only grew worse and there was constant fighting between the settlers and Indians. The Indians practiced many methods in capturing settlers such as “scalping” and other dreadful techniques. The settlers did many negative practices also which is the reason they fought so many wars and battles against each other. Later on, the Indians killed the English for their weapons that were rare to them. In contrast to the Plymouth colony, these settlers dealt with the Pequot Indians and the relations were much more peaceful for a certain time frame. At one point, one Indian was brave enough to approach them and spoke to them (in broken English). He taught them the ways of the land, and developed a peace with the man. The settlers from the Plymouth colony learned many ways to grow food from these Indians. “He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish and to procure other commodities, and was also their
Each European country treated the Native Americans distinctively and likewise the diverse Native Americans tribes reacted differently. The vast majority of the tribes didn’t wish to overtake the Europeans, but to rather just maintain their status quo. Moreover, Axtell mentions that during the inaugural stages of the encounter, the relationship between the two parties was rather peaceful since the Europeans were outnumbered by the natives. Axtell depicts that unlike the Europeans, the Native Americans treated the strangers equally or superior to themselves. The Indians would welcome the Europeans into their towns and shower them with gifts and blessings. The relationship between the two factions was going serene until the cultural differences became a burden on both
Americans have many ideas of freedom, which often were conflicting. The roots of these conflicting ideas were often based on race and stunted our growth as a country. Although much of the focus in U.S history has been placed the conflicting ideas of White American freedom and African-American freedom, another main conflict was between Whites and Native Americans. White Americans believed that freedom was the right to own property, economic autonomy, and the right to participate in democratic elections. The White Americans also believed that these freedoms were guaranteed only to natural-born, White Americans. The Native Americans had a much different view of freedom, which included the choice to remain nomadic, self-governance, and the right to keep their native culture alive. These disagreements led to many extreme conflicts and struggles, which helped shape the future relations of White Americans and Native Americans.
After reading all of the essays and poems that we were required to read about Native Americans, I came up with the conclusion that the main point of all of the essays is how bad their lives are. But they do not do anything to change it! They just complain and complain and complain! But what have they done about their lives?! Nothing! And that is their problem and they do not have goals that they can achieve!
The American version of history blames the Native people for their ‘savage ' nature, for their failure to adhere to the ‘civilized norms ' of property ownership and individual rights that Christian people hold, and for their ‘brutality ' in defending themselves against the onslaught of non-Indian settlers. The message to Native people is simple: "If only you had been more like us, things might have been different for you.”
Founded by groups as diverse as indigenous Native Americans, Dutch merchants, English separatists, Spanish missionaries, French frontiersman and Africans – both free and enslaved – the country’s diversity stretches back four centuries” (9). America is an extraordinary country. In my opinion, America is the most diverse population and culture. However, exceptional does not necessarily mean better. I have never understood that some Americans have the mindset that they are ‘better’ than other countries. I generally like America, but that is enough for me. I don 't need it to be "better" than other places to be satisfied. I came here to have a better life, better education and to have a better home. However, if American history were full of lies they should make a wise action and should tell the truth and tell what really happened in the past. In my mind today is “Where do we find truth these days?” It is certainly not in the history a state teaches its children, or in the press that props up its leaders. Africans both free and enslaved and immigrants has freedom I just hope that, people of color and Americans have real unity and still respect each other in the future
He discussions about blacks and how it was “the greatest betrayal of the America idea.” The reason why it was the greatest betrayal of the American was because the blacks were treated as slaves and that isn’t what America is thought to be. America is suppose to the the “land of the brave and the home of the free,” but blacks were taken for granted as a low division, under-class peasant. Upon his written article, he tries to persuade the African Americans not to join a multicultural movement that may leave off with what was originally plan. The set goal for what America stands for is to stay unified as one. If the African Americans don’t stay unified then the goal that was set is for no reason. Salins concludes that he hopes that the United States will continue to embrace the welcoming of immigrants from around the world, and that peace with one another, will prosper. Salins then wishes that both native-born and naturalized Americans can join force in facilitating new incoming immigrants to assimilate, and as well that multiculturalism will be
While I am not sure if I truly am, or if I could actually trace my roots, the issue of Native Americans has always been a prominent one to me. It is especially important now that my son is confirmed Native American through his father, whose heritage traces back to the Chippewa tribe. However, I have always been interested in Native American culture, heritage, issues, and the like. In history, I have always found the story of Native Americans to be one of the most interesting. I also feel that through researching Native American problems in the past and present, I am contributing to the solution by becoming more educated, giving myself the ability to educate others because I am more understanding of the Native American concerns. Native American issues are very rarely touched upon, even in schools, where the story of Native American’s is often summarized into a page or two in history books, as well as being grossly misconstrued to reflect the “pilgrims and Indians” ideal held by America today. The way for Native Americans to move forward from the current issues of unemployment, poverty, and so much more, is to begin with educating the public on their history and bring light to these issues. Too often, people assume that Native Americans have the ultimate pardon from the government, going untaxed and rolling in riches because of the abundance of casinos they own. These
It is important for more people to become aware of how inaccurate the common perception of Native American Indians is. It leads to racism and negative connotations in individuals, when every culture should be celebrated. Native American Indian authors are able to write about their experiences and allow more people to become conscious of their culture. They first handedly share their personal stories giving more individuals insight on what it’s truly like to be a Native American Indian. The more people who are aware of how false the stereotypical image is, the less issues exist of
While the Indians were at peace with nature, the white man was destroying it, cutting down its forests and exploiting its natural recourses. The Indians had no concept of time other than that of the sum and of the seasons, while eh whites had business deadlines and busy schedules. Because of this vast difference in values, peaceful coexistence was not easy to achieve.
One reason is the Native Americans tried to be fair as possible. For example the text stated “The goal of this civilization campaign was to make Native Americans as much as white Americans as possible by encouraging them to Christianity, learn to speak and read English, and to adopt a European-style economic practices such as the individual ownership of land and other property” stated by The Trail of Tears. So the Native Americans try to be fair and do everything thing like the White Americans and are good neighbors. In the Same article, it stated, “Several states passed laws limiting Native American sovereignty and rights and encroaching on their territory”. The Cherokee took it to court instead of starting a war and were very reasonable and did not start a war like they older generations would. So Native America was fair and
During the reconstruction era and the settlement of the western United States, Native Americans were treated horribly. They were driven from their lands, forced to assimilate to Euro-American culture, and promised treaties and contracts that would almost certainly be broken by the US government. Indians were seen as a problem to the average white settler. First, the “problem” was perpetuated through lies, and conflicts started by white men that were blamed on the Indians. Then, as light was shed on the true story of the Indians many “solutions” were proposed to fix the problem. However, none of these solutions would prove to solve anything as shown by the state of Native Americans today.
"The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."