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The effects of colonisation
Reflection on colonization
Essays on colonisation
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Pocahontas was a “ shadow of the forest” made into something larger by the ethnocentric imaginations of European culture. They created this woman to portray an idealistic native, a peacemaker between the two civilizations of European settlers and Indians, and a light for the future of Caucasian influence in the new world. There are stories that are truthful and reflect the welcoming of Natives, however there was not just one woman who created peace between the Indian civilization and Europeans. The English created Pocahontas to promote settlement in the New World. Every Native who aided the English settlers were nothing more than shadows of the forest, but together they all impacted the future of the New World. Without the creation of Pocahontas,
countries we know of today may not be here. The world we know once rested upon the ethnocentric imaginations of European culture.
Pocahontas Powhatan Opechancanough, tells the story of the interactions between the Jamestown settlers and the Powhatan Indians, and how the European arrival changed the lives of the natives. the book focuses on the three Indians it is titled for and tries to explain the story of Jamestown through a less Anglo-biased view. At many times the book contradicts the story most people know of the Jamestown settlement and the major players involved. Throughout the book, author Helen Rountree goes to great lengths to tell the whole story truthfully, and when she can't give the whole story she makes it clear as to what is accepted to be true.
Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma, provides a vivid and brutally honest account of the atrocities committed against Pocahontas and her people, unlike the popular animated film released by Disney. We will never know the absolute truth behind Pocahontas and her people, or the early settlers who emigrated to Jamestown, but one truth, however, remains evident. The English had succeeded in destroying an entire culture, rich with diversity. This may not have been what the English had intended at first, but it untimely was the result of their actions against the Powhatan people and the other tribes of the surrounding region. They imposed harsh conditions which included abduction, conversion, violence, and tributes which practically impossible to
Indian women had played roles in the beginning of American history. The two famous women were La Malinche and Pocahontas. Both of them were not educated, that’s why their stories were written by others. Bernal Diaz, Spanish conquistador and Cortez’s companion, wrote about Malinche. Whereas, John Smith, English soldier wrote about Pocahontas. Malinche played the role of translator, advisor and lover of Cortez, while, Pocahontas played the role of peacemaker. There are also some contradictions in Smith writings about Pocahontas saving his life. Malinche and Pocahontas made the link between colonist and native population, they married to Europeans; but Malinche was from South America (Mexico) and she had contacted with the Spanish, whereas, Pocahontas lived in North America (Virginia) and related to English. Both of them very intelligent women, Malinche had the skill of speaking multicultural languages and Pocahontas was the peace creator between Indians and English.
To conclude with “The General History of Virginia” and Disney’s version of Pocahontas, the two stories had two different opinions and views. Although, Disney’s portrayal of Pocahontas was perceived as an offense to the Native Americans, no one really knows the actual events that took place during that time. People will continue to think that John Smith’s version was a bit hysterical, while the Native Americans will take the Disney movie Pocahontas to an offense. John Smith and Disney both gave their own versions of their story. Others will continue to do the same.
Pocahontas was the daughter of Chief Powhatan which made her an Indian Princess. When she was 12 years old, she saved a colonist named John Smith from being clubbed to death. After this, the relationship between the colonist and the Indians were at peace. Captain Smith sent many presents to Powhatan and the Indian woman gave food to the colonist. When John Smith left Jamestown because of a gunpowder accident, the peace between the Indians and the colonist weaken. In 1612, Governor Thomas Dale ordered for Pocahontas to be kidnapped, held for ransom that would be paid in corn by Chief Powhatan. While she was held captive, Pocahontas was baptized Christian and given the name Rebecca. Also while she was imprisoned, Pocahontas fell in love with John Rolfe, who then asked for her hand in marriage. Sir Thomas Dale and Chief Powhatan gave their consent and they got married in Jamestown on April, 1613. This marriage brought peace between the English and the Indians for many years. On 1615, John and Pocahontas had a child named Thomas. Pocahontas became the center of English society’s attention. She had then become Lady Rebecca Rolfe. Before going back to Virginia, Pocahontas became sick. She died on March, 1617, at the age of 21 in England. She was buried in the chapel of the parish church in Gravesend. Rolfe returned to Virginia, where he manufactured tobacco. I liked Pocahontas because she was the kind of person who was willing to do new things and she did the right thing even if no one would agree with her. She is famous for her actions (even if Disney exaggerated them) and I admire her strength and courage to stand up for what she believed in.
Slavery was mainly used to support tobacco plantations in the Chesapeake Bay. Malnutrition, disease, and death were prevalent in the Chesapeake. Slaves were a cheap and an abundant resource, which could be easily replaced at any time. The Chesapeake took advantage of the use of black slaves just as many other parts of the world would have at the time.
The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles by John Smith, portrays the enormous troubles the settlers were faced with by the Native Americans. He explains how he was captured by Indians and also saved by a young Native American girl, Pocahontas. He vividly describes the ceremonies and rituals of the Natives performed before his execution. However, the execution never occurred due to the tremendous mercy showed by the king’s daughter who blanketed John Smith’s body her own. Pocahontas went on to persuade the Native Americans to help the settlers by giving them food and other necessities. Despite her efforts to reach peaceful grounds, her people were still bitter and planned an attacks on the colony. Nevertheless, Pocahontas saved them once again by warning the settlers of attacks. Pocahontas went on to marry an Englishman and traveled to England. She resembled the prosperity and good that was to be found in an untamed land.
Though considerable effort has been made to classify Harriet Ann Jacobs'Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself as another example of the typical slave narrative, these efforts have in large part failed. Narrow adherence to this belief limits real appreciation of the text's depth and enables only partial understanding of the author herself Jacobs's story is her own, political yes, but personal as well. Although she does draw from the genre of her people, the slave narrative, to give life and limb to her appeal for the eradication of slavery in America, she simultaneously threads a captivity narrative, a romance, and a seduction novel through the text as well.
Kilpatrick contends that Disney was ineffective in developing the essence of Pocahontas and was solely concerned with creating a visually stimulating, condensed, romanticized film. “Pocahontas was a real woman who lived during the pivotal time of first contact,” according to Kilpatrick. The film took historical figures and created fictional characters by turning an adolescent girl into a mature, sexualized woman, a mercenary into a “blonde Adonis” and evil villains out of English settlers. Kilpatrick’s
Pocahontas and the Powhatan were told that Smith died on the way back to England (Thompson and Smith 20-22). In 1613, Captain Argall discovered Pocahontas was living with the Patawomeck, Argall held Pocahontas as ransom for the return of stolen weapons and English prisoners held by her father (Iannone 9). After her capture, Pocahontas was ushered to Jamestown under the charge of Reverend Whitaker where she learned the English language, religion, and customs. During her religious instruction, Pocahontas met John Rolfe, who was enamored by Pocahontas; Chief Powhatan consented to the marriage. In April 1614, she and Rolfe married; Pocahontas converted to Christianity and was baptized “Rebecca” (Iannone 70-71). Once again Pocahontas was the key to peace between the English settlers and Powhatan Indians, the marriage bound the two cultures together
The Roaring Twenties a period when a dramatic social and political change happened. Researching about Harlem was learning about how the people contributed more the music to America’s New Urban Culture. The Harlem Renaissance was a significant movement during the 1920s were African American artists were brought together, explored what it means to be an artist, what it is to create art and literature, as well as what it means to be a proud African American in a community, that influence each to stand-up together in a white-dominant culture, furthermore Harlem was a hotbed of political, cultural and social activity. While researching about the 1920’s, I found out so
The “Infinity of Nations” nicely summarizes why the Native American’s played a substantial role in the creation of the “new world” that is so often misconstrued as solely a European creation. However, the “Infinity of Nations” neglects to show the importance of gender in the creation of this world. Through gender we can see how women and men combined to create this “new world” dynamic, how gender was used through religion and politics to demonize Native American tribes, and how European colonists used gender as a political ideal to create an empire.
The Disney movies of Pocahontas tell a plot of a Native ¬American tribe and English colonists that fight for the land the Native Americans live on though war ultimately creating moderate peace. While keeping to their own sect, the imbalance of power between the two social groups is prevalent throughout much of the story. Walt Disney’s Pocahontas is more than a classic children’s movie. It is a thoughtful, well contrived narration that portrays a message that in order to fit in, you must be a certain race and born into a specific culture. Disney’s Pocahontas suggesting that the color of our skin shouldn’t matter when being accepted into social groups as well as the idea that arranged marriage should be rejected. Thus, treating people right could ultimately have a positive outcome and lastly, the film also suggests that family roles change without a mother figure.
And to be mischievous, you need courage, and Pocahontas had plenty of this attribute. I myself am averagely courageous when it comes to certain circumstances such as stating my own opinion or concocting my own smoothie, but when it comes to real circumstances, even as small as learning how to skateboard or handling schoolwork stress, I fall. So Pocahontas is a woman I especially favor because of her bravery and daring to even stand against her father, the chief of the tribe. Right before he was about to strike his club against John Smith, Pocahontas rushes to his rescue and places her head on his. The chief is surprised, but says, "Daughter, stand back." Even when he had called her his daughter, she still didn't back out, and her friends, family, and best friend were all watching this take place. She replies by saying "I won't," loud and clear as crystal. This defiance eventually resulted in peace and understanding between everyone, and an accomplishment for Pocahontas
Sacagawea’s contributions went beyond lingual interpretation. Recalling her past with the Shoshone tribe, she provided useful information about navigating the otherwise unfamiliar landscape. The explorers knew little about finding food, but with her knowledge, they managed to find edible plants. As a native, Sacagawea’s presence also helped to diffuse tensions with tribes that distrusted the explorers. Lewis and Clark responded to her loyalty with due respect. They allowed her to participate and vote in group decisions, long before women’s suffrage rights. Sacagawea later became “a symbol of rights and a face for the National American Woman Suffrage Association.”