Sally M Reece's Argumentative Essay

915 Words2 Pages

Civilized, a word that has so many definitions, but so little meaning. In the case of Native Americans versus the European settlers and White America, “Civilized” was always the word in question. In the white’s eyes civilization was directly linked to farming, Christianity, and could only be obtained through assimilation into the white culture. Many Native Americans chose to assimilate out of necessity, seeking refuge from the white man, through the white man, while others chose to hold strong to their roots. We see the Native Americans assimilating in Sally M Reece’s Letter to Reverend Daniel Campbell when Reece talks about the “improvements” the Cherokees are making. Reece references how the missionaries have helped spread the word of …show more content…

Zitkala Sa refused assimilation, and often spoke out against it, saying her people, the Sioux, had been forced to leave behind their traditions to fit into the life of the Christian people to become ‘civilized’. Zitkala Sa defended her Sioux way of life, embracing her pagan title as she said, “I prefer to their dogma my excursions into the natural garden where the voice of the Great Spirit is heard in the twittering of birds, the rippling of mighty waters, and the sweet breathing of flowers. If this is Paganism, then, at present, at least, I am Pagan.” (Talking Back to Civilization 73) Zitkala Sa openly refusing Christianity is the biggest step away from assimilation, because one must be Christian to be civilized (Talking Back to Civilization …show more content…

The craze of Wild West shows, like Buffalo Bill’s “Wild West Show” made the white American public crave to know more about Indians and the wild west. These shows became so popular over the thirty years the shows ran; America welcomed the Native Americans as an exciting form of entertainment. Reenacting battles in a circus-like arena drew in crowds and thought the American public about the Indians culture. The once outcast group became a part of American culture through reliving old Indian versus cowboy tales (Talking Back to Civilization

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