Like a Hurricane Book Review

In Like a Hurricane: The Indian Movement from Alcatraz to Wounded Knee two American Indians from separate tribes join together to co-author this historically thought provoking portrayal of a time in history when playing by the rules did not work when dealing with minority rights issues. Paul Chaat Smith, a Comanche and Robert Allen Warrior an Osage join forces to create an accurate account of a time when the Native American civil rights movement took center stage television and press coverage. The world watched as Indian militants, American military, and world media covered three key events, which took place in a forty-two month period beginning with the student takeover of Alcatraz in November 1969 to the occupation of the B.I.A. in Washington D.C., and finally ending with the siege at Wounded Knee in May of 1973. Collectively many books have been written about this particular period in history but from the standpoint of the U.S. government’s failed policies or aggression and repression of Native American rights. Smith and Warrior co-authored the book out of a need to shake off the stereotype that Indian people were either “victims or pawns” in American history. The resources are relevant including sixty interviews; archives in California Minnesota, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C.; press accounts from Indian and mainstream news organizations; memoirs, and other records. (SW pg. VIII)

I would recommend this book to a wide range of persons with a wide range of interests varying from global civil rights movements, political scientists, historians, social reformist, to the college student whom is activity participating in Occupy Wall Street demonstrations of 2011. In my opinion, the book is a tribute to strong journalism written f...

... middle of paper ...

...ndians who wanted to exploit Uranium deposits on the reservations for their own personal gain. A.I.M.’s three and a half year showdown with their strong guerrilla tactics, not to mention criminal activity and history did accomplish a season, which brought a sense of pride and personal power; akin to the old tribal ways and customs. A cultural revival did swept the Indian Nation and a Pan-Indian movement was born and exists today. December 1990 during a reenactment ceremony honoring the fallen at Wounded Knee 1890s during a religious ceremony former goons from Dick Wilson’s tyranny and former AIM members united on common ground and spiritually forgave each other for the pain and suffering that took place at Wounded Knee 1973 vowing to work together for the future of their people. (SW pg. 279)

Works Cited

Smith and Warrior Like a Hurricane