Native Americans have experienced a long, brutal history involving many of humanities worst violations against human rights. The list of abuses includes, but is not limited to: genocide, disease, rape, militarization, concentration, social isolation, appropriation of culture, and political inequality. Throughout history we have often seen, and are pleased at the outcome of, the underdog winning against oppression. It becomes very hard for the average American to admit that what Hitler did to six million people is being reflected here, crudely, in the modern day United States. In an excerpt we analyzed from
The Toughest Indian, there was a young Native American who had trouble adjusting from his native culture to American assimilation. His native culture has been washed out by an all-American ideal of conforming. The Native people are not allowed to wear their grass skirts, although there is no law forbidding it there is a very negative social taboo invoked with traditional Native American culture. Roman Fury was a symbol of tradition, of respect for history, and the American invasion into Native culture. He had the greatest potential, leadership qualities, and intelligence beyond his years; however this is also on top of the fact that he has grown up a poor orphan who lives isolated on an Indian reservation with his grandmother. His Native culture is misunderstood by American citizens, specifically Mr. Williams, a figurehead at Roman's school.
While it can be true that
Americans were not the ones who settled here, we were the ones who continued to push and poke Native tribes farther west over the course of almost three centuries. We gave them smallpox blankets to further ease our troubles and justified the immorality through the American belief in Manifest Destiny. What we did was wrong, and what we are doing today is wrong. We have isolated the last of a once great and powerful population onto small reservations in which the United States government establishes, oversees, and controls. Reservations are extremely depressing, full of alcoholics and gamblers, the people who once dominated the continent have been reduced to hollow shells. I do love reading the pro-feminism books but I wish we read more about Native Americans in school. Until very recently in my education was I actually taught in a classroom setting how the American people destroyed the Native lifestyle. It's just very sad to me.
(Pictured below: Native American land claims throughout history)
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