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Genocide of the Mind. Edited by Marijo Moore. Forward by Vine Deloria, Jr.
Yes, this book does live within three feet of my desk.
Last quarter I took a class in "Cultural Perspectives in Information Fieldwork" (that is perhaps not the correct title, but that sums up the whole class quite brilliantly). This book was not required or even suggested reading, but because the class heavily focused on Native American perspectives in our discussions, I ended up picking up this book of essays written by Native Americans about their experiences of being native in the 21st century.
Or, or from the back blurb:
First, I should say that this book of essays illustrates very well the inherent qualitative difference in works by a members of a cultural group vs. even respectful portrayals by outsiders. These are all Native or mixed-heritage writers talking about native identity from their own individual first person perspectives. The book itself is separated in to five sections which roughly correspond to, urban Indians, young Indians, indigenous languages languages, Indians as mascots, and then the longest section which is "Who we are and who we are not." It's also not all essays as traditionally thought of as essays. Poems. Poems everywhere. Beautiful. It's a clear, clear reminder that 1) Native Americans are still alive, and 2) This is despite all the effort by Whites to erase them and their cultures (yes, genocide).
Other than that, I'm not sure what to say. The premise speaks for itself as a collection of works. Some of my favorite essays were Steve Russel's "Invisible Emblems: Empty Words and Sacred Honor" (especially the opening), Leslie Marmon Silko's "Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit," Tim Hays "Mantiwoc: Spirit Place in Anishinabe" (a poem written from the POV of a flute on display at the Field Museum), and Carter Revard's "Postcolonial Hyperbaggage" A Few Poems of Resistance and Survival." And more.
Also, because I'm not pretending that the choice to review this particular book doesn't have context (problematic part being the actual request, not any of the essays linking to it), one quote from many that describes why that request is NOT okay:
( description of Native American genocide )
So that "kink" of yours basically perpetuates and romanticizes part of what's responsible for the erasure of Native Americans. And context-free space only every truly exists on Bingo cards.
Yes, this book does live within three feet of my desk.
Last quarter I took a class in "Cultural Perspectives in Information Fieldwork" (that is perhaps not the correct title, but that sums up the whole class quite brilliantly). This book was not required or even suggested reading, but because the class heavily focused on Native American perspectives in our discussions, I ended up picking up this book of essays written by Native Americans about their experiences of being native in the 21st century.
Or, or from the back blurb:
After five centuries of Eurocentrism, many people have little idea that Native American tribes still exist, or which traditions belong to what tribes. America's Indigenous peoples have been effectively stereotyped through different forms of media as spiritual gurus, pagan savages, Indian princesses, or pitiful burdens of society.
Over the past decade however, there has been a rising movement to accurately describe Native cultures and histories. In particular, writers have begun to explore the experience of urban Indians--individuals who live in two worlds struggling to preserve traditional Native values within the context of an ever-changing modern society. Genocide of the Mind is a moving and inspiring collection of essays that records the determination of people from over twenty-five different nations to bring the Native American experience into the 21st century.
First, I should say that this book of essays illustrates very well the inherent qualitative difference in works by a members of a cultural group vs. even respectful portrayals by outsiders. These are all Native or mixed-heritage writers talking about native identity from their own individual first person perspectives. The book itself is separated in to five sections which roughly correspond to, urban Indians, young Indians, indigenous languages languages, Indians as mascots, and then the longest section which is "Who we are and who we are not." It's also not all essays as traditionally thought of as essays. Poems. Poems everywhere. Beautiful. It's a clear, clear reminder that 1) Native Americans are still alive, and 2) This is despite all the effort by Whites to erase them and their cultures (yes, genocide).
Other than that, I'm not sure what to say. The premise speaks for itself as a collection of works. Some of my favorite essays were Steve Russel's "Invisible Emblems: Empty Words and Sacred Honor" (especially the opening), Leslie Marmon Silko's "Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit," Tim Hays "Mantiwoc: Spirit Place in Anishinabe" (a poem written from the POV of a flute on display at the Field Museum), and Carter Revard's "Postcolonial Hyperbaggage" A Few Poems of Resistance and Survival." And more.
Also, because I'm not pretending that the choice to review this particular book doesn't have context (problematic part being the actual request, not any of the essays linking to it), one quote from many that describes why that request is NOT okay:
( description of Native American genocide )
So that "kink" of yours basically perpetuates and romanticizes part of what's responsible for the erasure of Native Americans. And context-free space only every truly exists on Bingo cards.
