I chose the title keep it or lose it for this post because Native Americans are having to choose between the "white" way or "their" way. In the end survival becomes whether or not Native Americans get to keep their heritage.
While reading about the two case studies I thought back to a wise professor that I had during undergrad, James Bryant. It was through his class that I saw how important family stories are that get past down through the generations. Dr. Bryant wrote the book Curely which is about his great-grandfather who was a full blooded Cherokee. The story is telling of his great-grandfather's journey during 1930's up until his death. The biggest thing that was talked about throughout the book was the racism he and his family faced and how they were trying to take the "Indian" out of them. For a final project we were to talk with a family member and record their life story. I chose to do my grandmother who is now 86 years old.
The biggest issue that I had throughout the reading was the fact that the "white" people were trying to take away all that the Native American people have ever known. I am a white woman, but feel this is completely wrong. What makes "us" superior to everyone else to where we can take away who they are? Do we not ever stop to think, hey...that could be me? I know I don't want anyone taking my personal beliefs and my heritage away from me. Also, why does the so called "superior race" think that just because they are Native Americans that they are illiterate? From the reading I gathered that both Daniel and Zoonie are both very intelligent in many different areas. The area that I saw they both had trouble in, in terms of writing was word order and finding the correct words for what they were trying to say.
I really was not surprised that neither of them wanted to do their school work. As one of Daniel's teacher's mentioned she believed he viewed school a a job. When the day was done, so was Daniel. Lastly, it was very upsetting to see that they were fighting within themselves to find their "identity." Just reading journal entries and stories you can just feel the pain and hurt in their words. I think it was great that they found ways of expressing themselves. For instances, Daniel becomes Benny when writing who has an Elvis Presley hair do. But the reality is that with children who struggle with "identity" loss they can end up doing things to themselves and others. In the book Curley mentioned above they, meaning most Native Americans that lived on their reservation, turned to alcohol.
I think the teachers teaching both of these students should assess themselves. As a teacher I do my very best to connect with every student and see how that child learns best. But, some of their teachers were alienating them as if they did not exist. "He acknowledged that he did not 'really know her like I know other students who are more vocal. Zonnie is just kind of there." I thought as a teacher it was our job to engage all of our students no matter what race or ethnicity? Am I wrong?
Candace Barnes
Comments (4)
I like your title! Isn't it funny how Americans expect everyone who moves into this country to become "Americanized"? I, myself, wonder what that means...I was born here, my family has for generations lived on American soil. But they decend from Ireland, Spain, etc. So if America is truly the "Melting Pot", as it was once called, why do we find it necessary to change everyone who moves to our country? Why can't we simply take the spice that they bring from their culture and add it to our mix?
Posted by Sarah Hutson | June 10, 2010 8:37 AM
Posted on June 10, 2010 08:37
I also like your title! I agree with you that you were not surprised they did not like school and did not like to turn in their work. I thought the same thing and they were not interested and did not make school a priority because they could not relate to it. They did not understand their expectations. They did not know how what they were learning applied to their everyday life. That is a lot of the problem in today's society. Students have to be interested and understand what they are they learning and how it relates to the real world in order for them to accept it and want to learn it. How many times have teachers been asked or how many times have we asked as students: "when will we ever use this in life?" And it is true - we are not interested if we cannot relate to how we would ever use what we are being taught. If Zonnie and Daniel's teachers could have connected what they were teaching with Zonnie and Daniel's background then they would have been more eager to learn and would not consider school a "bore".
Posted by Katy Dellinger | June 10, 2010 10:44 AM
Posted on June 10, 2010 10:44
Candace,
I thought it was interesting how you mentioned your professor’s book and how the theme seemed to be the family was trying to take the “Indian” out of them. From my experience growing up, I heard the same thing from my mom. I have two great-great grandmothers on my mom’s side who were full blooded Cherokee. My mom has always been interested in learning about the culture of her great grandmothers. She would tell me stories about how they could weave baskets and one was even ambidextrous. She also told me how they always tried to keep the fact that they were Cherokee hidden. She said it was “taboo” to talk about it. To this day she has first cousins who will not talk about their heritage. It is as if they are embarrassed by it. I don’t know why my mom is very open about her heritage, but her cousins are not. The only thing I can think of is there may be different social implications in relation to where they live. My mom lives in Ohio and her cousins live Kentucky.
Trish Edwards
Posted by Trish Edwards | June 10, 2010 9:41 PM
Posted on June 10, 2010 21:41
Trish,
My mother's great-great-great grandma was fool blooded Cherokee as well. I know that isn't close relation but the fact is that is something most people don't share in their families. I remember as a child my mom telling me stories that she heard and remembered about her. The one that cracked me up is how her hair never turned gray even at an older age. I am glad your mom proudly speaks of her heritage. I hate that the others do not because it is vital to how this Nation became what they are today!
Posted by Candace B Heffinger | June 12, 2010 10:50 PM
Posted on June 12, 2010 22:50