Marginalization of American Indians

 

Native Americans Marginalization

American Indians were being marginalized. They were being marginalized by kids being taken away from their homes simply because the culture, beliefs and anything that had to do with American Indians was "wrong" to Americans. These kids at first weren't forced to leave their homes, but afterwards they were taken away with no choice. They were shown how to be "proper" as of what whites thought. Americans were determined to "kill the Indian." Not literally kill them, but kill the traditions and whatever has to do with Indian culture. I know this because in the article it clearly states that: "It was not Pratt's plan to simply educate these children and teach them English. He also planned to "civilize" them- to strip them of their traditions and ways of life. Pratt believed that the children needed to completely abandon their "Indian-ness" in order to succeed in America." This shows that Indians were not "good enough" so they wanted to kill all their traditions and what represented their culture. They probably felt like they didn't exist because if Americans wanted to change them so bad, it was probably because everything was wrong with them. Also, they most likely felt like they had no voice since they couldn't do anything afterwards about their kids being taken away.

Shanice Britton's essay purpose was to show people that Native Americans are not much different from others. Throughout her essay she explains her culture, traditions and many other reasons why she's different, and why she's not. Every family has different ways of doing things, or the way they think things out. Every country has different cultures, traditions, food, celebrations, and many others. She explains that just like other countries are different and have different cultures and beliefs, so does she, but that doesn't make her much different. She wears jeans, t-shirts, a hoodie, she's just a regular teenage girl. Also, she explains that not all tribes are similar, they sometimes do other things differently. I know this because "Some people think that all Native Americans have the same culture, but I explain that each tribe has its different traditions." She wants to show people in her essay that although she's different, she's not much different from any other person. Just like any others, she can be successful as well!