Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

            This book brings to light, and places front and center, possibly the most significant event in American history. That is, the genocide and displacement of the native inhabitants of what was, or would become, the United States of America, thus enabling the formation of the worlds most powerful republic. It is difficult to imagine how most readers, particularly those who are American citizens, would not have their personal perspective or opinion altered, in some small measure at least, by the historical events described within, especially that of the Nez Percés fight for their home. Of the chapters, the most moving and the most effectively presented chapter was The Flight of the Nez Percés. Brown focuses on the thirty-year period between 1860 and 1890 in which the American West was opened to all comers. Holding themselves with dignity were the Nez Percés in their fight for survival and their reluctance to let go of their beloved homeland. Brown relies on oral accounts, many of which were written down during treaty council meetings and other official meetings with representatives of the United States government to tell his stories, and this leaves no doubt as to which party was in the wrong in The Flight of The Nez Percés. His style lays the facts down in front of a reader, allowing no room for opinions to affect the content. Style is considered by most the imprint of a writers personality, yet Brown does not let his thoughts affect his writing, which is perhaps the most disturbing of all, just the truth. The Nez Percés country was wrenched from their grasp in the blink of an eye, for the reason of land for white settlers. Despite being helpful and kind, the Nez Percés were still driven from their land. The Nez Percés "welcomed the white Americans, supplied them with food, and look after the explorers' (Lewis and Clark's) horses for several months," (316) when the Nez Per...

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Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. (2000, January 01). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 03:13, April 18, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/86467.html