Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee Summary

574 Words3 Pages

In Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Dee Brown delivers the reader with a Native American history of the west. Providing the narrative with historical accounts and primary sources, Brown offers a unique view into the past. Brown’s book offers several fascinating accounts of Native American culture during the nineteenth century. The reader should analyze the aspects offered by Brown to understand how the author’s book provides a unique history of the Native American West. Brown’s thesis provides the reader with a unique narrative of Native American identity and history in the West. Forming his argument, Brown provides the reader with the understanding that White Americans primarily wrote native histories. Continuing to make his thesis, he claims the narrative provides a Native American history of the west. Through their words and perspectives, he offers the reader a comprehensive history by developing the identity of the Native American (Brown, XXV). The thesis’ concept of identity is the most interesting aspect of the monograph. Brown’s view on identity offers the reader with insight into native culture and relations with the United States …show more content…

Brown argues that White Americans who traveled west created “great myths of the American West” (Brown, XXIII). He contributes to the debate by providing several quotes and primary sources to support his perspective. Brown offers evidence to support the debate by quoting Yellow Wolf, who states, “The whites told only one side. Told it to please themselves” (Brown, 316). Debating previous White American narratives, Brown questions the reader’s knowledge of non-White histories of the West. Answering the question Brown immortalizes the Native Americans through their bravery and loyalty. Revered by the nation, Brown states that the Native Americans are “the most heroic of all Americans” (Brown,