Indians Stereotypes

In “Indians in Unexpected Places” by Philip J. Deloria, Deloria makes a very large point to emphasize many different stereotypes that are still present in our society against Native Americans is made. Deloria exposes the issue that as modern non- “Indians” move into the future, society’s idea of a classic Indian is unwavering. The majority of modern society still imagine Indians to be primitive, border-line barbaric, and savage. Focusing on the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Deloria suggests that as non-Indians streamline modernization of society, Indians are also actively taking part in these improvements on both themselves and all of society. Throughout the points that Deloria is making, he focuses on convincing his audience

Deloria furthers his argument through a series of essays in his book “Indians in Unexpected Places”. In the first essay, he showcases the challenges the Indians had to face in order to undermine these expectations of white America. For example in the much talked about conflict of Wounded Knee, Deloria mentions that before the conflict occurred, “The two groups met that day, not in armed conflict, but in diplomatic pleasantry.” (Deloria 31). This showcased that fact that the Indians were trying to be non-violent but both sides could not come to a peaceful conclusion. In the essay about movies, Deloria mentions that Indian roles where now portrayed by native Indians to provide authenticity and accurate representation (Deloria 77-78). Another way Indians challenge these expectations about them is through athletics. In this essay, Deloria expands on how an Indian saved the day during a football game. The hero of the game between St. Stephen’s College and the Connecticut Agricultural and Mechanical College was Vine Deloria Senior, Philip Deloria’s grandfather. Deloria Sr. won the game by “Playing fullback, Vine Deloria takes an option lateral, fakes a run, and then heaves the ball fifty-five yards downfield into the waiting arms of a receiver.” (Deloria 111). He was known as St. Stephen’s College’s Greatest Athletic Hero. This the non-Indian Americans understand that Indians are the same creature but with a different physique, culture, and