Native American Literature Analysis

Ralph Ellison once surmised that, “life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.” Historical documents exhibit the horrific experiences that Native Americans underwent in terms of being controlled and treated with inhumane behaviors. Due to this unfortunate phenomenon, the voices of the Natives that desired to share their experiences have been lost and forgotten, as they were deemed insubstansial and appointed to a lower status. Throughout literature, the other has been a term used to appoint to individuals with contrasting opinions on race, sexual orientation, origin, and various other classifications to minoritize a specific group. Illustrations from pre-1960s ethnography highlights

Oppression is the subjugation from one group to another group, and being depressed is being denied the human right to be equal. Equality should never be viewed as an unattainable ideal for any individual as no one is free while others are still oppressed. It is crucial to recognize that women also existed within civilization as the others, alongside Native Americans. This information is important to awknowledge when identifying that the others within society were outcasted not only due to their complexion, but also due to gender. In earlier times, women “had been taught to consider domestic duties as the first temporal duties of [their] sex” (Belasco and Johnson 670). Women were classified within the community primarily by their sex, and all other characteristics and qualities were considered to be secondary. Since women were not previously viewed to be valid members of society, and were denied basic human rights, their voices went unnoticed in the troubles they faced throughout the duration of history. The stories that were hidden from society of the voyages encountered by Native Americans and women affirm both humanity and a longing for justice from those who were oppressed. The messages that are delivered are to be engaged as a lived experience and awknowledged so that in the future, these events do not reoccur. In order for society to unite and

Life is not designed to be controlled by others, specifically those who are considered to be superior to the individuals being controlled. Throughout literature, the others have been culturally manufactured to be fundamentally disparate in some manner. Native Americans have been subjectified into the category of the observed due to the class they were given, the complexion of their skin, and in some cases, the gender they were assigned at birth. It is important to acknowledge the narratives and accounts that are documented from the Native Americans due to the historical value pertaining to them. Due to the heinous discrimination that was appointed to Native Americans in early stages of history, the voices of those who were treated unfairly have been concealed and not highlighted to a necessarily important level of significance. Historical documents such as those written by the Natives giving accounts of their first-hand experience have not been shared in schools, due to the complexity and the monstrosity of the situations they endured. Recently, educators have begun to reveal documents by authors such as Olaudah Equiano, who have elaborated in detail the horrors that took place during slave trade throughout the United States. The color of an individual 's skin should not subject a person to barbarous treatment, as equality