The poem “A New Story” showcases the mistreatment of Indians in post-colonial …show more content…
There is a lack of punctuation, especially, when the speaker is listing out the items in the store: “[one] has a headdress from hell / … / all around are plastic inflatable palm trees / grinning skulls ”(10-14). This portrays the speaker's frustration with the small appearances of her “culture” within the shop next to the other trinkets. This completely devalues Native American culture by selling it with worthless possessions. The real Indian is wearing “jeans” whereas, the fake Indian is all ready for the pow wow in beaded attire and full feathered headdress (6). This is how many Americans represent minority cultures. There is no possible way, to the Americans, that these minorities could look anything like them or assimilate into the dominant culture. They must be considered the “other” to exist within American