Tashunka Witko Crazy Horse Analysis

Tashunka Witko, better regarded by his anglicized name, “Crazy Horse”, was a Lakota warrior instrumental in the defeat of General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn. “Tashunka Witko” directly translates to “His-Horse-Is-Crazy”, but does not ring a bell as proficiently as the name “Crazy Horse." Furthermore, this Lakota Warrior was bestowed with the name “Crazy Horse” after he displayed himself as a competent warrior, and was born with a different name: “In the Wilderness.” In fact, the sobriquet bestowed by his mother on him was “Curly” or “Light Hair” as a result of his characteristic hair. Although he had multiple names within his clan, he was acknowledged by a specific name owing to his age, situation or the relative intimacy that he shared with the user of his name.
As seen in the above example, personal names within Native Americans …show more content…
Over the years, mass media has failed to incorporate the “wholeness” of Native Americans and portrayed them as a retrogressive civilization that is incapable of catching up with the modern age. This image is built upon incorrect identities and stereotypes that work primarily to titillate the audience against an ethnicity that is culturally rich. The incomplete understanding of their culture could simply be ignorance or the psychological denial to accept the cultural prosperity. Speculations can be made that this is also an effect of “cross-cultural misunderstanding” wherein both parties fail to acknowledge the differences and live in ignorance of each other. Something as simple (or complex) as “naming” a Native American character in the literature based on stereotypes can have tremendous implications on how people choose to see the Native Americans. What seems harmless to the outgroup, can be a motion of disrespect against the ethnic group in