There are few things that are certain in life; however, the oppression of Native Americans is definitely one of them. The underrepresentation of Native Americans in the American literary canon demonstrates their oppression. Tracks and Ceremony are among a small number of novels by Native American authors discussing life as a Native American that have received national attention. This lack of appreciation for Native American literary works could be one result of discriminatory educational practices by white teachers, as is experienced by Tayo in Tracks. Another explanation could l in the fact that Native Americans traditionally use (oral) storytelling, reflected in the narrative style of both Tracks and Ceremony. Even if the story does not directly
…show more content…
Attempting to understand his people in the context of the world, Tayo says “only brown-skinned people were thieves; white people didn’t steal because they always had the money to buy whatever they wanted.” (Silko, 176) Years of colonization and white privilege have saturated Tayo’s mind and made him believe that white people are superior. Native Americans and other people of color are collectively struggling more than white people because they were systemically oppressed. Further, this line is ironic because white people collectively have more than Native Americans because they stole from Native Americans. Tayo only realizes this fact in adulthood after falling victim to white supremacy for years like many others. The notion that white people cannot be thieves reflects Manifest Destiny. White people called it expansion, not extermination, when they massacred Native Americans to built the United States. They could not steal something that was destined to be theirs. The lie ,“white people didn’t steal,” blinds everyone and creates complacency, which keeps Native Americans in the shackles of oppression. Although every discussion of Native American literature should not be centered around oppression, failing to recognize it is failing to acknowledge why they are at a disadvantage. If the subordination is never addressed, then things like the Dawes Act of 1887 could continue to happen and white supremacy would be comfortably normalized. More than just dense and self-deprecating comments, an authentic modern Native American story would probably have some affiliation with Native American reservations. Reservations are real life symbols of oppression. They are everyday reminders that Native Americans, who once roamed throughout the
Attempting to understand his people in the context of the world, Tayo says “only brown-skinned people were thieves; white people didn’t steal because they always had the money to buy whatever they wanted.” (Silko, 176) Years of colonization and white privilege have saturated Tayo’s mind and made him believe that white people are superior. Native Americans and other people of color are collectively struggling more than white people because they were systemically oppressed. Further, this line is ironic because white people collectively have more than Native Americans because they stole from Native Americans. Tayo only realizes this fact in adulthood after falling victim to white supremacy for years like many others. The notion that white people cannot be thieves reflects Manifest Destiny. White people called it expansion, not extermination, when they massacred Native Americans to built the United States. They could not steal something that was destined to be theirs. The lie ,“white people didn’t steal,” blinds everyone and creates complacency, which keeps Native Americans in the shackles of oppression. Although every discussion of Native American literature should not be centered around oppression, failing to recognize it is failing to acknowledge why they are at a disadvantage. If the subordination is never addressed, then things like the Dawes Act of 1887 could continue to happen and white supremacy would be comfortably normalized. More than just dense and self-deprecating comments, an authentic modern Native American story would probably have some affiliation with Native American reservations. Reservations are real life symbols of oppression. They are everyday reminders that Native Americans, who once roamed throughout the