Introduction
The history of the United States is full of glorious and dramatic events that shaped the American spirit. In 2017, David Grann published The Killers of the Flower Moon about the murders that took place in Oklahoma in the 1920s and contributed to the creation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This book contains several opinions about the Osage style of life and the decisions that eliminated the tribes due to financial benefits and oil deposits.
The discussion of institutional racism imposed on Native Americans at the beginning of the 20th century was a terrible experience. The conflict of interests of White Americans and the Osages was inevitable once oil was found, and Osage Indians got a chance to become the richest people in the country. Human greed based on racism and the power of the government changed the situation. Despite strong family values and relationships, murders and crimes continued to grow. Gathering the opinions of key players such as Native Americans, the government, and media, the concepts of family values, power, and racial greed will help to interpret the Osage murders in a new, unbiased way.
Native American Families
Native Americans turn out to be one of the key players who shed light upon the situation of the 1920s. As soon as the Osage tribes found a possibility of earning money and gaining benefits with their land, they put themselves under threat of being hunted and murdered. Family ties were strong, and it was the question of time when the first troubles reached the Osage settlement. When Anna disappeared, Mollie Burkhart, her sister, felt that something went wrong, and a feeling of fear could not disappear as she “missed the comforting sound of her moving, unhurried, through the house” (Grann 5). The investigation showed that the woman did not care about money but about a person who supported and was loved.
At the same time, regarding the opinions of other players, relatives who did not have Osage roots, family relationships became a curse for many Osages due to greed. After Anna’s death, Mollie discovered “the first hint of the darkness that threatened to destroy not only her family but her tribe” (Grann 16). When Molly was the only surviving family member with her rights on the land, her husband, Ernest, tried to poison her. However, even after their divorce, Mollie did everything possible to protect the image of their family, as that was the essence of true Osage people.
Governmental Power
In addition to personal experiences and dramas, the Osage murders were frequently interpreted by the government regarding the power legal authorities possessed. The position of the government was unclear due to the impossibility of ordinary people to protect their rights. On the one hand, multiple negotiations occurred between the members of the Osage tribes and government officials about the conditions under which allotment occurred (Grann 63).
The tribes understood that there was a solid amount of oil on their reservation land. Still, they failed to realize that the government tried to impose the policies in order not to protect but to “break up Indian Territory and make it a part of what would be a new state” (Grann 62). The government was expected to be a means of protection for citizens, but its power was challenged by greed and the desire to earn.
One of the key players in the story about the Osage murders was J. Edgar Hoover, a recently assigned director of the FBI and the one responsible for the investigation of Osage crimes. Although this man was diminutive and lived with his mother, he was zealous and obsessed with the desire to create a strong vision for the bureau and its agents (Eggers). He intended to promote “the guardians of civilization in the face of the common dangers” (Grann 139).
He promoted such techniques as crime labs, fingerprinting, and regular training for the FBI agents to make sure efficient work was done to solve the case in Oklahoma that was “acute and delicate” (Grann 126). Racism and greed could exist in the government, but the FBI intended to change the situation and find out the truth, not the benefit. The position of Hoover proved that the Osage murders deserved attention and investigation, and the FBI had enough powers to protect society, regardless of the color of skin, origins, and financial background.
Greed and Racism in Media
In the 1920s, media gained specific powers to discuss the events and inform people about the events from a variety of perspectives. In 2017, Garner said that Killers of the Flower Moon made the reader “cringe at man’s inhumanity to man”. The information shared by Grann in the book revealed the position of media in its worst form – uncertainty. Newspaper reporters aimed at covering the events without having one particular opinion, which confused the citizens and created misunderstandings. For example, one newspaper informed that Herb Burt was on his journey when Vaughan disappeared, and another author underlined that it was Burt who reported about disappearance (Grann 296).
Unfair judgments, quick decisions, and unreliable but exclusive sources of information characterized the impact of media in the Osage cases. Human greed and racism spread over the country, and white Americans were “stoked by a racist and sensationalistic press” and “went into a moral panic, a collective shudder” (Garner). Along with unfair judgments and the desire to get access to unlimited wealth and power, human relationships, either within families or communities, were spoiled by media, the government, and personal fears.
Conclusion and Personal Judgments
Considering the attitudes of key players toward the Osage murders, a clear explanation of institutionalized racism against Native Americans is developed. The role of the government was essential in regulating human relationships during the 1920s. Native Americans – Whites conflict continued developing, and it was hard to predict its effects. The media did not discover the truth but used the most appealing facts and provoked the reader.
The government tried not to allow the Osages to become wealthier due to their access to oil deposits. Families were not ready for opportunities they gained because of oil riches. I personally believe that power, as well as money, corrupts a human soul, and the Osage murders were just one of the examples of how racism shaped American society through many years. It was not the only case when greed and racial prejudice caused multiple deaths. However, it was one of the first examples when family members turned against each other. Human greed is hard to understand and control, and as soon as this feeling emerged, its outcomes could change millions of lives, challenge the government, or provide media with another story to discuss.
Works Cited
Eggers, Dave. “February’s Book Club Pick: ‘Killers of the Flower Moon,’ by David Grann.” The New York Times. 2018. Web.
Garner, Dwight. “The Osage Indians Struck It Rich, Then Paid the Price.” The New York Times. 2017. Web.
Grann, David. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. Doubleday, 2017.