Native in the Twenty-first Century
In “Native in the Twenty-first Century,” Susan Power discusses challenges she faced as a Native American and emphasizes that natives cannot be silent any longer. She claims that the culture of Native Americans is being forgotten and history is being rewritten by the dominant society (Power, p. 170). Power opens her essay with an interesting phrase, saying she was mixed but not mixed up (p. 169). She means that ethnic minorities are often seen as people who need help and guidance from the white culture (Power, p. 169). However, as she states, it is not the case because these lands were inhabited by her people long before the first colonialists came to North America.
Susan Power tried to battle the dominant view but was often faced with negligence. Even her father had not believed the magnitude of the problem until witnessing it by himself (Power, p. 169). The author persuades that the opinions of the majority are significantly influenced by the system that seeks to hide the truth (Power, p. 170). She discusses Hollywood as an example of an institute that exploits stereotypes and inadequate descriptions to provide misleading information about Native Americans (Power, p. 171). Power emphasizes that the heritage of the natives is disregarded entirely and is portrayed as fiction (p. 172). The dominant society perceives the Native Americans as people who are not literate and have no capacity for science. However, Power counters this belief by providing a sound example of how Native Americans’ knowledge contributed significantly to the formation of the contemporary political system that governs the United States (p. 171). She mentions the Six Nations Confederacy and how its principles helped the Founding Fathers build this nation (Power, p. 171). Hollywood does not speak of this and other contributions of the Native American knowledge base (Power, p. 171). Instead, the natives are often portrayed as irrational individuals who solely rely on mysticism and do not possess scientific judgment.
It is easy to forget what happened in the past when looking forward to new opportunities. Power confesses that she sometimes was inclined toward forgetting the past, but labels such willingness as laziness (171). She claims that it is not possible to disregard history because it has led to the present and will influence the future (Power, p. 171). Also, history has been long, and despite continuous efforts to eradicate both the population and culture of the natives, Indigenous Americans have managed to persevere (Power, p. 172). This partial success and this legacy cannot be and should not be forgotten at no cost.
Power concludes her essay by indicating that the natives are starting to raise their voices and unite against the so-called “disease” (Power, p. 172). She claims that the current state of affairs is not productive, and the cultures need to facilitate two-way communication (Power, p. 172). So far, only the dominant society has had the opportunity to teach and shape opinions (Power, p. 172). However, this situation will change because the natives are being awakened (Power, p. 172). This shift is not caused by a force that can be manipulated through books and other misused education platforms (Power 172). Native Americans are being guided by the voices of their ancestors, those who had never stopped fighting.
Discrimination in the United States: Experiences of Native Americans
Native Americans often face racism even though it would not have been possible for colonialists to survive without assistance on behalf of the native tribes. In “Discrimination in the United States: Experiences of Native Americans,” Findling et al. provide a comprehensive picture of the experiences of the natives regarding racial discrimination. The results of their study suggest that about 40 percent of the native population has faced discrimination and prejudice in multiple domains of life (Findling, p. 1440). Most of them are regularly harassed, both physically and emotionally, which may serve as an impediment to a favorable future (Findling, p. 1431). When Native Americans have health concerns, they are unlikely to benefit from healthcare services because of discrimination in health institutions (Findling, p. 1431). Law enforcement agencies are also unlikely to protect the rights of indigenous people (Findling, p. 1440). More than 30 percent of Native Americans have experienced prejudice and racism in courts and police (Findling, p. 1438).
Native American foods: History, culture, and influence on modern diets
In “Native American foods: History, culture, and influence on modern diets”, Park et al. discuss the contributions Native Americans made to the cuisine of both the American colonialists and contemporary society. For instance, Native Americans taught newcomers various farming techniques, which allowed the colonialists to grow their food more efficiently (Park et al, p. 171). Corn, squashes, and beans had already been grown by Native Americans when Europeans first arrived (Park et al, p. 171). The long-term benefits of this knowledge include the ability of colonies to ban goods from Great Britain. It might not have been possible, without the help of the natives, to substitute commodities that were shipped from Europe. In turn, it might not have been possible to fight for independence.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, the majority of Native Americans have to face racial and cultural discrimination despite their contributions and the fact that they had lived here long before this land was first discovered by Europeans. History is indeed being rewritten because media and contemporary cinematography rarely speak of these contributions. Generally, Native Americans are not portrayed favorably. Power is right – Native Americans often face the challenges of racism and prejudice. However, instead of assimilating within the dominant culture, they should not forget about their roots and the many benefits their ancestors provided to the people of colonial America.
Works Cited
- Findling, Mary G., et al. “Discrimination in the United States: Experiences of Native Americans.” Health Services Research, vol. 54, no. 1, 2019, 1431-1441.
- Park, Sunmin, Nobuko Hongu, and James W. Daily III. “Native American foods: History, culture, and influence on modern diets.” Journal of Ethnic Foods, vol. 3, no. 3, 2016, 171-177.
- Power, Susan. “Native in the Twenty-First Century.” America Now, edited by Robert Atwan, Macmillan Learning, pp. 169-172.