Susan Power raises the problem of Native Americans’ existence in a modern world and their communication with the dominant society (76). The author opens the article with a description of her ethnic identity (Power 76). She notes that as a child, she looked more like a white person, and with age, she began to be more similar to an Indian (Power 76). Power argues that being “Native first and American second,” she was able to observe the prejudices and attitudes towards indigenous people from within the dominant society and to “experience a taste of Ye Old-School Racism” (76). The author emphasizes that modern society only seems civilized, but its past hides many dark episodes of violence and exploitation (Power 76).
Power notes that she shares a common historical memory with other Natives, who remember they inhabited the continent long before the arrival of the white people (76). For this reason, many Indians cannot ignore the suffering of their ancestors while remaining honest with themselves (Power 76). Besides, the dominant society’s mass culture constantly portrays Native Americans, while expressing typical stereotypes and prejudices, which can be considered disrespectful (Power 76).
At the same time, Power notes that Native Americans are actively struggling for their rights, territories, and culture (76). She notes that the dominant society has educated them over the years by imposing its own standards of perception and world vision (Power 76). In the author’s opinion, all significant breakthroughs in advanced science represent the knowledge that the Indians were aware of all along and tried to convey to the white people (Power 76). Power concludes with the assertion that although the dominant society has long been unwilling to listen to Native Americans, they have adapted to the achievements of civilization and will continue their attempts (76).
Work Cited
Power, Susan. “Native in the Twenty-first Century.” World Literature Today, vol. 91, no. 3/4, 2017, pp. 76-77.