Best of the West
Biographies uses a childlike tone to tell a non-Native version of a story
about Crazy Horse. If we read
the “Editor’s Note,” a paragraph in eight pitch font we find that
the publisher is aware that the term “Sioux” is often considered
offensive, but since Crazy Horses people are still often referred to as
Sioux (by the non-Indian purchasing public) they are going to use the term
anyway and write the book anyway. Not
meaning any disrespect of course to the Lakota, Nakota, or Dakota People.
Through subtle hints we
find that Crazy Horse was of questionable character. Young Native readers
will leave with the impression that they are somehow less, for believing
Crazy Horse a Hero. Native
Americans are portrayed as a hostile, tricky and unscrupulous, but in a
light hearted tone. This is a very ethnocentric view that shows that the
publisher and author wield their white privilege well and expect to sell
this book to Non-Native peoples. Offensive!
Marlette
Grant-Jackson – ITEPP-CRC
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