LITR 4332 American Minority Literature UHCL 2000 student poetry presentation

LITR 4332: American Minority Literature

Sample Student Poetry Presentation 2000

Reader: Sonya Deal

November 16, 2000

"Crazy Horse Monument"

Peter Blue Cloud

Unsettling America, pp. 179-180

Biographical Information

In 1935, Peter Blue Cloud was born to the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk tribe on the Caughnawaga Reserve in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada. He is noted for combining Native American myths with contemporary issues, He as worked as an ironworker, logger, carpenter and woodcutter and was previously associated with the journal Akwesasne Notes and the journal Indian Magazine. Some of his works include: Back then tomorrow( Berkeley: Wingbow Press, 1972) and Clans of many nations: selected poems, 1969-1994( Fredonia, N.Y.: White Pine Press, 1995). Blue Cloud is especially noted for his use of the Coyote figure in his stories and poems. He has been honored by receiving the American Book Award, before Columbus Foundation in 1981. .

Course Objectives

1. Objective 3b- "Loss and Survival"

2. Objective 5a- To discover the power of poetry and fiction to help "others" hear the minority voice and vicariously share the minority experience.

Angles of Interpretation

This poem seems to try and bring its readers back to the year of 1876. It is written in a sense or recall of memory for the time in which Crazy Horse and his people were at war with the U.S. government over their land and way of life. From how detailed and descriptive this poem is written, one would think that the author was alive during that time. It tells the story of Crazy Horse and his love for his people. It is very descriptive of his emotions and bravery during the time of war in which he was fighting to keep his people alive. His feeling of loss, sadness and betrayal are represented in the authors’ choice of words. In a way, this poem describes the steps or events that led up to Crazy Horse receiving a monument in honor of him. It also describes what he is remembered for and why he is remembered. This poem is its own monument to Crazy Horse.

The point of view of non-Native Americans is given so often, that this poem is a great example of hearing the Native American voice. This poem is written from the Native American point of view and is about whom they see as the hero of that war and time. Crazy Horse can be attributed for saving many Native American lives. This opens up the doors for others to recognize and experience the Native American (minority) perspective and experience.

Question of Style

Language- is very descriptive and metaphorical, symbolic in a sense- very representative of emotions. Imagery is very visible.

Choice examples of language: "the sky chief clutches thunder"(stanza 2),"their shadows are his only robe"(stanza 3,6, and 9), "yours is now the sky chant of spirit making"(stanza 4),"dare the guns of mounted soldiers blue" (stanza 5), "his was the blood and pulse of rivers"(stanza 5).

Important Information

*Crazy Horse was a Sioux leader who led his people in the battle of Little Big Horn and the battle of Wounded Knee, which were both included in the battle for the Black Hills. *He was a protector of his people.

*A gigantic figure of Crazy Horse is being sculpted out of a mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Discussion Questions –(Sociological, Cross Cultural, and Literary)

1. What is the first emotion that you feel after reading this poem? Why do you feel this way?

2. After reading this poem, do you feel that there is significance behind Crazy Horse having a monument dedicated to him? If so, what is it?

3. Is Crazy Horse a hero or an enemy? Some one to be praised or looked down upon? Does race or ethnicity play a role in a persons perception of Crazy Horse?

4. Why do you think that the author repeats: "Crazy Horse rides the circle of his people’s sleep, from Little Big Horn to Wounded Knee, Black Hills, their shadows are his only robe dark breast feathers of a future storm." after every two stanzas. What is meant by "a future storm"?

Summary of Discussion

In the discussion of "Crazy Horse Monument", there were a variety of opinions shared. My respondent was not present, but Prof. White filled in and commented in the discussion. The discussion basically dealt with the questions that I asked the class after presenting the poem and giving background information.

In the discussion questions we talked about the emotions that people felt after hearing the poem being read. Jupiter expressed that she could feel the illusiveness of Crazy Horse and other students felt a form of sadness. I felt the loss, sadness, and betrayal that many Native Americans, including Crazy Horse, must have been feeling.

Wee also discussed whether or not there was significance behind Crazy Horse having a monument dedicated to him. Many students were feeling that the monument was built out of admiration by the Anglo Americans for the Indians and that it was a symbol of sacrifice. Some people also felt that it was built out of guilt, by the Anglo’s, for killing off so many Native Americans and taking over their land.

Another topic dealt with why the author repeats: the stanza in question #4 and what is meant by "a future storm". David Jones expressed that "a future storm" refers to the end of the Native Americans way of life and the end of them. I agreed with David about "a future storm" being interpreted to mean the end of the Native Americans way of life and the death (end) of Crazy Horse & his people. Teresa felt that the repeated stanza was a calling for arms and people to help fight the fight and to protect their people. I did not agree with Teresa, but what she is saying, is very possible.

The topic/question that caused the most discussion was: "Is Crazy Horse a hero or an enemy? Some one to be praised or looked down upon? Does race or ethnicity play a role in a persons perception of Crazy Horse?" This topic was the absolute highlight of the conversation.

In my own opinion I believe that Crazy Horse can be considered a hero that should not be looked down upon and I do not feel that ethnicity or race should play a role in a persons perception of Crazy Horse. No one in the class totally agreed with me except for Michelle, who said, " Crazy Horse was a hero and it is very easy for me to take race out of it, just by knowing what he stands for." She was responding to a comment made by David Jones who does not consider Crazy Horse to be a hero because (Jones) he is white, and Crazy Horse was a Native American who did not like whites and killed many white people. David feels that race can not be taken out of the perception. Jared also expressed that Crazy Horse could not be a hero to him, but that he did understand the perspective of the Native Americans. Jupiter did not directly answer the question, but did feel that heroes are often made after they are gone and that Crazy Horse was not a hero of hers because he hated white people.

In asking this discussion question I really wanted people to open their minds up to really think about what they were reading and the perceptions that people carry about others and to really hear the Native American voice and understand it. I wanted people to try to be a little more sensitive to the feelings of other cultures and to see that race and ethnicity can be taken away from perceptions of people and all that is left is " the human". Crazy Horse can be seen as a hero in my opinion, and I am not Native American, but I hear and understand the voice of him and his people. I understand what he was trying to do. It is always mentioned in history books, etc. that the Native Americans were savages, but it never says anything about the Anglo Americans being savages for almost killing off a whole race of people, invading their land, staking claim for discovering it, etc. Crazy Horse might have killed many Anglo Americans, but he was not just killing people for no reason. He was very brave and was trying to protect his people's land and their life. He was a defense to an offense.