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Michael Dorris
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From: Ronald F. Green <greenrf>
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 11:34:11 -0500 (CDT)
Friends of Michael Dorris.
Readers who are familiar with Morning Girl, Guests and The Broken Chord and most recently the book about the young Indian boy who was visually impaired, Sees Behind Trees, I think were as shocked and saddened as I to hear of his tragic and untimely death this week. I had had the opportunity of meeting him on two occasions, the first several years ago when he read from Morning Girl at the Red Balloon book store in St. Paul and one year ago when I was privileged to serve on a panel with him at Concordia College in St. Paul, the topic, The Little House Books Revisited. Many of you will have read his articles which dealt with having librarians, teacher, parents and other take a second look at the images of Native Americans in Wilder's famous books. I remember how passionately and compassionately he spoke, both loving the Wilder book and at the same time being concerned about his own children having to deal with the very negative images, especially in the Little House on the Prairie. He did not ridicule or denigrate the books but did passinately believe that teachers and others who use those books today should talk openly and frankly about the sterotypes found in them.
The Broken Cord deals with his personal experiences with Alchohol Fetal Syndrome and the tragic and untimely death of his young adult son who was afflicted with this disease. This book and the televison program based on The Broken Cord opened many people's eyes to this terrible and often incurable disease.
Dorris will be missed. Although his contributions to the YA literature, Morning Girl, Guest and Sees Behind Trees have been few, these three books have departed from the usual themes of Native American Literature. Indeed, they may even qualify as radical.
I write this with tears in my eyes as I struggle with my own disbelief, that this man, Michael Dorris who has written so compassionately and opened many an eye to new thoughts and ideas about Native Americans and others should have chosen to die in such a tragic way.
Ron Green Eau Claire
Received on Thu 17 Apr 1997 11:34:11 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 11:34:11 -0500 (CDT)
Friends of Michael Dorris.
Readers who are familiar with Morning Girl, Guests and The Broken Chord and most recently the book about the young Indian boy who was visually impaired, Sees Behind Trees, I think were as shocked and saddened as I to hear of his tragic and untimely death this week. I had had the opportunity of meeting him on two occasions, the first several years ago when he read from Morning Girl at the Red Balloon book store in St. Paul and one year ago when I was privileged to serve on a panel with him at Concordia College in St. Paul, the topic, The Little House Books Revisited. Many of you will have read his articles which dealt with having librarians, teacher, parents and other take a second look at the images of Native Americans in Wilder's famous books. I remember how passionately and compassionately he spoke, both loving the Wilder book and at the same time being concerned about his own children having to deal with the very negative images, especially in the Little House on the Prairie. He did not ridicule or denigrate the books but did passinately believe that teachers and others who use those books today should talk openly and frankly about the sterotypes found in them.
The Broken Cord deals with his personal experiences with Alchohol Fetal Syndrome and the tragic and untimely death of his young adult son who was afflicted with this disease. This book and the televison program based on The Broken Cord opened many people's eyes to this terrible and often incurable disease.
Dorris will be missed. Although his contributions to the YA literature, Morning Girl, Guest and Sees Behind Trees have been few, these three books have departed from the usual themes of Native American Literature. Indeed, they may even qualify as radical.
I write this with tears in my eyes as I struggle with my own disbelief, that this man, Michael Dorris who has written so compassionately and opened many an eye to new thoughts and ideas about Native Americans and others should have chosen to die in such a tragic way.
Ron Green Eau Claire
Received on Thu 17 Apr 1997 11:34:11 AM CDT
