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Speaking of Jim Thorpe...
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From: Debbie Reese <debreese_at_illinois.edu>
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:54:56 -0600
The comment that the stakes are high... I want to follow that with a little bit more of the position(s) I occupy as a person who studies and critiques children and YA lit.
I spend chunks of my day reading news specific to Native people. The internet has allowed Native people to network with each other in ways that wasn't possible in the past. We share news articles 24/7, via Facebook but via email as well.
Ownership of story, who gets what, who says who gets what...
It stunned me to read about Jim Thorpe's body. For 24 years, his family has been trying to get his remains given to them. It is currently in Pennsylvania. When he died, he was buried in a town that changed its name to Jim Thorpe, to honor him, but also because it provided a way to bring tourist dollars to the town. The town will not release his body to his son.
That's just one story. Do you recall the deaths in Arizona last month at a "sweat lodge?" A sweat lodge that charged $9000 (if I recall) to spend a week in some "warrior" training to overcome obstacles in your life?
These two stories demonstrate the power imbalance that exists in American society. A town can say a Native man's remains are theirs. Another man can make a ton of money selling Native spirituality. Hence, I work pretty hard to highlight Native writers, and, that's why I don't like "retold" or "based on" stories and books that garner praise for literary quality regardless of "extra-literary" qualities.
Debbie (who reads CCBC-NET in digest format)
Visit my Internet resource: American Indians in Children's Literature
Debbie A. Reese (Nambй O'-ween-ge') Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Native American House, Room 2005 1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138 Urbana, Illinois 61801
Email: debreese_at_illinois.edu TEL 217-265-9885 FAX 217-265-9880
Received on Tue 10 Nov 2009 09:54:56 AM CST
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:54:56 -0600
The comment that the stakes are high... I want to follow that with a little bit more of the position(s) I occupy as a person who studies and critiques children and YA lit.
I spend chunks of my day reading news specific to Native people. The internet has allowed Native people to network with each other in ways that wasn't possible in the past. We share news articles 24/7, via Facebook but via email as well.
Ownership of story, who gets what, who says who gets what...
It stunned me to read about Jim Thorpe's body. For 24 years, his family has been trying to get his remains given to them. It is currently in Pennsylvania. When he died, he was buried in a town that changed its name to Jim Thorpe, to honor him, but also because it provided a way to bring tourist dollars to the town. The town will not release his body to his son.
That's just one story. Do you recall the deaths in Arizona last month at a "sweat lodge?" A sweat lodge that charged $9000 (if I recall) to spend a week in some "warrior" training to overcome obstacles in your life?
These two stories demonstrate the power imbalance that exists in American society. A town can say a Native man's remains are theirs. Another man can make a ton of money selling Native spirituality. Hence, I work pretty hard to highlight Native writers, and, that's why I don't like "retold" or "based on" stories and books that garner praise for literary quality regardless of "extra-literary" qualities.
Debbie (who reads CCBC-NET in digest format)
Visit my Internet resource: American Indians in Children's Literature
Debbie A. Reese (Nambй O'-ween-ge') Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Native American House, Room 2005 1204 West Nevada Street, MC-138 Urbana, Illinois 61801
Email: debreese_at_illinois.edu TEL 217-265-9885 FAX 217-265-9880
Received on Tue 10 Nov 2009 09:54:56 AM CST
