Genocide of the Mind: New Native American Writing

New Native American Writing #1

by MariJo Moore (Editor)

After five centuries of Eurocentrism, many people have little idea that Native American tribes still exist, or which traditions belong to what tribes. However over the past decade there has been a rising movement to accurately describe Native cultures and histories. In particular, people have begun to explore the experience of urban Indians—individuals who live in two worlds struggling to preserve traditional Native values within the context of an ever-changing modern society. In Genocide of the Mind, the experience and determination of these people is recorded in a revealing and compelling collection of essays that brings the Native American experience into the twenty-first century. Contributors include: Paula Gunn Allen, Simon Ortiz, Sherman Alexie, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Maurice Kenny, as well as emerging writers from different Indian nations.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Native American, Essays, Indigenous, Anthologies, Native Americans

368 pages, Paperback

First published September 18, 2003

About the author

MariJo Moore (Cherokee/Irish/Dutch) is the author of a dozen books including Spirit Voices of Bones, Confessions of a Madwoman, Red Woman With Backward Eyes and Other Stories, The Diamond Doorknob, The Boy With A Tree Growing From His Ear and Other Stories, and the editor of four anthologies including Genocide of The Mind: New Native Writings and Eating Fire, Tasting Blood: Breaking the Great Silence of the American Indian Holocaust. The recipient of numerous literary and publishing awards, she resides in the mountains of western North Carolina where she presides over rENEGADE pLANETS pUBLISHING.

Reviews

[Reema · Rating 3 out of 5]

so far, uneven pieces in here, and not really all that clear how things were organized. but there are also some shimmering pieces that stand on their own--for voice, political analysis, and a storytelling that weaves old tradition with new ones.

[John Monahan]

This is an insightful collection of essays from some of the best Native American writers of today. Using stories and personal recollections, they present a compelling picture of how their culture and language was taken from them. Perhaps more importantly, they write passionately about their own effort and the efforts of others to reclaim that which was lost and preserve their heritage for coming generations. Carol Snow Moon Bachofner eloquently makes this point in her essay Don't Talk, Don't Live by describing a conversation with her grandmother.

"Nana B. told me to be proud to be an Abenaki, and that the Avenaki people were alive, living through her blood in me. She also told me in one of the saddest voices I've ever heard that our language is dying. I remember the tears in her eyes when she whispered that to me. I wondered how a people could be alive and their language be dead. She said, "Dong' talk, don't live. It's that simple." I wanted to learn to speak the Abenaki language so it wouldn't die, so I wouldn't die."

[Nomad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and really thought provoking. For non-Natives this book REALLY challenges the stereotypes and what we think when we think Native American in teh 20/21st century.

I highly recommend this one.

[Rose Klix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, intelligently written stories of balancing life in both the white and Indian worlds. This is provided by members of many tribes, but with similar experiences and emotions. There are several reflections expressed as poetry.

[nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful collection of contemporary native american writing. i like that this collection includes some lesser known (read: not as commercially successful as sherman alexie) authors.

[Colleen Villasenor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays and poetry dealing with modern Native experiences. This is an older book, but many of the concerns have changed little. While each essay approaches the subject from its own perspective, some common themes are the challenges of urban Natives, dealing with stereotypes, the tension between urban and reservation Natives, finding a positive Native self-image in a world that wants to deny your existence, and the struggle to maintain language and tradition. The US and Canada attempted to systematically take away Native languages and culture through the institution of boarding schools, laws forbidding or limiting Native languages and customs, and whitewashed history. Mascots perpetuating unflattering stereotypes and movies that diminish the role of Natives or portray them as blood-thirsty savages add to the problems. Even the Declaration of Independence contains the phrase "merciless Indian savages." Treaties have been repeatedly broken, and Natives have been subjected to relocation, forced sterilization, livestock reduction, and imprisonment. Genocide of the Mind is the erasure of a people through repeated attacks on culture and self-image. This book really hits home for me because of family members who have had to tell people that they still exist as Natives and are not extinct. Modern Natives are working at finding the bridge between their traditions and modern life that allows them to be part of both. I do not have the perspective to give their thoughts justice here, and Natives are individuals with individual experiences. Their way of life is not to be hijacked by Hollywood or New Age practices that perpetuate chosen stereotypes. This book gives voice to many of these perspectives

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays written by Native Americans of various tribes/nations and backgrounds. A wide variety of topics are covered - Native Americans used as mascots for sports teams, the loss of Native languages, racism, living in urban areas, discovering culture and history, and what it means to be Native American today.

The essays are fascinating. I can nearly guarantee that at least some of the essays in this collection will make the reader uncomfortable, and they will definitely make you think, as well.

[Rook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real mix, but very solid overall, and often very powerful. There are admittedly a handful of essays scattered throughout the book where the authors try to fight generalizations with generalizations and racisms with racisms, but that kind of thing is both easy to fall into and also quite common when works are collected from a broad array of authors.
The poems by Maurice Kenny I thought were particularly hard-hitting and beautifully done.

[Michael Blackmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this collection of essays. Like any such collection there can be a hit or miss aspect depending on the reader's POV. For me, most were a definite win and only a couple didn't work for me. There was nothing in the collection that was really new information for me since I'm pretty familiar with the material, but I suspect much of it would be enlightening and thoughtful reading for many folks.

Definitely recommended.

[Roger Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of Native American writing from a variety of perspectives with respect to urban and reservation life. It's particularly useful in composition courses as a reader to blend diverse perspectives with genre knowledges. It has memoirs, songs, and poetry while addressing many dilemmas that indigenous people face.

[Raye G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading this book for the last year! A little hard to get into but once you do it's good. It is a collection of essays by Native Americans who write about basically existing in two worlds: their native world and the modern/urban world. Interesting.

[Angela Gebhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of essays from both known and unknown authors. Extremely thought provoking and should be a must read for anyone interested in the duality that is living as a Native American in today's world.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really emotional read for me. The issues written about by several different native authors resonated with me.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read every word, got dull after awhile, the plight of ACTUAL Americans in this country is terrible. And nothing really seems to be being done about it. Total shame.

[Pickyreaderinblack]

Have not read yet - but if Vine Deloria had anything to do with this book, I'll read it. Got a lot of respect for that person as a Native American advocate and spiritual warrior.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of diverse voices from different tribes in this book. It is hard to hear of the murder of so many Indians by whites, but it is very important that their history is not forgotten.

[Melissa Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened across this book in a thrift store recently (2021), and I wish I'd found it when it originally came out (2002). While you may not think a book entitle "Genocide of the Mind" would be uplifting, this book is. The collection of essays and poems is expertly curated, balancing unabashed descriptions of the cultural genocide happening in North America with intimate human details of contributors' lives. I learned things about American history no one teaches in school, like the Washington Redskins (which is now the Washington Football Team) were named for the literal skins of native human beings bought by the British Crown in Colonial times. It is necessary as a descendant of white colonists for me to confront the realities of history. It is also necessary to confront the realities of current conditions. I am thankful for this thoughtful and unflinching collection; reading it felt like stepping into a different way of thinking, a different culture. Which is exactly what needs to happen more and more so that we can become a harmonious human family rather than stamping one another out. This book should be required reading for everyone on the continent. Thanks to the editors and contributors for creating it, and to the person who donated it to the thrift shop I found it in.

[Mel Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the words of Diane Fraher in the final piece included in this compilation, "Indian people are emerging from the invisibility of a romanticized past and a mythological tipi and cowboy-killer culture confined to roaming the short grass prairie and uttering ecological and religious prophecies only." For those who are interested in hearing those voices, I highly recommend this book.

[Allen Butler-Struben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought me to tears and wretching. Still, I can't recommend this book enough to everyone I meet. It is so important we don't forget the reality and gravity of what was and still is the blatant disregard of Native American sovereignty and lives. This is an important part of American history that must be shared as much as possible.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much. The essays and poems are some of the most beautiful pieces I’ve read. It felt very relevant to the genocides that continue to happen today, and it’s inspiring to read how others keep their culture alive.

[Julianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some selections gave me new or nuanced perspectives, some I felt in my bones as shared experiences.
This book is great.

[Andrea Robinson]

great writings, very interesting.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good anthology. I read this for school.