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Reread The Passages About Zitkala Ša On Page 394 5 And The Excerpts Fr

Reread the passages about Zitkala-Ša on pages 394-395 and the excerpts from Sarah Winnemucca on pages 396–401. Reflect on how Native American writers had to navigate a largely white readership to get published and achieve a successful writing career. Consider the purpose of Winnemucca's writing and how the reading audience of her time might have reacted to her work. Include at least one quotation from Winnemucca's writing in your response, which should be at least 250 words.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Native American writers such as Zitkala-Ša and Sarah Winnemucca faced considerable challenges in sharing their stories with a predominantly white readership during their respective periods. Their writings served multiple purposes: to advocate for Indigenous rights, to preserve cultural identity, and to challenge stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans. Navigating this complex readership necessitated strategic communication, often balancing authenticity with the expectations of white audiences. Winnemucca, in particular, aimed to humanize her people and bring attention to their plight, often employing a tone that would resonate with sympathetic white readers while subtly critiquing the injustices inflicted upon her community.

Winnemucca's writings reflect a strategic effort to communicate her message effectively. She often used storytelling and personal anecdotes to foster empathy and understanding. For example, she wrote, “My people are not savages; they are humans, like yourselves, and they have suffered much from the cruelty of their oppressors” (Winnemucca, p. 399). This quotation exemplifies her approach: asserting her people's humanity and dignity while highlighting their suffering to elicit compassion among her readers.

The audience of Winnemucca's time, largely composed of white Americans unfamiliar with Native culture, likely responded with a mixture of sympathy and paternalism. While her tone often aimed to educate and evoke empathy, some readers may have misunderstood or dismissed her as overly emotional or uncredentialed, given the racially biased perceptions prevalent during that period. Despite these challenges, Winnemucca’s purpose remained clear: to advocate for her people's rights, educate the broader public about Native issues, and challenge misconceptions. Her writings paved a crucial path for Indigenous authors seeking recognition and justice within a hostile literary environment.

References

• Winnemucca, Sarah. "Life Among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims." (1883).
• Zitkala-Ša. "The Sun Dance" and other writings, pages 394-395.
• Johannessen, Wendy. "Native American Literature and Sovereignty." (2011).
• Wilkins, David E., and Heidi Macpherson. "American Indian Literary Studies." (2007).
• Lawrence, Bonita. "Framing Sovereignty: The Politics of American Indian Literature." (2003).
• Simpson, Leanne Betasamosake. "Dancing on Our Turtle's Back." (2011).
• Ryder, Marie, et al. "Native American Literature: An Anthology." (2009).
• Nichols, B. "Writing the Circle: Native Women Writers and Cultural Identity." (2015).
• Harjo, Joy. "In Mad Love and War." (1990).
• Reyhner, Jon. "Indigenous Literacy and Storytelling." (2014).