Tongate 1!

Julia Tongate
Cooper
AP Language Pd. 6
8/3/2016

Interactive Readers Log for Like a Hurricane by Paul Chaat Smith and Robert Allen Warrior

Chapter 2 We Wont Move

Were out there to create a starting point for basic changes in Indian-white relations. We

reject the alternatives of the feral Indian policy. We reject either extermination of our

cultures, which we refuse to have end up on museum walls for the pleasure of non-

Indians. We reject the chronic and cyclical proverb of reservations and the relocation

transfer of that poverty into Red Ghettoes in the cities. We reject these alternatives. This

is why theres no more end of the trail for us. Were on a new trail. Were creating our

own alternatives! (27)

Occasion Response:

This speech took place in a church with an audience of about two hundred people, all of

whom were curious about the Indian movement occurring on Alcatraz. This was the first

time that the Indian occupants on Alcatraz could show [their] public face and tell the

world what they are trying to accomplish and what they stand for (26). The speaker in

this passage, continuously uses we to start each sentence to show the united front that

the Indians have in this revolution (27). Without having this opportunity to speak, the

Indians would not have the means to explain why they reject [the] alternatives and
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would not be able to forcefully and emotionally state why they are creating [their] own

alternatives (27). Similarly, without writing this book, the authors wouldnt be able to

explain all of the Indian occupations and protests from before 1996 to the clueless,

wondering readers.

Chapter 4 Life As a Metaphor (Tone)

What the Indians demanded was title. Free and clear. Nothing less. They did not want to

give Alcatraz to elected tribal officials. They had come too far, sacrificed too much, to

hand it over to a bunch of sell-out, Nixon-supporting, crew-cut Republican buddies of

Bob Robertson. (79)

Tone Response:

The authors point out how the Indians have come too far and sacrificed too much to

just hand over the title to the land of Alcatraz (79). They also, through the Indians point

of view, call the elected tribal officials sell-out, Nixon-supporting, crew-cut

Republican[s] (79). There is a shift between sympathy and hostility in this sentence. The

authors first seem sympathetic towards the Indians cause, they understand the work they

have put into it and why they want the title of the land. In the second half of the sentence,

when the Indians are being biased towards the elected tribal officials by using words

like sell-out the authors have a sense of criticism towards the Indians using this

language. The reader can infer the reason the authors are critical is because of the actions

that the radical Indians organize, which may reflect badly on the whole Indian population.
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This criticism shows that not every Indian feels the same way about the extreme

measures that some Indians may take to make a point in their protests.

Chapter 6 Yellow Thunder

They had a reason to worry. The Nebraska town had a bad reputation on the Pine Ridge

Reservation. Many Indians could tell stories of being cheated, harassed, disrespected, and

worse by the towns two thousand white citizens, whose livelihoods in large part depended

on commerce from the reservation. To cash a check, buy hardware, see a movie, or buy

liquor on had to go to a border town, as the sprawling reservation offered none he of these

services. For many Oglalas, those drives to Gordon, Rushville, or Scottsbluff, Nebraska-

where they were waited on by rednecks who hated Indians and who probably hated

themselves because they made their living from the very Indians they despised-were

infuriating experiences. (113)

Audience Response:

In this passage, the authors go into great depth about why the Indians [have] a reason to

worry about the towns two thousand white citizens(113). The authors explain how the

Indians are cheated, harassed, disrespected, and worse by the white people who [make]

their living from the very Indians they [despise] (113). The authors use an extensive

amount of details so the reader better understands the situation the Indians have to go

through every day of their life. Since the authors use so many details, the reader can infer

that the target audience of the book does not have a strong understanding of the daily
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troubles Indians and the citizens around Indian reservations go through. This would make

the intended audience of the book be the majority of the population, specifically white

upper class citizens that have little to no contact and information about the lives of

Indians.

Chapter 8 The Native American Embassy

Adams opened one office door to see someone rifling through papers. The man broke

down in tears, explaining he was a bureau employee only trying to collect his personal

possessions. He pleaded with Adams not to hurt him. His terror was so great that Adams

had trouble assuring him he would not be harmed, by Adams or anyone else. The depth of

the mans fear made Adams realize that it would be almost impossible for people to

understand, much less sympathize, with the unleashed rage that tore through the building

two days earlier. Surrounded by the frightening evidence of wholesale destruction, no

wonder the employee begged for his life. (165)

Purpose Response:

The authors give a different perspective, other than an Indians, in order to show how

little the majority of the population knows about Native Americans. After the Indians

completely dismantled the BIAs offices, a government employee tries to collect some

personal items, but has such great terror of the Indians that he [breaks] down in

tears[pleading] with Adams not to hurt him (165). The terrified employee goes to

show just how little the majority of the population knows about the events that have
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previously occurred. The reader can predict that the reason the employee is so terrified is

because he and the rest of the population, dont understand why the Indians are acting the

way they are. To them, the Indians that occupied the BIA are a bunch of hooligans that

decided to vandalize a government building, when in reality they are citizens who are

angry about the treatment of their race and finally decided to do something about it. The

authors wrote this piece to explain the Indian occupations that have occurred and the

reasons behind them. By doing this, they give people more knowledge about the Indians,

so possibly in the future, the Indians will not be ignored but instead supported.

Chapter 10 The Independent Oglala Nation

Critics would accuse AIM of opportunism, using one reservations troubles to make

headlines for themselves. They suggested AIM took advantage of unsophisticated Indians

who didnt know any better. Instead, the careful, deliberate process that ended in a church

basementmore accurately should be read as the Oglala people choosing to invite the

American Indian Movement into Pine Ridge. No other organization could have

responded to the Oglalas political emergency Inviting AIM was a roll of the dice with

uncertain results, but no one questions that AIM could and would make things

happen. (200)

Subject Response:

The authors begin with focusing on the negative connotations people associate with AIM

and then go into the truth of why AIM has been so popular with many Indian groups.
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AIM seems to be an [opportunistic] organization that [uses] one reservations troubles

to make headlines for themselves when in reality they are the only organization that

could have responded to the Oglalas political emergency and make things

happen (200). After the reader has learned about all of the obstacles and failures

peaceful Native American protesters have dealt with in the previous chapters, they

understand why AIM has developed and has become such a necessity for the Indians.

AIMs radical way of thinking got them the press that they needed so they could actually

draw attention to their cause. The authors focus on AIM more than other organizations,

because their efforts are the ones that the books audience would have most likely heard

about and would be able to connect with.

Chapter 11 All Things Twice

You are concerned for the destruction of property at the BIA building and at Wounded

Knee. Where is your concern for the destruction of our people, for human lives? Lyons

spoke of the Mohicans, the Pequots, of Sand Creek and Big Foot. When will you cease

your violence against our people? Where is your concern for us? Lyons told of Indian

lands flooded to make way for power projects, strip-mined by coal companies, and

plundered of timber. Compare the damage of the BIA and Wounded Knee against the

terrible record and tell us that we are wrong for wanting redress. We ask for justice, and

not from the muzzle of an M16 rifle. (228)

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Speaker Response:

Lyon, the head of a delegation of Indian chiefs addresses the people at Wounded Knee

and the U.S. government in his speech. Lyon asks heavy questions to the U.S. like where

is your concern for the destruction of our people, for human lives? and when will you

cease your violence against our people? showing how emotional and strongly he feels

towards the mistreatment of Indians (228). He also speaks of the Indian lands [that

were] flooded to make way for power projects, strip-mined coal companies, and

plundered of timber showing that he must have done research and put thought into his

examples to make his argument more persuasive (228). The reader can infer that the

reason this speech is so influential and persuasive is because of the leadership Lyon

shows and rightfully has, the work and research that he put into it, and the ability he has

to empathize with the Indians that hear his speech. The authors use Lyons speech as an

example because they support what hes saying which shows a possible bias that they

have against the U.S. government. Both authors are Indian, so a bias that they could have

is that the U.S. government only cares about the white citizens and treat the Indians as if

they [dont] exist (83).

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Works Cited Page

Smith, Paul Chaat, and Robert Allen Warrior. Like A Hurricane: The Indian Movement from

Alcatraz to Wounded Knee. The New Press, 1996.