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doublydaring's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
nicole_koenigsknecht's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
khilfish's review against another edition
4.0
Great book as an introduction into Indigenous Lit. I didn’t give it 5 simply because I’ve already had an intro to this material prior to my grad program but I think other readers would really appreciate it. It referenced lots of books that I’m excited to add to my To Read pile.
pearlpages's review against another edition
4.0
Why Indigenous Literatures Matter by Daniel Heath Justice is such a crucial read for everyone to read. This was the first book I read for my Native American Literature course and I urge people to take the time to read it. Every high school English curriculum should include this book. As the title suggests, Justice discusses the importance of Indigenous literature and highlights several writers and where to start consuming the stories. This is done in a well-organized and written manner that everyone can easily understand and comprehend. Throughout the book, Justice shares his own experiences and highlights the importance of imagination and its role in Indigenous rights.
As a white American, I often struggle to try to find ways I can help native rights, but this book points out that I can help simply by consuming Indigenous literature. Too often are these stories considered “too political” when that’s simply an excuse to push these stories away from the “perfect United States” narrative our country wants us to believe. It’s so important we change the narrative and highlight Indigenous voices. Representation matters and reading these stories is just a simple, enjoyable way we can do that. We often take for granted the fact that white people can easily find people within our media they relate to and identity with, and we forget this is not the case for everyone else. Our society has in fact pushed a false narrative that Indigenous people are gone, or ‘savage,’ and other derogatory terms. But this is just not the truth, far from it.
One of my favorite parts of this book is Justice’s emphasis on imagination. Reading his words on this was just a mind-changing moment for me. He talks about the importance of imagining new futures instead of succumbing to the painful reality our system wants everyone to believe. I think this is such an important lesson because our society and country’s system were created for white men. Why aren’t we imagining new systems? I think people, I know I certainly did before reading this, get lost in the fact of our reality that we can imagine a future outside of this. The American system is working, for white men, because that’s what it was designed to do. We need to begin educating each other on these issues, and a great way to do this is through consuming Indigenous literature. It’s truly changed my way of thinking about the world around me and questioning why think and act the way we do. I can’t stress enough how important this is, and it’s our responsibility to give back what our ancestors took from the original people of this land. I think any age can read this book and take value from it, but I especially believe it should be made a required text for high school courses. Before my course in college, I had never once read an Indigenous book and learned very little about the struggles they face. That isn’t right and we need to make a change. Please take the time to read this book.
As a white American, I often struggle to try to find ways I can help native rights, but this book points out that I can help simply by consuming Indigenous literature. Too often are these stories considered “too political” when that’s simply an excuse to push these stories away from the “perfect United States” narrative our country wants us to believe. It’s so important we change the narrative and highlight Indigenous voices. Representation matters and reading these stories is just a simple, enjoyable way we can do that. We often take for granted the fact that white people can easily find people within our media they relate to and identity with, and we forget this is not the case for everyone else. Our society has in fact pushed a false narrative that Indigenous people are gone, or ‘savage,’ and other derogatory terms. But this is just not the truth, far from it.
One of my favorite parts of this book is Justice’s emphasis on imagination. Reading his words on this was just a mind-changing moment for me. He talks about the importance of imagining new futures instead of succumbing to the painful reality our system wants everyone to believe. I think this is such an important lesson because our society and country’s system were created for white men. Why aren’t we imagining new systems? I think people, I know I certainly did before reading this, get lost in the fact of our reality that we can imagine a future outside of this. The American system is working, for white men, because that’s what it was designed to do. We need to begin educating each other on these issues, and a great way to do this is through consuming Indigenous literature. It’s truly changed my way of thinking about the world around me and questioning why think and act the way we do. I can’t stress enough how important this is, and it’s our responsibility to give back what our ancestors took from the original people of this land. I think any age can read this book and take value from it, but I especially believe it should be made a required text for high school courses. Before my course in college, I had never once read an Indigenous book and learned very little about the struggles they face. That isn’t right and we need to make a change. Please take the time to read this book.
spinesinaline's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Justice breaks the big question, why Indigenous literatures matter, into four guiding questions that can help us get at an answer: how do we learn to be human; how do we behave as good relatives; how do we become good ancestors; and how do we learn to live together.
In talking about his identity as a member of the Cherokee Nation and his family’s history on the Trail of Tears, Justice talks about the few records that are available that record his ancestors — sometimes just their name, sometimes the X they signed on a government document. It’s a very stark example of the exclusion that exists in archives and how this family history can be so difficult to uncover.
This is very like an academic text but for those who aren’t drawn to academia, I’d still highly recommend it! And it’s worth taking your time, I read this over about four months so that I could have the energy to engage with Justice’s questions and prompts. Along with an endless list of Indigenous-authored works to seek out, you’ll leave with a better understanding of ways to engage with Indigenous literature and worldviews.
In talking about his identity as a member of the Cherokee Nation and his family’s history on the Trail of Tears, Justice talks about the few records that are available that record his ancestors — sometimes just their name, sometimes the X they signed on a government document. It’s a very stark example of the exclusion that exists in archives and how this family history can be so difficult to uncover.
This is very like an academic text but for those who aren’t drawn to academia, I’d still highly recommend it! And it’s worth taking your time, I read this over about four months so that I could have the energy to engage with Justice’s questions and prompts. Along with an endless list of Indigenous-authored works to seek out, you’ll leave with a better understanding of ways to engage with Indigenous literature and worldviews.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Racism
lilisbookshelf's review against another edition
3.5
it felt like reading a 200 page essay. i think i would have enjoyed it more if i could read it slowly and at my leisure instead of rushing it for school
kaa's review against another edition
5.0
There is so much wonderful in this book: Literature analysis and recommendations for Indigenous authors and writings, obviously. A reflection on the author's own history. And a meditation through a queer, Indigenous lens on what literature is and why it matters at all.
The book is structured into chapters around four important questions that Indigenous literature can help try to answer: How do we learn to be human? How do we learn to be good relatives? How do we learn to be good ancestors? And how do we learn to live together? I found this to be a powerful format for thinking about the importance of literature in general, and the individual works discussed in particular.
The book is structured into chapters around four important questions that Indigenous literature can help try to answer: How do we learn to be human? How do we learn to be good relatives? How do we learn to be good ancestors? And how do we learn to live together? I found this to be a powerful format for thinking about the importance of literature in general, and the individual works discussed in particular.