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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I think Black Elk Speaks would be more interesting after learning more of the traditions, rituals, customs, and history of the Native American tribes. I have learned just enough to be dangerous, and while I found Black Elk’s account of his childhood vision and subsequent life interesting, it wasn’t as compelling as I think it would be with a richer and broader contextual understanding. Nonetheless, it was an interesting foray into the mindset of an acknowledged wise man, a shaman and healer of the old ways and times of the Lakota Indian tribe. It is biographical, based on extensive interviews of the subject by noted author and poet John Neihardt.
What struck me as much as anything was how similar, in many ways, some of Black Elk’s social experiences and upbringing were to that I have experienced in more modern times. Consider his account, for example of High Horse becoming “sick” over a girl, sneaking around just to be near her, then finding out she liked him (maybe a little…), trying unsuccessfully to impress her father, then trying to convince the girl to elope with him. It all sounds much like something that occurs every day and probably in one way or another in every culture around the world. When the girl refuses his advances, it “made High Horse feel so very sick that he could not eat a bite, and he went around with his head hanging down as though he might just fall down and die any time.”
I’ve been there, as I’m sure most young men have also. I’m so grateful to be happily married and not have to suffer the pangs of young love again!
Regardless of whether you accept Black Elk’s autobiographical book as a truthful account of a spiritual odyssey, it is certainly a glimpse into a fascinating (and likely soon to be extinct) culture and way of living and thinking and perceiving. For that reason alone, it is worth reading.
What struck me as much as anything was how similar, in many ways, some of Black Elk’s social experiences and upbringing were to that I have experienced in more modern times. Consider his account, for example of High Horse becoming “sick” over a girl, sneaking around just to be near her, then finding out she liked him (maybe a little…), trying unsuccessfully to impress her father, then trying to convince the girl to elope with him. It all sounds much like something that occurs every day and probably in one way or another in every culture around the world. When the girl refuses his advances, it “made High Horse feel so very sick that he could not eat a bite, and he went around with his head hanging down as though he might just fall down and die any time.”
I’ve been there, as I’m sure most young men have also. I’m so grateful to be happily married and not have to suffer the pangs of young love again!
Regardless of whether you accept Black Elk’s autobiographical book as a truthful account of a spiritual odyssey, it is certainly a glimpse into a fascinating (and likely soon to be extinct) culture and way of living and thinking and perceiving. For that reason alone, it is worth reading.
An illuminating look at the life of a holy man and his people during the transition between their existence as a nation and their oppression under colonialism. The violence and cruelty on display by the Americans is a staggering reminder that American policy towards minority groups as always been quite awful. It is also an important record of Sioux rituals which are not frequently performed anymore.
A first person, moving account of the genocide of the Lakota Sioux. As a Native American oral history, it is told in that tradition, with spiritual elements, dreams, and symbols. It is easy enough to follow the story, but it is not just the narrative, but voice behind it that really give this power. This is not the history you read for dates and number of fatalities. This is the book you read to get inside the mind of a culture that is being systematically eliminated by another culture.
Used for Anthropology 130: World Cultures at JCCC
Used for Anthropology 130: World Cultures at JCCC
Important recounting of Nicholas Black Elk's life and the Oglala Lakota history at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. I'd highly recommend the "Complete Edition," as it illuminates which are Black Elk's original words and which John Neihardt added -- thoughtfully, though it begins to become evident by the style and tone, and supposedly based on other conversations with Black Elk and historical input.
this book weaves the life story of a native american medicine man, who lived during the awful atrocities of the settlers at the end of the 19th century US. It's a unique look into a lifetime filled with shamanic visions, pain, joys, injustice and deep, grounded wisdom. It carries a message for the whole humanity, very relevant in the current times of disconnect from the nature and community. It forces upon us the responsibility for our past and future.
The only problem I had is that the author poetized the plain transcript to fit the style of the era - it doesn't do much harm to the wise insights of Black Elk, but keep in mind it's partially a fiction tale you're reading and the book is not very transparent about that, thus one star down.
The only problem I had is that the author poetized the plain transcript to fit the style of the era - it doesn't do much harm to the wise insights of Black Elk, but keep in mind it's partially a fiction tale you're reading and the book is not very transparent about that, thus one star down.
This book was wonderful intriguing and exciting. At points I wondered how much of it was really Black Elk, but I think that is what gives it some of its beauty. The work is such a mix of Black Elk's and Neihardt's view that it is hard to separate who is who. The story is at once intriguing and heart breaking. To see a man with such a vision and spirit watch his people being broken and betrayed is so sad. At the same time the vibrancy with which he seems to live brings a bit of hope to story. In the context of this time, this book was meant to help people understand "the vanishing Indian", but instead it has lasted decades to still interest readers of the day. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an intriguing but yet powerful read.
I read the premier edition, which contains annotated notes and drawings. The great visions of Nicholas Black Elk are fascinating!
Note: Read for a Non-Western Humanities course in an academic setting
Black Elk Speaks was a good read, but I feel like the spoken word medium can be difficult to convey meaning from another speaker. However, I think that the author does a good job of conveying Black Elk’s words to the best of their ability. His stories make for an extremely compelling story and experience.
Black Elk Speaks was a good read, but I feel like the spoken word medium can be difficult to convey meaning from another speaker. However, I think that the author does a good job of conveying Black Elk’s words to the best of their ability. His stories make for an extremely compelling story and experience.
I was really looking forward to this book. I like Native American legends and wisdom. I can't get past the "dream". It's pages and pages of the most detailed sequence of events. It's an epic poem. It would be like if someone told you they dreamed The Odyssey. It just doesn't ring true. I've never heard of anyone experiencing such a detailed and complete story in a dream. Perhaps it's a vision or trance and not really a dream? I don't know. But, I'm not giving up on this book. Only shelving it to try again.
Very fascinating read and look at the cosmology of the Lakota and the life of Black Elk.