ebooks Becoming Indian: The Struggle over Cherokee Identity in the Twenty-first Century (A School for Advanced Research Resident Scholar Book) by Circe Sturm in History

Review

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Good Book on Baffling SubjectBy Margaret S. VerbleI found this to be an interesting and enlightening book on a subject that I find baffling. Sturm has done a lot of research and is balanced in her approach; and I think she makes many very valid points. She draws supported and empathetic conclusions about the relatively recent phenomenon of whites becoming convinced they are Cherokees; forming "tribes" and trying to change their lives in ways that they think are "more Cherokee." She also records (accurately; I think) what those of us who belong to any of the three federally recognized tribes feel and think about all of this. She identifies "new Cherokees" as looking for more spiritual fulfillment; and as being basically lower middle-class whites; some hoping for payouts; some not.What she doesn't address; and what is also true; is that the South; in particular; is filled with white people; many of whom are extremely well-off; who will in all seriousness tell you that they too have a "Cherokee grandmother." I have questioned countless people about this; and they generally have an old picture of a dark person somewhere in their family photo album. I have come to believe over the years that these people are motivated by two things Sturm doesn't pay much attention to: 1. The grandparents and parents of many people in the South felt a need to explain away any dark ancestor and "Cherokee" sounded better than "Negro" to them; 2. Educated people; particularly in NC; TN and GA; know they are sitting on land shamefully stolen; and they feel some guilt about that and want to feel like they have a right to the land; after all; they didn't steal it. A Cherokee grandmother fixes both of those problems.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy karenInteresting and does give desirable information.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Changing Identities in a Changing WorldBy ernest schuskyMu first fieldwork consisted of documenting how Indians in the northeast and on Long Island identified themselves. Some struggled with the idea of 'becoming Indian'; having few physical characteristics and no historic records. In such a case what tribe do you select? Or if you appear to be Black; what do you do to escape the thought that you might be 'race shifting (Sturm's words) to identify as Indian. At the time; late 1950s; one could join at Thanksgiving a group protesting the Pilgrim's arrival; or one could become active in a powwow circuit that went through three New England states before climaxing on Long Island where Iroquois joined in and contributed first hand knowledge about 'being Indian."Sturm documents many more ways Cherokee; and presumably other tribes; identify themselves as well as touching on interior motives and attitudes. She has been involved with studies of Cherokee identity for years (see Blood Politics) which is a difficult subject because three different Cherokee reservations have been long established and each has developed a separate history and experienced variations on cultural traits.Self identification is a vexing problem for the social sciences so Becoming Indian should appeal to many scholars. It is a necessary read for 'wanabe' Indians; I strongly recommend it for all those with an interest in the Cherokees.ernestschusky.com