Blue Winds Dancing By: Whitecloud A main idea of this work concerns itself with the role of contemporary Native Americans in white society. This is evident in the text when we read, “No constant peering into the maelstrom of one’s mind; no worries about grades and honor’s; no hysterical preparing for life until that life is half over; no anxiety about one’s place in the thing they call society (122).” There is further support for this when the author says, “I just sit by a fire and think about myself and all other young Indians. We just don’t seem to fit in anywhere – certainly not among the whites and not among the older people (124).” Whitecloud experiences the role of contemporary Native Americans in a white society when he transferred from his white society to a Native American society. A dominant tone of this piece could be described as sad and lonely. This feeling is conveyed to the reader by the image of the moon and “a fall wind blowing in [Whitecloud] heart (122).” Whitecloud also tells the reader, “I am alone; alone but not nearly so lonely as I was back on the campus at school (124).” It is not until the end, when the main character is reunited with his people, that the tone changes to happiness.
A striking passage that deserves attention as a means to an important aspect of the work is when Whitecloud decides, if he is white or Indian. He first asks, “Am I Indian or am I white? (125) ” He says to himself, “If I am white I will not believe that story. If I am Indian, I will know that there is an old woman under the ice (125).” Although he knows the legend of the old woman under the ice cannot be true, the reader understands that Whitecloud decides to be Indian when he says, “I listen for a while, and I know there is an old woman under the ice (125).’ As I think about this passage, I connect it to the work in several ways and make interpretive meaning. The first way is that heritage by acknowledging his Indian roots.
The Essay on Manifest Destiny Race White Indians
America and Race have a long and entangled history. The concept of Race, like America is a recent invention. Race is an idea constructed by society to further political and economic goals. Race was never just a matter of how you look, it's about how people assign meaning toward how you look. It is ironic that a nation that takes great pride in one the foundation "All men are created Equal" can at ...
Also, the inclusion of Native American folklore in this piece signifies the importance of story telling in their culture. This particular aspect of Native American culture obviously had a significant impact on Whitecloud.