American Indians: Sterotypes & Realities

by Devon A. Mihesuah

Book Overview

"Mihesuah's work should be required reading for elementary and upper level teachers, college instructors and parents. Let us hope it finds a wide readership in mainstream circles." Joel Monture, Multicultural Review "Professor Mihesuah goes beyond simply providing responses to common stereotypes. She provides the reader with assistance in efforts to improve understanding of her peoples... a valuable contribution in bringing greater clarity to important issues." Alejandro Garcia, Journal of Multicultural Social Work "Devon Mihesuah has provided precious insight into the racial identity and cultural struggles of American Indians... I applaud Devon Mihesuah for successfully confronting the literature of false portrayal and negative images of Indian people." Dr. Donald L. Fixico, Professor of History Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo (Shawnee, Sac & Fox, Creek, Seminole) "A good sourcebook for dispelling misconceptions and negative stereotypes about American Indians. These beliefs and attitudes exist and these statements are made in academic settings. It is fortunate that there are professors like Devon Mihesuah in classrooms to present the "other side," perhaps only once in the lifetime of some students..." Dr. Karen Swisher, Director, Center for Indian Education Arizona State University (Standing Rock Sioux) "This book will be a very useful reader for anyone truly trying to understand who American Indians really are. There is no other book on Indian images that provides the Indian "voice" that Devon maintains throughout the text."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0932863221
• ISBN13: 9780932863225
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Clarity Press
• Length: 100 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

An enlightening glimpse at the first people

This book is about ten years old, but every bit as relevant now as when it first came out, and will remain so to the end of time. Devon Mihesuah gives an excellent overview of many of the insulting and detrimental stereotypes and myths surrounding Indians, and dispels a lot of just plain silly and polarized ideas that many non-Indians might have about American Indians and their richly diverse cultures. Did I say "cultures?" Indeed I did, and yes the first people have their own distinct and unique cultures, with a history of ancient civilization all their own (here, I must underscore and emphasize "civilization"). And note that I do not speak in the past tense regarding Indians. If you want a hard-hitting peek at American Indians, read this book.

Breaking the American Indian Myth

I really enjoyed Devon A. Mihesuah's "American Indian: Stereotypes and Realities" . The book is a compilation of contemporary myths and stereotypes of American Indians. I think when people read this book, they'll have a broader outlook of themselves, how they were raised, and the people around them.

truly brilliant and courageous

It is amazing that clueless white males continue to perpetrate their eurocentric structuring of Native American identity. Fortunately, we have wonderful books like this that challenge the assumptions of the domineering society controlled by white patriarchal attitudes. This is an important book.

This book is a little gem!

This well done book serves to debunk and correct the stereotypical image of the American Indian. The book is loaded with reference material and guidelines for teachers. Every educator and library in America would benefit greatly from having this wonderfully educational and enjoyable book.

an easy, important read for students of history, stereotypes

this book is an important, but easy read of stereotypes and realities and the relationship between the dominant culture of the United States with the indiginous culture. its a great primer for beginning discussion in a classroom or for reference when discussing stereotypes